Clubmed, what's goin on over there?

[Mr. Goodbytes]

It seems Austria is going a bit far on this one. Visa applicants to undergo schooling to speak German (the Austrian dialect I imagine) and learn other facts about Austria. Story. I can see requiring some cultural knowledge and understanding for those wishing to become citizens. But to require those who want our equivalent of an H1B visa to go to culture classes to work in your country is outrageous.

Visitors to other countries choose on their own to learn the language and culture out of respect for the citizens of that country. Those who do not choose to show such respect are more easily dismissed, and rightfully so. But it is a person's right to be ignorant of another nation's customs, and it also that person's right to face the consequences for his inevitable mishaps that result from his ignorance. Forcing someone to learn isn't the right way to go about it. That just breeds contempt.

BTW, CM, how in the world do you spell Kartoffelsalat with Erdäpfel?

Link fixed. D'oh

[Skywalker[TSG]]

mmm Kartoffelsalat r0x0rzz

People who move to a country living on the taxpayers money and not learning the language should be kicked out.
But forcing people to optain a VISA to go to school is just wrong.

The scary bit is that if I went to austria i wouldn't need no stinkin VISA, like always these rules only apply to those who are different , like muslims and the like.

[ClubMed]

Your link doesn't seem to be pointing to the right article ?
(I'd rather read it before posting).

[samwichse]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/world...6-23093458.htm

[quux]

this was established by a non-person named Jörg Haider who is infamous for being of an extremely brownish colour. Sick.

CC.

[Skywalker[TSG]]

Whats so wrong with Haider ?

He's just trying to preserve Austria
something more european countries should do.

[quux]

I from history faintly recall that there was another person from Austria which served more than a lot of trouble.

Besides, if I look at the birthrate among people here (Germans) I doubt that there would be much of a future without some 'external help'. And what about what once was called 'Global Village' ?

CC.

[Skywalker[TSG]]

Importing Criminals doesn't boost the economy either.

2 million hard working poeple can do more then 5million bums !

[quux]

I am not talking about importing criminals and I have watched the development here quite sceptically, opting for some real immigration legislation rather than all this "asylum-seeker' business (which seems to have faded though).

However, now that we have this "nice" Euro things do not matter anymore anyway as we will slip to the level of Portugal (or so) anyway and can already look for a nice place perhaps in Turkey.

Still, I do not think that bothering limited time residents with the language is appropriate - if full citizenship is in focus, I think it is alright.

CC.

[ClubMed]

Okay, now that I have read the article I will comment:

This is obviously one of the most common issues with every country in the world, how to treat the different types of immigrants that enter the country and how best to integrate them so that they do not become a costly problem for the state and for the tax payers.

There is no full proof or 100% effective method to deal with this issue, every state attempts to implement it's own ideas, some effective, some not and others laughable.

Now, I agree fully with the over all idea of making it a requirement for immigrants to learn the language of their 'new' state. There is no other way in which a person can integrate. And I am talking out of first hand experience. However, I am not sure if forcing people to integrate will result in a good and positive integration that would benefit the community as a whole.

Also, integration is an effort that has to be carried out by the host community and the guests. Here in Austria many people still think that integration is somehow the job of those who come to our country only.

Now that I have commented on the topic I would like to point out to Skywalker[TSG] that Haider was/is riding the racism wave. That is a very dangerous and destructive path. He chose very primitive methods of dealing with this issue. He also seems to have forgotten that 80% of Austrians are of Hungarian, Polish, German, Italian etc.. origin, what on earth is he trying to ‘preserve’ in our country?

We don’t need preservation, we need integration and diversity. Until then I feel that my country will remain a sleepy town.

Anyway, that’s all I have to say to this, it’s a topic that is discussed and debated to a noxious level here…