Late last week on Newsnight the leader of the Conservative party was quite open in saying he will give priority to controlling immigration.

At last politicians are saying what they thought was politically incorrect. Controlled and managed immigration does makes for better race relations.

I completely agree with David Cameron's point that uncontrolled mass immigration put an extra burden on vital public services. Some schools struggle when they are faced with lots of newcomers whose first language is not English. Extra resources undoubtedly have to be found from somewhere to cope with this.

But I do not agree with the sometimes accompany argument that immigration is diluting "our culture". This always puzzles me.

Culture is defined as lifestyle, customs, mores and a way of life. These change and adapt as people's values and habits shift.

Britain is a secular country where people are free to choose the way they want to live, eat and work. They are free to marry or live together and they make choices to suit themselves. They are mostly influenced by their needs and circumstances. And yet this seems to escape those arguing that their culture is being "diluted".

England has adopted to change in every sphere of its life. The Royal family changed since Diana, who touched and befriended the ordinary person, something the monarchy had never done. The culture of clothes, make up and hairstyle takes its cue from Parisian and Italian trends every season. Food is different from that being consumed decades ago because people have learnt to enjoy variety and health benefits of different cuisines.

Language too evolves and sometimes for the better, but again because people want to do it.

Countries like India have historically been ruled by various civilisations for hundreds of years; from the Mughals to the British. Indians adopted some of their cultures but have largely remained with what they preferred.

There are a very high number of mixed marriages in this country. But that should be a cause for celebration shouldn't it? My own children's partners and future spouses are from Jewish and Roman Catholic backgrounds. I celebrate this fact and feel that mixing with other cultures can only result in better understanding of the world and its people.

I feel sorry for the children who's parents forbid them to marry out of their caste / religion. People marry because they fall in love with that person.

And yet, for all these changes, somehow immigrants are being blamed for it. White Britons can be influenced and adaptive to other cultures as much or as little as they want to.

'Diluting culture', it seems to me, is one of those empty phrases like saying western secular values are corrupting eastern religions.

Culture can only be diluted by consent and if it has any benefit or relevance to the individual. I cannot see any other case for it.

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sabina.ahmed@asiansinmedia.org

Sabina Ahmed previously served on a BBC advisory council for local radio and the community health council.
She is a regular AIM commentator.