Across Europe, millions of Asians, Africans, Arabs and others have made Europe their permanent home while maintaining strong links with the countries and families they left behind. We have a unique ability to live simultaneously in two parallel worlds - that of our ancestors and the new one in which our children are being born. It is diverse, multicultural and multicoloured. But many Europeans, closing their eyes to the epic changes taking place in their communities, refuse to come to terms with the new minorities living in their midst. Certainly many European politicians and policymakers would like to pretend that Europe was otherwise.
Diversity appears to pose less problems elsewhere.
My cousins in New Jersey carry their 'Asian-America' identity like a badge of honour. Younger relatives in London are funky British Asians, eager to talk about the latest Asian bands and clubs in the city. Across the rest of Europe, however, moves to recognise ethnic minorities as an integral part of mainstream Europe remain patchy. At best we remain exotic, foreign, objects of curiosity. At worst, there are the daily encounters with discrimination, harassment and racism.