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Hindus and Pakistanis from similar cultures???

Reader comment on item: Making Culture an Element of Immigration Policy
in response to reader comment: Religion v. culture India and Pakistan

Submitted by Michael S (United States), Aug 3, 2014 at 10:41

There is something wrong with your criteria, if you consider Hindus and Pakistanis to be of a similar "culture". Also, I am ever skeptical of the use of the term "assimilation" nowadays.

On the first point, if one's definition of "culture" does not distinguish between Hindus and Muslims, that definition is meaningless. In the UK, the term "South Asian" is used as a blanket term for Hindu Indians, Muslim Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Sikhs, Buddhists and others. Behavioral factors between HIndus and Muslims in this "group", however, could not be starker -- especially when considering rates for terrorist killings and honor killings (zero for Hindus). The states of India and Pakistan were originally separated from one another entirely on the basis of religion. In other significant cultural factors, such as race, language, script family, history, etc., India is extremely inclusive: There has never been a successful separatist movement based on any of these factors. Only religion was considered a divisive enough factor, that the subcontinent was split along these lines.

As for "assimilation", I seriously question how meaningful "assimilation" can take place between two groups which do not intermarry. British Muslims from the Middle East tend strongly to marry their close cousins; and Muslims in general tend not to marry outside their religion. Hindus also tend to marry within their own caste.

In sum, the difference between Hindus and Pakistanis in the UK does not seem to be due to any difference in "assimilation". Rather, it is due to the fact that they come from entirely different cultures.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (24) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1Misunderstanding Diversity in Cultural Appropriation - Invasion Versus Immersion [151 words]M ToveyAug 17, 2021 14:30272735
3It's about time [19 words]dhimmi no moreAug 21, 2015 06:53224768
7Pakistanis, Indian Muslims and Bangladeshis and the West [118 words]dhimmi no moreDec 23, 2014 08:50219913
3mayor of Rotterdam Aboutaleb wishes for potential Dutch jihadis to leave [332 words]mythNov 26, 2014 06:33219484
3the Difference..... [125 words]DonevanAug 12, 2014 13:05217105
2Limiting immigration based on cultural groups [52 words]Rena GalutziAug 11, 2014 22:59217092
3Sign of the Times [67 words]Kyle FAug 3, 2014 18:35216498
3Yes, cultures are different, but... [224 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Peter HerzAug 3, 2014 15:47216495
5Agree with Dr. Pipes Muslim refugees should be sent to Saudi Arabia, other Muslim countries only!! [119 words]JaladhiAug 25, 2014 16:56216495
1Belated response to Dr. Pipes's response to me [161 words]Peter HerzDec 24, 2014 23:45216495
Cultural Assimilation Part of Mexican-American War Debate [62 words]DaveAug 1, 2014 17:40216466
10Religion v. culture India and Pakistan [74 words]dhimmi no moreAug 1, 2014 17:02216465
2Good point DNM [63 words]VijayAug 2, 2014 17:53216465
2Hindus and Pakistanis from similar cultures??? [257 words]Michael SAug 3, 2014 10:41216465
A broader view [91 words]Ray PellandAug 6, 2014 12:47216465
3Culture v. Religion again [85 words]dhimmi no moreAug 10, 2014 11:32216465
7Muslim from India and Pakistan do not have the same culture as those of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains!! [174 words]JaladhiAug 25, 2014 16:32216465
An important distinction [139 words]Julius O'MalleyAug 26, 2014 09:06216465
8Pakistanis and the Arabs [343 words]dhimmi no moreAug 28, 2014 07:11216465
to dhimmi no more [79 words]KephaDec 24, 2014 23:50216465
4King Olaf v. The Muslim invaders of India [129 words]dhimmi no moreDec 28, 2014 08:15216465
Monotheism evil? [193 words]Kepha HorDec 30, 2014 08:53216465
1The Spanish invasion of Mesoamerica and South America and Islam [308 words]dhimmi no moreJan 7, 2015 17:09216465
1daily mail: mass migration hurts us all [130 words]mythAug 1, 2014 06:07216454

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