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Author | Topic: Multiculturalism | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jon Inactive Member |
We live in a diverse world. We are more aware now of this diversity than we have ever been in the past. In particular, we notice the great differences between Western cultures and those of non-Western immigrants.
Historic responses to unfamiliar cultures have not always been positive. We can find descriptions in all the world's literature about the disliked 'Other'. Our history is filled with backlash and fight against people perceived to be noticeably different. In the modern era, however, attitudes have changed. It is now considered proper and politically correct to not only accept other cultures but to actively involve oneself in learning about them; to enjoy and even seek after cultural diversity.
quote: We live in a world where diversity is respected and even celebrated; where the Otheras defined against the Westis hailed as fresh and inviting; in a world of Multiculturalism:
quote: But this world is not all the roses the popular media would have us believe. It is, in fact, a world of lower standards, greater mistrust, less community, and self-hate:
quote: quote: More and more different cultures are being piled atop one another. The world is facing a challenge on how to accommodate this realty. One approach has been "multiculturalism", but has this really worked? What alternatives are there to handle the ever-growing reality that "We" are not alone? Jon Edited by Jon, : subtitle Edited by Jon, : clarityLove your enemies!
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Tangle Member Posts: 9489 From: UK Joined: Member Rating: 4.9 |
There's only 3 ways that a country can handle what is, in effect, the globalisation of people:
1. Separatism and Apartheid2. Melting Pot 3. Multiculturalism 1 is immoral, offensive and inevitably results in violence2 has been found to not work, by and large, people 'melt' with people like themselves Which leaves us with accepting the many different cultures that live in our communitities and finding ways of accommodating difference - but to do it without compromising the laws of the original country (so long as those laws are democratic and legitimate.)Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android "Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved." - Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.
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vimesey Member Posts: 1398 From: Birmingham, England Joined:
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Hi Tangle,
I would agree that multiculturalism, as you've outlined it, is preferable to the alternatives you paint, and absolutely key to its success is your proviso that the laws of the integrating society are not compromised. (This is perhaps where multiculturalism has acquired bad press recently - a failure to ensure that your proviso is sufficiently emphasised). But I think we need to dig more deeply. Not all western values are enshrined in law - should we determine that certain of those values are sufficiently important, that we should introduce new laws which emphasise them over the practices of incoming cultures ? Take France's recently introduced laws, banning the wearing of full Muslim veils (the niqab and others) in public. We should also ask ourselves if we are too careful about challenging behaviours when they violate our laws or values. See the recent report into abuse (a mild term) in Rochdale, or the scandalous lack of attention given to allegations of systematic rape in the London Somali community. I am not convinced that we have ever been sufficiently clear in the UK as to the standards we expect our citizens to meet. These standards should, of course, never oppress a cultural practice which hurts no one. But we shouldn't be scared to protect values which are important and hard won.Could there be any greater conceit, than for someone to believe that the universe has to be simple enough for them to be able to understand it ?
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Jon Inactive Member |
2. Melting Pot ... 2 has been found to not work, by and large, people 'melt' with people like themselves And that's bad because...?Love your enemies!
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GDR Member Posts: 6202 From: Sidney, BC, Canada Joined: Member Rating: 1.9
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Tangle writes: 2. Melting Pot... 2 has been found to not work, by and large, people 'melt' with people like themselves Jon writes: And that's bad because...? I don't see Tangle suggesting that it was bad but that it was just the reality. I would question though whether or not he was correct. It seems to me more that the melting pot just takes longer. Certainly when people move to a new country they are most likely to move to a community that more closely represents their homeland. It is human nature. We are tribal and of course there are linguistic issues as well. However as time goes by and you get to the second and third generations and beyond, IMHO it does become more of a melting pot as people's customs become more blended. A lived in the Toronto area for a number of years and our street was a complete melting pot where people born in Canada were a minority. There were Brits, French and English Canadian, Chinese from both Hong Kong and the rest of China, Serbians, a Croatian, East Indian are the ones I can remember off the top of my head. I'm not convinced that given enough exposure to each other we can't have a society that will focus more on what brings us together than what separates us.He has told you, O man, what is good ; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
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ringo Member (Idle past 411 days) Posts: 20940 From: frozen wasteland Joined: |
GDR writes:
Once upon a time, a girl I worked with made a slightly racist remark. I said to her, "You have brown eyes. You're not white." However as time goes by and you get to the second and third generations and beyond, IMHO it does become more of a melting pot as people's customs become more blended. A lot of people in the Ku Klux Klan have brown eyes. I'm "whiter" than they are. I suspect that some day the Klan will include black people who hate whomever the enemy of the moment is. Edited by ringo, : Changed 'whoever' to 'whomever'.
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Tangle Member Posts: 9489 From: UK Joined: Member Rating: 4.9 |
Jon writes: And that's bad because...? Who said it was bad?Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android "Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved." - Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.
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Tangle Member Posts: 9489 From: UK Joined: Member Rating: 4.9 |
GDR writes: Certainly when people move to a new country they are most likely to move to a community that more closely represents their homeland. It is human nature. We are tribal and of course there are linguistic issues as well. However as time goes by and you get to the second and third generations and beyond, IMHO it does become more of a melting pot as people's customs become more blended. There's actually very little of that happening even after several generations - except between already like cultures. Also, immigrants come in waves, each generation has has its new immigrants. The melting pot idea may happen eventually but we're talking hundreds of generations, not a handful.Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android "Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved." - Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.
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Tangle Member Posts: 9489 From: UK Joined: Member Rating: 4.9 |
Agreed.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android "Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved." - Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.
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GDR Member Posts: 6202 From: Sidney, BC, Canada Joined: Member Rating: 1.9 |
Tangle writes: There's actually very little of that happening even after several generations - except between already like cultures. Also, immigrants come in waves, each generation has has its new immigrants. The melting pot idea may happen eventually but we're talking hundreds of generations, not a handful. You may be right although the experience that I had in Toronto was more positive. I also think that in Canada, other than for our native population, we are a country of immigrants, so possibly we are more of a melting pot than you are in the UK. Possibly the size of any specific immigrant population might have an impact. The larger the group the less need to integrate with the majority group. I experienced that myself as an anglophone living on the west island of Montreal where English was the predominant language, as opposed to majority French language and culture in all of Montreal. The English speaking population in my area made it easy for me to live without being absorbed into the French language and culture, which of course in the long run was my loss.He has told you, O man, what is good ; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
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Jon Inactive Member |
There's more than one issue on the table here. Multiculturalism, as the policy of promoting cultural diversity and cultural diversity awareness, is attacked on at least two grounds in the OP:
We cannot escape the reality that highly diverse cultures are coming into contact with one another at an increasing rate. We must come up with ways to meet this reality that benefit us as individuals, as societies, as nations, and as a species. Is Multiculturalism the answer to this challenge? Or is there a better way?Love your enemies!
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Jon Inactive Member |
You seemed to discount it as a possible alternative to Multiculturalism.
Why is that?Love your enemies!
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ringo Member (Idle past 411 days) Posts: 20940 From: frozen wasteland Joined:
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Jon writes:
There is no "the answer". We need multi-answers.
Is Multiculturalism the answer to this challenge?
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Jon Inactive Member |
The melting pot idea may happen eventually but we're talking hundreds of generations, not a handful. But it will never happen in a political and academic setting that promotes Multiculturalism: that seeks to recognize, celebrate, and promote cultural diversity.Love your enemies!
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Jon Inactive Member |
Do you see Multiculturalism being an answer, then?
If so, where is it applicable? Where has it been applied? What have been the results? Edited by Jon, : No reason given.Love your enemies!
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