European Politics Thread.

[iNeo 0]

Countries like Norway and Switzerland have special free-trade agreements with the EU allowing them to at least in part do free trade with the EU. So you would have to get yourself one of those deals. Mind you that they were put in place while EU was still in its infancy and very weak. It's very unlikely that they would extend that to any other country as it is today.

Yeah I was thinking their solution is better, but why would the EU not want to have such a deal with another state? It should be better for the EU with that than not, wouldn't it?

[denoir 0]

Yeah I was thinking their solution is better, but why would the EU not want to have such a deal with another state? It should be better for the EU with that than not, wouldn't it?

They didn't get a good deal. Actually, they got a pretty crappy deal as it is the EU that entirely dictates the terms. The countries outside have no say and they can't afford to object to any treatment.

A good example of it is Norway which got thoroughly screwed on fishing quotas and fishing exports - primarily because UK fishing industry was in trouble. The EU of course sided with the UK and Norway got a new deal that was a plain ripoff. One-sided tariffs and quotas were introduced, and Norway could do nothing but to accept it. Had they tried to reprocicate, they would have faced sanctions that would have broken them economically. It's not a too big surprise that a fairly strong majority of Norwegians want to join the EU.

Sure, it's not nice and fair play, but that is how it works. The US has been practicing it for over 50 years. The size of the market is the deciding factor. If you are big enough, you can force others to do it your way, because they can't afford not doing business with you. If you are part of the group, you operate within a relatively fair system and primarily you have a say in matters. For instance what happened to Norway could not happen to Sweden because in that area (fishing), like many others, the individual countries have a veto right.

Now there is still a strong imbalance right now, with Germany, France and UK being able to force through their wish. The new constitution however would give the smaller countries much more power as it would be a double-majority system to make decisions (requiring a 55 per cent majority of member states representing a 65 per cent majority of citizens).

Anyway, to answer your question - I'm not saying that any EU-exit would be blocked, but you can probably count on it being an unfair deal. And it's simply because the EU's primary goal is to work for the benefit of the EU citizens. So if a country exits, if it benefits the EU, it would be desirable to squeeze it as much as possible - protecting EU interests. And as the EU is far bigger and stronger than any individual European country, it would simply run it over, making trade deals that were good for the Union. How it would affect the now non-EU country would be none of the Union's concern. Norway and Switzerland god good initial deals because the EU was new and weak at the time. Some of the deals are legally binding for a certain period of time, so they are of course respected. Others are free to be modified at any time, and they are - and not to the advantage of the outsider countries. Today, the EU is far stronger, so they could give out much better deals - for the EU.

Nothing strange about that. On the contrary, it would be fiscal mismanagement on the EU part if it gave away money unnecessarily to non-EU trade partners.

Quote[/b] ]

1. The Union's aim is to promote peace, its values and the well-being of its peoples.

2. The Union shall offer its citizens an area of freedom, security and justice without internal frontiers, and an internal market where competition is free and undistorted.

3. The Union shall work for the sustainable development of Europe based on balanced economic growth and price stability, a highly competitive social market economy, aiming at full employment and social progress, and a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment. It shall promote scientific and technological advance.

It shall combat social exclusion and discrimination, and shall promote social justice and protection, equality between women and men, solidarity between generations and protection of the rights of the child.

It shall promote economic, social and territorial cohesion, and solidarity among Member States.

It shall respect its rich cultural and linguistic diversity, and shall ensure that Europe's cultural heritage is safeguarded and enhanced.

4. In its relations with the wider world, the Union shall uphold and promote its values and interests. It shall contribute to peace, security, the sustainable development of the Earth, solidarity and mutual respect among peoples, free and fair trade, eradication of poverty and the protection of human rights, in particular the rights of the child, as well as to the strict observance and the development of international law, including respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter.

5. The Union shall pursue its objectives by appropriate means commensurate with the competences which are conferred upon it in the Constitution.

-- From the first article of the constitution

( http://europa.eu.int/constitution/en/ptoc2_en.htm#a3 ) - "Definitions and objectives of the Union", the first article of the constitution. Not too long, and very much worth to read.

[iNeo 0]

Quote[/b] ]The point I've always tried to convey to you is that there is no such thing as a static "pure" culture.

The point I've always tried to convey to you is that when I say I object to multi-culture, I don't mean I want isolation, I mean that I don't want massive immigration. I'll let the previous sentence answer for about half of your post. I like tourism, trade etc. But I don't want 1000 ethnicities in my country that will eventually blend into gods know what. Those are two separate things. Hope you will see what I mean this time.

Quote[/b] ]imported every single part of the culture. The mythology was imported - a blend of Germanic, Anglo-Saxon, Greek, Russian, Roman etc influences. The language was imported as well.

Total bullshit. Both the faith and language of many pre-Christian European peoples originate from Indo-European roots. As the people(s) spread out (and were to form new peoples) over Europe, the languages and faiths developed seperately. (That's why you can see similarities between the pagan faiths and some words all across Europe, such as "moon".)

But yes the language has been heavily influenced the last centuries. But no you don't have to blame communications, globalisation. You can control the change. Iceland practically never use loan words; they make their own words. I definitely reckon we should follow their example.

Quote[/b] ]we need something unique to offer, and we have plenty of culture and history.

Yuck, selling out culture as if it's some kind of furniture?

Quote[/b] ]And the best way to safeguard that is through a multi-cultural society. The basic concept there is that the unique cultures are protected as much as they can be. The alternative is assimilation, which means that the culture is changed into a blend.

How the hell is a culture better preserved in a multi-cultural society? It WILL all blend into a sad mix in the whole of Europe, except for the few lucky non-political correct countries.

Quote[/b] ]If we don't separate, we'll just blend.

What happened to the preaches on integration? (Yeah we should separate.)

Quote[/b] ]

Quote[/b] ]And you don't have to like mixture of peoples to be a royalist.

How do you figure? The Queen is half Brazilian, half German. Isn't that very much a mix?"

So I like kings etc, since when does that mean I have to like that they are mixed race nowadays?

[iNeo 0]

So if a country exits, if it benefits the EU, it would be desirable to squeeze it as much as possible - protecting EU interests. And as the EU is far bigger and stronger than any individual European country, it would simply run it over, making trade deals that were good for the Union

Rather strange since it helps countries outside Europe, and not just with money. Yet they threaten to crush members if they leave? Good "solidarity" there...

[denoir 0]

Quote[/b] ]The point I've always tried to convey to you is that there is no such thing as a static "pure" culture.

The point I've always tried to convey to you is that when I say I object to multi-culture, I don't mean I want isolation, I mean that I don't want massive immigration. I'll let the previous sentence answer for about half of your post. I like tourism, trade etc.

And I'm saying that you've had massive immigration throughout Swedish history. That it has been formed largely by immigration. You are objecting centuries too late. Today our culture is more radically changed by indirect means (TV etc).

Quote[/b] ]But I don't want 1000 ethnicities in my country that will eventually blend into gods know what. Those are two separate things. Hope you will see what I mean this time.

You don't want black people to have children with white people. Yes, I think you've made it perfectly clear. But it has nothing to do with culture. It's race you are talking about.

Quote[/b] ]You can control the change. Iceland practically never use loan words; they make their own words. I definitely reckon we should follow their example.

I agree with you on that to a certain degree, but that is where multi-culturalism comes in. It's about having several cultures in the same system, rather than making one big blend. Iceland is a perfect example - they have their own culture intact while they have equally integrated other cultures, as separate entities. They speak Icelandic and English. That's multi-culture.

Quote[/b] ]

Quote[/b] ]we need something unique to offer, and we have plenty of culture and history.

Yuck, selling out culture as if it's some kind of furniture?

Of course, like art and literature. Mass production means shit. Anybody can do it. It's what is unique that is valuable. A dalahäst is a very lame and poorly carved piece of wood. Stone age men could do a better job, technically. It is however unique and therefor is sellable.

Quote[/b] ]How the hell is a culture better preserved in a multi-cultural society? It WILL all blend into a sad mix in the whole of Europe, except for the few lucky non-political correct countries.

multi = several, multiple. The opposite of single. My advice to you is to learn a bit about what you are attacking. Multi-culture is about having several different cultures within a society, rather than blending them.

Quote[/b] ]

Quote[/b] ]If we don't separate, we'll just blend.

What happened to the preaches on integration? (Yeah we should separate.)

Integration = making minority cultures work with the majority culture. Integrate does not mean assimilate.

Quote[/b] ]So I like kings etc, since when does that mean I have to like that they are mixed race nowadays?

It's not just today, it has always been. European royalty have always mixed across the continent. Or are we talking about skin color here? Mixing of whites with non-whites?

Edit:

ps. Speaking of royals, do you know that using the royal flag you are breaking the law.. . Flagglagen specifies that three edged Swedish flags can only be used by the royal family and the Swedish Navy.

Edit2:

http://www.algonet.se/~egl/flagglgn.htm (flagglagen)

[denoir 0]

So if a country exits, if it benefits the EU, it would be desirable to squeeze it as much as possible - protecting EU interests. And as the EU is far bigger and stronger than any individual European country, it would simply run it over, making trade deals that were good for the Union

Rather strange since it helps countries outside Europe, and not just with money. Yet they threaten to crush members if they leave? Good "solidarity" there...

If they leave, they are not members. Simple as that. If you renounce your Swedish citizenship, you won't get any state pension. If you burn your tennis club membership card, you can't any longer buy the sodas at the court for a 10% discount.

Need more examples?

[iNeo 0]

And I'm saying that you've had massive immigration throughout Swedish history. That it has been formed largely by immigration. You are objecting centuries too late. Today our culture is more radically changed by indirect means (TV etc).

[...]

Iceland is a perfect example - they have their own culture intact while they have equally integrated other cultures, as separate entities. They speak Icelandic and English. That's multi-culture.

[...]

multi = several, multiple. The opposite of single. My advice to you is to learn a bit about what you are attacking. Multi-culture is about having several different cultures within a society, rather than blending them.

What do you mean with "other cultures, as separate entities" - if you mean that because they speak both Icelandic and English they have a multi-cultural society, well then you're wrong. Except for you, everyone including the state uses "multi-culture" to denote massive immigration, not TV. This discussion is as usual marked by your claiming multi-culture has always been. What's the point in coining your own definitions?

Quote[/b] ]

Quote[/b] ]But I don't want 1000 ethnicities in my country that will eventually blend into gods know what. Those are two separate things. Hope you will see what I mean this time.

You don't want black people to have children with white people. Yes, I think you've made it perfectly clear. But it has nothing to do with culture. It's race you are talking about.

I don't care if a white has a child with a black somewhere in the world. While mixing with peoples that are more different is worse than mixing with people that are closer, it's still pretty much the same thing and I don't like mixing. Of course by saying this today I'm a racist and a Nazi. Before World War 2 this wasn't taboo at all. And this is relevant because it's what multi-culture leads to. Look at USA, many don't know where they come from. Do you think you can keep the ethnicities separated for ever?

Quote[/b] ]It's not just today, it has always been. European royalty have always mixed across the continent. Or are we talking about skin color here? Mixing of whites with non-whites?

That's what I've been telling you, that they have always mixed. Well during the Viking age they mixed within Scandinavians, essentially of the same breed. I don't see why I have to like racial mixing to be a monarchist... that's pretty stupid.

Quote[/b] ]ps. Speaking of royals, do you know that using the royal flag you are breaking the law.. . Flagglagen specifies that three edged Swedish flags can only be used by the royal family and the Swedish Navy.

Edit2:

http://www.algonet.se/~egl/flagglgn.htm (flagglagen)

Yes I do know of that law, did you know that that page you're linking to is breaking it too then? It's not like I hoist it outside my house.

[iNeo 0]

If they leave, they are not members. Simple as that. If you renounce your Swedish citizenship, you won't get any state pension. If you burn your tennis club membership card, you can't any longer buy the sodas at the court for a 10% discount.

I mean why would an ex-member be crushed, while never-been-members get all kinds of help?

[billybob2002 0]

Quote[/b] ]And this is relevant because it's what multi-culture leads to. Look at USA, many don't know where they come from. Do you think you can keep the ethnicities separated for ever?

*Steps in* The US is not a multi-cultural society but a melting pot one. There is a different between the two. Also, saying that, there have been actions to make the US society in to a multi-cultural one but their is resistance to change (mostly deals with hispanics/spanish lang.). *Steps out*

[iNeo 0]

The US is not a multi-cultural society but a melting pot one. There is a different between the two.

Well the first leads to the second, but I'd still say the US is multi-cultural.

Quote[/b] ]*Steps in* ... *Steps out*

The discussion is open for everyone, and this is going on in many European countries, so I don't know why no one else says a thing.

[Balschoiw 0]

Quote[/b] ]so I don't know why no one else says a thing.

Because it´s a pretty useless discussion as people tend to choose where they want to live on their own. It would be something like reverse history you have in mind. A history where people were deported to countries. I think I don´t want that again. If you are so panicing about immigrants and a "racial-mix" why don´t you just talk to some of them. They don´t bite. Even if you may think so. They also don´t eat little children...

[iNeo 0]

Quote[/b] ]Because it´s a pretty useless discussion as people tend to choose where they want to live on their own.

They choose because they can, it doesn't necessarily mean it's good in the end.

Quote[/b] ]If you are so panicing about immigrants and a "racial-mix" why don´t you just talk to some of them. They don´t bite. Even if you may think so. They also don´t eat little children...

I do talk to immigrants.

[denoir 0]

What do you mean with "other cultures, as separate entities" - if you mean that because they speak both Icelandic and English they have a multi-cultural society, well then you're wrong. Except for you, everyone including the state uses "multi-culture" to denote massive immigration, not TV. This discussion is as usual marked by your claiming multi-culture has always been. What's the point in coining your own definitions?

Pick up a dictionary instead of your Sverigedemokraterna pamphlets.

http://www.answers.com/multiculturalism&r=67

Quote[/b] ]multiculturalism or cultural pluralism, a term describing the coexistence of many cultures in a locality, without any one culture dominating the region. By making the broadest range of human differences acceptable to the largest number of people, multiculturalism seeks to overcome racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination.

The word was first used in Switzerland to describe the structure of the country that has integrated three different cultures.

Quote[/b] ]Do you think you can keep the ethnicity separated for ever?

That's not the point of multi-culturalism. It's to preserve some unique elements of different cultures. Race and ethnicity has nothing to do with culture.

I don't want to keep ethnicities or races separated. I don't want apartheid or any form of nazism in Sweden.

Quote[/b] ]The discussion is open for everyone, and this is going on in many European countries, so I don't know why no one else says a thing.

Because they don't want to go down to that level.  I don't know why I bother, but it started to point out to the forums that although you are very loud that a majority of Swedes arn't really nazis.

You said it yourself:

Quote[/b] ]While mixing with peoples that are more different is worse than mixing with people that are closer, it's still pretty much the same thing and I don't like mixing. Of course by saying this today I'm a racist and a Nazi. Before World War 2 this wasn't taboo at all.

[Albert Schweitzer 10]

Quote[/b] ]so I don't know why no one else says a thing.

Because it´s a pretty useless discussion as people tend to choose where they want to live on their own. It would be something like reverse history you have in mind. A history where people were deported to countries. I think I don´t want that again. If you are so panicing about immigrants and a "racial-mix" why don´t you just talk to some of them. They don´t bite. Even if you may think so. They also don´t eat little children...

Sorry for changing directions in this discussion but talking about immigrants? Come to Berlin!

I dont mind as long as immigrants are willing to adapt to our culture 100% and integrate 100%. In Berlin I observe that a great percentage of turks actually gets MORE conservative even though they are living in germany for the second generation already. They retreat into a self chosen gettho (Neu-Köln), they develop their own social system and structures and tend to distance themselves further and further from western values. Many, that were well integrated in the 80ies-90ies now rather tend to listen to some stone-age muslim preachers.

They dont let their children go to school or they simply tell what they learn in school is not true and in the afternoon they get their "real classes" in the mosque.

We got more and more women now here in Berlin that run around like women once did in Afghanistan, FULLY covered! That is already an advantage. Some are not allowed to leave the appartment at all and dont let us talk about the obligatory marriages.  

Culture mix? Yes but to blend yourself into a culture you need some open mindness! European cultures are compatible due to simmillar values. Turkey (focus on Anatolia) isnt!

[Albert Schweitzer 10]

Good bye, never liked you anyway

[Balschoiw 0]

It´s just temporary I´m afraid...

[Bordoy 0]

Quote[/b] ]But even if you left the EU without getting any sanctions, you would be in a nasty cold place. Exported and imported goods would be taxed to hell, various restrictions would be in place. Tariffs on various goods would be slapped on etc

Thats not very nice is it. If a medium sized number of countries left, then that would be harder to control i guess? But if they did put sanctions on everybody then they would be splitting Europe into two, which is a very bad idea.

[kerosene 0]

They wouldn't be "sanctions" they'd simply be the same tariffs any non-eu member pays on imports into the E.U.

I'm fairly sure member states can leave if they want, they just can't expect to recieve the benefits you get for being in the club.

[iNeo 0]

Well it's good that we're talking about the same thing denoir

[miles teg 1]

I recommend that some of you travel to countries where Europeans are the miniority.  I lived in Indonesia for several years and guess what...most Europeans did THE EXACT same thing that Turks do in Germany.  They, for the most part, stay in their own little communities, have their own cultural events, and their own social organizations.  Most did very little to try and blend in with their host country's culture.

This is NOT a simple matter of stupid 3rd world people refusing to become civilized.  I know many Turks where I live and I've never seen any of their women covering up completely.  Even in Turkey that is quite rare for them to cover up completely like Afghani or Saudi women.  There are also however vastly different cultures even within Turkey, some of which are more fundamentalist in their religious beliefs, and conservative in their cultural beliefs.  But there are also plenty of young Turks who are highly urbanized and who have few problems finding a niche in their host countries.  So what if they don't drink beer or they need to pray 5 times a day.  If I was Turkish, I wouldn't want to live in a German neighborhood either if I was going to just be harrassed and villified by my neighbors.  I would want to live where people have similar values to my own.  

If Germans want Turks to integrate more with German culture, then they need to develop programs to encourage Turks to move into their neighborhoods and to take part in German civic life and cultural events in which helal food and beverages are made available for them as well as traditional German food and beverages.  

If there is no will to do this, then Germans should expect more voluntary segregation on the part of Turks and other immigrants.   Most of Europe is facing this exact same problem and struggling with it.  But this is NOT an unsolvable problem.  It does however require a certain amount of experimentation in "social engineering" (a bad word in the US) on select communities to find methods that do work in integrating diverse cultures into one unified population with certain central shared values and identities.  

So essentially, Europe is going through what the United States has gone through.  BUT... it is MUCH MUCH tougher for Europe, because your countries have a MUCH longer history of very old customs and traditions.  So it is very understandable that many Europeans are incredibly frightened by cultural change.  But they should not be.  The best of the old traditions and customs will almost certainly survive and be cherished.  I'm sure that there are plenty of Turks that aren't practicing Muslims who enjoy good German beer and sausage.  

 

Chris G.

aka-Miles Teg<GD>

[kerosene 0]

Quote[/b] ]I recommend that some of you travel to countries where Europeans are the miniority. I lived in Indonesia for several years and guess what...most Europeans did THE EXACT same thing that Turks do in Germany. They, for the most part, stay in their own little communities, have their own cultural events, and their own social organizations. Most did very little to try and blend in with their host country's culture.

You can travel to Spain and see English people do it there.

[billybob2002 0]

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1559253,00.html

Quote[/b] ]

France Backs China on Taiwan

In Beijing, Raffarin supported a controversial stance on Taiwan

During a state visit to China, French Premier Raffarin threw support behind a law allowing China to attack Taiwan and continued to push for a lift of the EU arms embargo.

At the outset of a three-day visit to China, French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said he supported Beijing's "anti-secession" law on Taiwan, and vowed to keep pushing for an end to an EU arms embargo that could open the door for Paris to sell weapons to the Asian giant.

Raffarin also signed or finalized major business deals with Beijing valued at around $3.2 billion (2.4 billion euros).

Appearing to put his government at odds with the European Union, Raffarin said at the outset of the three day visit that Paris had no objections to the anti-secession law.

"The anti-secession law is completely compatible with the position of France," he said in a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao (photo).

'Anachronistic' embargo

At the same time, he vowed that his government would continue to push for the lifting of what he called the "anachronistic" and "discriminatory" arms embargo against China. The embargo contradicts the current "strategic partnership" between the EU and China, he added.

During his visit to Beijing on Thursday, China Eastern Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines signed a deal with the European consortium Airbus to buy a total of 10 A319/A320 planes. And China Southern completed an agreement on its purchase of five A380 super jumbos.

The deals were signed between the carriers and the European consortium's vice-president, Philippe Delmas, who is in China accompanying Raffarin on his visit.

China's Airbus business

In talking to news agencies, Delmas said the deals were "not letters of intent, but firm contracts." China is responsible for one-sixth of Airbus's annual deliveries, he noted.

France has lobbied hard for Airbus sales in China, and its close political ties with Beijing appear to have helped smooth the way for the deals.

Ahead of the visit, Raffarin had stressed his commitment to push the EU to lift its 16-year-old EU arms embargo against China by the end of June. In an interview with China's Xinhua news agency Wednesday, Raffarin reiterated the EU's decision, taken at a summit in December, to work toward lifting the arms embargo by late June.

He added that the decision should be Europe's alone, and noted that Europe is working to convince Washington of its position.

"France continues to require the lifting of the embargo and does not see what could lead the European Council to change its position on the subject," Raffarin said Thursday in a joint press conference with Wen.

Potential growth

The airplane deals penned Thursday are estimated to be worth some $500 million to $600 million, Airbus said.

Some 20 other previously announced contracts were also finalized during the ceremony. Taken together, the value of the deals comes to around $3.2 billion, Delmas said.

"This is a very big market ... in the first four months of the year it grew by 40 percent over the same period last year," Delmas told news agencies.

WoW, France supporting China on that law. Is the French govt. doing this for greed because of Airbus and weapons? Then again, it was France who was the first western europe country to accept communist China.

[Akira 0]

China and Airbus have already concluded their multi-billion dollar deal. With the growth of China's economy and its growing markets, I wouldn't doubt if business and money had more to do with it.

[kerosene 0]

Quote[/b] ]WoW, France supporting China on that law. Is the French govt. doing this for greed because of Airbus and weapons? Then again, it was France who was the first western europe country to accept communist China.

The only alternatives China ever had were a monarchy or a Chiang kai-shek's right-wing dictatorship. It was inevitable, just like everyone eventually accepted the Soviet Union despite sending troops to fight for White Russia in the civil war.

[denoir 0]

I recommend that some of you travel to countries where Europeans are the miniority.  I lived in Indonesia for several years and guess what...most Europeans did THE EXACT same thing that Turks do in Germany.  They, for the most part, stay in their own little communities, have their own cultural events, and their own social organizations.  Most did very little to try and blend in with their host country's culture.

This is NOT a simple matter of stupid 3rd world people refusing to become civilized.  

Excellent points. And this is the same everywhere.  A former girlfriend of mine grew up in Saudi Arabia (lived there for 6 years) and of course she had basically no contact whatsoever with the natives. Her family lived in an area where only westerners lived and there was never a question of adapting local customs.

So these tendencies exist everywhere and on any scale. When I moved to Stockholm for my studies, most of the people I hung out with were from my hometown of Västerĺs. People have most of the time a tendency to form groups with people they have stuff in common with.

That of course doesn't mean that the gaps between groups can't be bridged. Groups can keep their integrity while communicating and working together with other groups. It does however take mutual respect, and this is where European immigration politics fail.

Anyway, in my experience (and I've had a lot of experience working with people from all possible nations and cultures) nationality and culture is fairly irrelevant. What my conclusions are (and this isn't exactly politically correct either) is that the real segregation is at the social level. Social background and education seem to be the key factors.

If you find somebody from the same social background and that has a similar education, chances are you will be able to communicate, regardless if he is from India, Iran, China or Sweden. Education alone is IMO unfortunately not enough as you get the basic cultural priorities from home. You may have been forced to read Kafka in school, but unless you think of reading Kafka as significant, you'll forget all about it. Priorities you get from home, and there the social-economic segregation is immense - no matter how good the schools are.

To give you a practical example, today I was discussing a problem with a co-worker of mine - he is from Iran. We had each proposed solutions to the problem. He pointed out that they were pretty much equal. I, wanting my solution, joked that yes, the solutions are equal.. but some solutions are more equal than others. He of course recognized the Orwell paraphrase and we had a laugh about it. If I picked a random Swedish guy on the street, the joke wouldn't have worked - no matter how Swedish he was. The Iranian guy has a PhD from Cambridge and is from a family of academics and scholars in Shiraz. He is a practicing Muslim, has an Iranian girlfriend and they speak Farsi at home.

So we have different cultures, but no communication problems whatsoever.

(Of course, you might point out that we can communicate because he has bothered to learn about western culture and that I know shit about Iranian culture. And that's certainly true, but it is also a fact of life (thanks to our gun toting, violent ancestors that invaded other countries en masse) that European culture is more universal)