LONDON -- The British government has backed the development of a multicultural and multiethnic society, and has accepted, if not promoted, multilingual communities. Until quite recently Britain welcomed immigrants and asylum seekers. These policies have made British society in the last half century much more diverse, and Britain has deservedly won a reputation for tolerance of ethnic and cultural differences.
Public opinion, however, has now become concerned that the changes that have occurred in British society have gone too far and that the common values that have been developed in Britain over the centuries are being eroded.
One of the most important of these values -- tolerance toward the beliefs of others -- has been sorely tried by the revelation that the July 7 London bombers were British-born Muslims. How could this happen in our society? What can we do to root out those who promoted the evil philosophy that persuaded young men to sacrifice their own lives to kill and maim innocent people?