Whatever Happened to 'When in Rome'? Should newcomers adapt to their host country, or should the host country adapt to them?

When visiting a new place, one should follow local rules and customs. Hence the old axiom, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Apparently, in modern Britain, that requires a nine-page government instruction manual. The U.K. Home Office recently published “Understanding Behaviours and Expectations in the UK: A Guide for Asylum Seekers.” It begins by acknowledging the obvious: We understand that coming to a new country can be difficult, and that laws and customs here may be different from your home country. Fair enough. Every country has its own laws and customs. But the British government’s instructions go well...