Immigrants can be beneficial

I am writing in response to the editorial published in The Jakarta Post on Nov. 10, titled: Perils of multiculturalism.

The article blames France's generous and "liberal immigration policy" for the recent French riots and argues that multiculturalism is the root cause of the unrest. The article also argues that no multicultural country has ever been devoid of social problems.

First of all, no country has ever been without social problems this is an impossibility. Secondly, immigration is not an act of charity, it is a tool for economic growth. Economists can prove that immigration makes both the receiving and the sending country richer and more efficient.

London is a wealthy, successful city of immigrants. Hong Kong is a wealthy territory of immigrants. Brazil is a multicultural country which claims to be racism-free. The world's richest country -- the U.S. -- is a country of immigrants. A third of the 500 richest U.S. companies are owned by immigrants.

Immigrants, when they are allowed, create millions of jobs wherever they go. The problem in France is not a matter of immigration policies. Immigration has proved itself to be an enormously positive phenomenon all over the world. The problems in France are a matter of respect. People don't become angry because they are poor - 80 percent of the world's population is poor.

Inequality seems to be a natural state which people accept and always have accepted. People become angry when they are not being respected. As a white, British Londoner, I recall going to school and all of my classmates having a different color skin. All my friends originated from different parts of the world and I can honestly say that, until I first went abroad, I couldn't understand the concepts of racism and xenophobia. They seemed too bizarre to me. What do they mean? As a Londoner, I have lived and worked and had relationships with people of all races and nationalities and the idea of not respecting someone because of their background is impossible for me to imagine.

I wonder whether a typical Frenchman can say that!

SOMERSET REX, London, UK