Multiculturalism
- Thread starter J_Bunny
- Start date
And how exactly would one discard their ethnic heritage? It all depends on what means by multiculturalism? It seems to mean many different things to different people.
If they are coming here, they better retain their culinary heritage....our restaurants would be pretty boring without all the choices we have. Their musical ones, too -- there are so many great musicians in Vancouver and Toronto from all over the world.
If it means kowtowing to religious beliefs, that's something different -- but if it something that does no harm, it is no different than kowtowing to our Western-oriented religions.
If i emigrated to Japan to work and live, should I pretend to be Japanese? Pretty sure it wouldn't work, even if I became fluent in the language and knew more about their culture and history than most of them do. I would still retain my ethnic heritage and point of view.
If they are coming here, they better retain their culinary heritage....our restaurants would be pretty boring without all the choices we have. Their musical ones, too -- there are so many great musicians in Vancouver and Toronto from all over the world.
If it means kowtowing to religious beliefs, that's something different -- but if it something that does no harm, it is no different than kowtowing to our Western-oriented religions.
If i emigrated to Japan to work and live, should I pretend to be Japanese? Pretty sure it wouldn't work, even if I became fluent in the language and knew more about their culture and history than most of them do. I would still retain my ethnic heritage and point of view.
Okay, then, in the spirit of assistance, some ideas:
People will retain their ethnic heritage no matter what. We may as well take advantage of it. I attended Scottish games as a child, and most of the participants had been here for generations. Haggis and other horrible foods were consumed in the spirit of multiculturalism -- even though that was not yet a term in official use. Likewise with Octoberfest -- how many members of the oom-pa-pa bands that have been playing for decades are actually from Germany/Austria themselves?
We are all immigrants unless we are of First Nations heritage. Christian religion, parliamentary democracy, laws based on those of Great Britain (and partially from France in Quebec) etc. etc. are all a result of immigrants retaining their ethnic heritage.
We have become a global world, with the need to interact with cultures everywhere. Canadians who understand China, India, etc. are a huge benefit to taking part in global trade and interaction.
We all benefit from exposure to other cultures. It makes us less racist and insular as a society when we actually meet others and realize they are not so different from ourselves in the most basic ways.
Coming from a meat-and-potatoes culture, my life has certainly been enriched by the ability to enjoy Thai, Chinese, Lebanese, Greek, Italian etc. etc. cuisine. Coming from a family that only listened to Tennessee Ernie Ford and Julie Andrews records, the ability to learn about and appreciate music and dance from everywhere else in the world is a blessing. I hope that their descendants retain those aspects of their culture. Canada has benefitted from film-makers like Deepa Mehta that tell the stories of other cultural experiences, in films that we can all enjoy.
People will retain their ethnic heritage no matter what. We may as well take advantage of it. I attended Scottish games as a child, and most of the participants had been here for generations. Haggis and other horrible foods were consumed in the spirit of multiculturalism -- even though that was not yet a term in official use. Likewise with Octoberfest -- how many members of the oom-pa-pa bands that have been playing for decades are actually from Germany/Austria themselves?
We are all immigrants unless we are of First Nations heritage. Christian religion, parliamentary democracy, laws based on those of Great Britain (and partially from France in Quebec) etc. etc. are all a result of immigrants retaining their ethnic heritage.
We have become a global world, with the need to interact with cultures everywhere. Canadians who understand China, India, etc. are a huge benefit to taking part in global trade and interaction.
We all benefit from exposure to other cultures. It makes us less racist and insular as a society when we actually meet others and realize they are not so different from ourselves in the most basic ways.
Coming from a meat-and-potatoes culture, my life has certainly been enriched by the ability to enjoy Thai, Chinese, Lebanese, Greek, Italian etc. etc. cuisine. Coming from a family that only listened to Tennessee Ernie Ford and Julie Andrews records, the ability to learn about and appreciate music and dance from everywhere else in the world is a blessing. I hope that their descendants retain those aspects of their culture. Canada has benefitted from film-makers like Deepa Mehta that tell the stories of other cultural experiences, in films that we can all enjoy.
Any moment now, there will be posters blaming multiculturalism for everything, including terrorism.
It doesn't require racism to create that scenario. It just takes an entrenched priviledged group holding on to power and repressing the aspirations of a larger group. It can be as simple as a bunch of sheiks dictating how the entire rest of the population lives, no matter whether the same or a different race.
I don't entirely buy that Al. I think racism is lately being used as a stick with which to beat people in nations whose liberal-democratic ideas look exploitable. France and Denmark come immediately to mind.
Don't get me wrong: I don't ask that immigrants try to forget or ignore their culture and beliefs. I do ask that they show respect for those of the people in the country to which they've come.
For instance, personally I welcome the Tamils to Canada and would even welcome ex LTTE people if I felt any confidence that they were willing to leave their war behind.
when it comes to politics, there's only one culture! when it comes to festivites, there's multiculture! that's what i observed since i came to canada!
I think if you travel to areas in the world where many different ethnic groups have gathered and live in relative harmony; you would then agree that multiculturalism has been a good thing for Canada. Places like Singapore, Fiji, London England and other European cities come to mind.
Wouldn't our community be pretty boring place if all newcomers totally assimilated into our Western Society? Personally, I like our blend in Canada.
Really? How do you know when and where the first Nations people came from?
Which first Nations people were the first, or are all Amerinds the same?
What if Pacific or Asian seafarers arrived first but didn't settle?
Why does getting somewhere first grant one more rights?
If a culture is defeated does it deserve to be recognized with status?
How far back in time do you go to recognize cultures and "ownership rights?
When does achievement and input outweigh past occupation?
