Multiculturalism and the i-Generation
By Chris Buckler BBC Newsline
They used to talk about two cultures in Northern Ireland. Not any more.
The slow change into a multi-cultural society is now clearly visible on the streets and in schools in Northern Ireland.
Polish and Portuguese pupils and Chinese and Czech workers are now just some of the new Northern Irish.
But are they being welcomed?
Hate crime has always been a problem in Northern Ireland but racism seems to be becoming a particular worry, with attacks on foreign nationals all too common.
BBC Newsline has been asking its audience whether we are a tolerant society through our E-panel, our interactive viewers panel.
It was not a scientific survey, but it did give some idea of the views in Northern Ireland.
The majority of people surveyed indicated that 30 years of violence had failed to make us more tolerant.
Perhaps, more concerning, was that most of the E-panel suggested there had been a move from hatred because of religion to hatred because of race.
Survey
While only a minority - about one in six - expressed concern that migrants were taking jobs in Northern Ireland, interestingly it was young people who seemed most anxious.
About a third of 15 to 24-year-olds surveyed indicated they were angry about people from other countries "coming and taking jobs" in Northern Ireland.
A third of respondents also indicated that migrants were not making any attempt to merge fully into society. Again among young people the percentage was higher.
So is the i-Generation really an intolerant Generation?
On Wednesday night, we discussed the issue live with sixth-form pupils in Newry.
The debate started on BBC Newsline, 1830 GMT on Wednesday, BBC One Northern Ireland. It then continued live on-line at www.bbc.co.uk/nirelandnews at 1900 GMT.
You can watch it by clicking the video link at the top of this page.