"Why are you so determined to downplay this? Do you really believe a 1,000,000 predominantly Muslim refugees can escape to Europe and they'll seamlessly assimilate? "
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No, it won't be seamless, but they can assimilate.
I have a Kurd next door to me and Romanians next door to that.
They both work, pay tax, are polite, and don't try pushing any foreign culture down anyone's necks. (Except for Turkish coffee!).
I'm downplaying it because I live here (between UK and Hungary) and interact with muslims on a daily basis.
I can see the difference between what the media report (and how they present it) to what the 'feeling' is on the street, or the talk in the pub.
I actually know that place in Cologne because I stayed very near there for a month.
I was at Keleti station, and also Nyugati station in Budapest, Hungary late last year and saw (again) the news-crews 'working the crowds up' before switching to live broadcast......the more dramatic, the more is sold.
That's why I'm downplaying it.
PS.I also see the irony of a white American expecting others to assimilate seamlessly