Slavery, colonialism, imperialism and antisemitism; as well as ABBA...Something like that...

Red district:)

Razi and I will go there someday.

Yup... on our way to SOHO, we will read THIS...

When I think and imagine about Europe I thank God I live in America and that I am an American!

Most of all, I think of Cold rainy weather. I lived in England for 8 years as an student late 80's , early 90's and rarely recall a nice sunny day during that period of time.

But I also remember a country were Higher education, and health care  were available and  free to all. A country were unemployed and needy were housed and looked after by the state. Great achievements for the British working classes, and a testament to that country's strong democratic institutions, where as recently as last year the scottish people were allowed a referendum on their independence from the "United Kingdom".

Try explaining that to our own "monarchists".... 

I lived in Europe too, and all I remember was how immigrants were either unable or unwilling to integrate into the European society. Unlike here in the states.

Why don't you come over and judge for yourself ...

Oh wait a minute ... you already have 

;) 

As an undergrad @ Aryamehr U. in Tehran in the late 70's, I recall my Trotskyist classmates who seldom attended and always disrupted lectures would boast and brag about eastern Europe to be the top of the heap! In particular, they would give us all the cock and bull stories about Albania being the mecca of culture, science, art, high tech, advancement, etc. I used to ask them if they had ever visited Tirana and they would reply no but their uncles had! I think Khomeini must have killed all those neophytes! Who was the leader of Albania during the USSR era? Was it Hassan Akhtaroff!?

The USSR era leader of Albania was a man named Anver Hoxha.

You can Read about him here

He was unique amongst all the so called "socialist countries" leaders, for his hostility and mistrust towards khomeini and his Islamic republic right from the begining. The reason being he was born a muslim himself, had fought Albanian muslim traitors who had sided with German/Italian Fascist occupiers of Albania in WWII.

In short he knew the so called "Political Islam" too well, much better than some of his Iranian admirers  you met as a student.......

Razi

I did not mean to getcha that excited friend...relax and enjoy da ride...

Tolerance to the point of losing its own identity. Poetic justice perhaps?

I was in Belgium this past summer. It looked like fogging downtown Riyadh/Riyaz, and this was a nice little town not far from Brussels.

Belgium ranks number one among the EU members plus Britain in manufacturing and exporting  ISIS terrorists. Racism against and marginalization of immigrants are the main culprits.

naaRazi joon, blame the west, it has helped so far - NOT! They resist and decline assimilation and hence are treated as outsiders, but by a few, not all - easy concept to understand.  

BTW, your comment above about anti semitism is classic, coming from you!

I hope someone will eventually say a thing or two about "melting pot vs mosaic"...

You forgot the Salad Bowl, Razi. 

The "melting pot" is a more appropriate description. You see, everything melts before it reaches the poor and the downtrodden!

As a believer in the great American value of individualism, you are on your own. In other words, you can't win 'em all!

And most social scientists are at a loss when dealing with the cognitively dissonant folks. 

G. Rahmanian: You just described, I-Ran!

No, Dear.

Unless one has made it, that is precisely what Europe is about. Iran is in a different catagory all by itself. 

Jenab G.R., How would you classify Canada where many of our fellow writers around here live?

It depends compare to what nation or country.

The following is compared to USA. Except insecurity add YES to all  to compare to Iran.

prosperity .... maybe

tolerance ..... yes up to a point

democracy ... Yes

security ... YES

chaos ... no but getting worth

civilization ... YES

​insecurity ....  NO

​modernity .... NO