Great Britain, little understanding

I have always questioned the concept of what these days is fashionably called ‘karma’. If what goes around comes around, how is it that countries like the United Kingdom still flourish. Aren’t these the people who plundered countries like mine i.e. India, and caused poverty and destruction to an extent? However I cannot help but wonder whether all the social tension in the country - the terror attacks etc is all because of bad karma.

Of course Britain likes to see itself as multi-cultural and all embracing of global ethos. The leader in last week’s Economist talks about how globalisation has done wonders for Britain. And yet Britons worry about its Muslim community who are looked upon as the ‘harbingers’ of terror. According to the article the only reason Britons ‘spirits are low’ is because the presence of ‘lots of foreigners’ is making it uncomfortable. On the other hand they laud their imperial past and trading relations with 'foreigners'. Considering the fact that none of the colonies benefited too much from British rule, I can only see this an attitude of selfishness that dominates the British mentality. An attitude of use and throw.

Perhaps old habits die hard, but the article seems to suggest that all Britons want is to use the best resources - be it labour or services without respecting the culture of those they use. Forcing non-Islamic laws down the throats of the Muslim community is not going to get a welcome response - reflected in the controversy of veils. Though in the article there are suggestions of how to put the individual at the heart of all things, it comes across as very half hearted and does not attempt to understand WHY the 'home grown terrorists' behave the way they do. Or maybe I just did.