Submitted by R.Lindsay, Aug 23, 2007 15:00

I suppose I should not be surprised by such alarmist articles, especially within what is a US media outlet. My credentials for response are that I have worked within and been close to the security issues prevalent within the UK for many years and know (and understand) the Islamist threat. To suggest that the UK (let alone Europe) is opening itself to Islamist influences is inappropriate and inaccurate. To provide ~ as evidence of such subversion ~ a bad experience in a restaurant is, frankly, laughable. As many tourists have found, as they have soaked up the rich experience that is London, Brits make many cultures welcome in our country ~ it's something about those born here that stimulates a genuine interest in others who visit and a desire to make them welcome. What this article lacked, in addition to a balanced view ~ as opposed to a one-sided & prejudiced one ~ was a sense of depth to the comments. The reader was left with a view that the conclusions reached were arrived at as a result of a 'bad tourist day'. I am lucky in that I have had the opportunity to visit cities in every continent and meet those from many diverse cultures. I still value London as a city more than any other (although it is not my home town) and take great pleasure in walking its (safe) streets; experience its (wonderfully diverse) theatres and joy in the diversity of the restaurant experiences and menus typically found in London these days. And, above all, it's getting better in every successive year. A message, then, to others who may actually believe the article ~ don't ! This was a dose of tabloid journalism in the worst of taste. It presented a thoroughly distorted view of life for the tourist in London. Come and try it for yourself.... then you can provide an honest assessment of London yourself which is almost bound to counter this article.

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