"This is because in a culturally homogeneous area, the local culture is so taken for granted, it is quickly discarded in favor of the new. But where there is a variety of cultures all in the same place, everyone becomes more keenly aware of their own culture of origin, and they are much more likely to embrace it and preserve it."

That is an astute observation, Carol. I think that's exactly what we're observing in multi-cultural England right now, in both a positive and a negative way.

"Examples such as the following sometimes make the news here - a school with a strict no-jewellery policy (similar to all French schools now having a no-veil policy, I think) ends up in court because a student insists that a bracelet is very important to her culture and religion"

what about those cases where the religion being defended is Christianity? There have been several. So does that mean that Christianity is in conflict with the law of the land?