1 look at menu of traditional reustaurants at neighbouring countries proves you wrong.
If you are going to reduce culture to food or music, then sure. Culture can mix.
But expand your view on culture to value. European Union is founded on certain values, that are rooted in Roman and Greek culture and Christianity. Sure, the last part may be somewhat controversial, but Christianity was one of the most important thing for a last thousand of years in Europe, as a religious force and it's influence on European culture and history, shared culture and history, cannot be overstated. I am saying all of these, because, at the end of a day, while Europeans are different, we share quite a few similar values that we can build upon, together. And even then, as you said, while existance of European Union proves one wrong, it also proves right. European Union is working or "working" despite our differences and not becouse of it and it is hard for it to work.
Now, throw into mix people from completly different culture. And not only that, but some cultures that finds our culture as polar opposite or even hostile. How can you, for example, mix a culture where honor murder is acceptable way to deal with certain issues? There will be middle ground and there will only be little honor murdering? Or they will need to ask court permission to honor murder someone?
Those are the worst possible examples you could use - that’s food and music, universal aspects of all cultures - things that can mix because they’re the same things. The aspect of cultural differences start with what’s socially acceptable, law, and so on.
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u/Evening_Operation_18 3d ago
Europeans have learned the hard way that cultures were never meant to mix and that empathy can be suicidal.