Do you think multiculturalism could encourage separateness?

Answer 1

The concept of multiculturalism is not a standalone concept; it is incorporated into wider considerations about the long-term integrity and wellbeing of a society. The problem is that it can only be practised properly when people believe in it fully at the time. And this is where your question resides. The answer to your question therefore is - yes it does. But things do not stop here, there is more to the issue. The main objective of all societies is a smooth progression of their various differing parts into a single unified whole - or a process of gradual assimilation.

There is something more fundamental to a society than multiculturalism – something that recognises its parts. This can be nationalism, patriotism, ideology or racial and geographical distinctiveness. These things normally stay hidden and set the basis for a wider and more general ethos of a society. If I for example ask myself – who am I? The most rational answer will come from my observation of my life in relation to what I do, who I share my life with and where I live. All these things are not I but various aspects of myself – expressions of my true and essential self. Similarly a state or a society has a self that expresses itself in form of its peculiar aspects.

The influence of some thing above and beyond multiculturalism can be seen in societies where people from different backgrounds have converged to form a society. For example, the influences of British society upon it constituent cultures are already very visible. You will observe that all people regardless of their race culture and religion recognise, appreciate and even share the same set of ethical and moral values. They can be observed distinctly British in comparison with people of their origins. Multiculturalism, in a way, is a proclamation that the ethos of a society. If is a proclamation of it excellence, strength and relevance in a wider world.

Answer 2

The answer to this question depends on the motivation of the community in question.

The U.S. has always been a melting pot. Immigrants came to the U.S. and were encouraged to "fit it" in all aspects of their life from language to basic culture. Canada, on the other hand, adopted the idea of multiculturalism during the time when Pierre Trudeau was Prime Minister. The experiment has been more or less successful and has enriched the country in too many ways to list here. The odd thing is, even though each different cultural community keeps what they brought to Canada and celebrates it, the vast majority respect the country and call Canada home. I believe this has to do with respect for the country because the country made a point of respecting them and where they came from.

Answer 3

Yes. It does exactly what it was designed to prevent. It pigeon holes people into stereotypes. It denies the individual personality, which is highly offensive to most people. It is another example of our failed educational system and of our failed politics. In a multicultural society you cannot deny the existence of the individual in favor of a melting pot of humanity where everyone is perceived to be the same. It may look good on paper, but it is not the way we were made. It was never God's intention that we create a society of clones where people are basically faceless. What the so-called geniuses of our society have succeeded in doing is creating pockets of segregated society in which groups do not talk to each other. We are moving toward an ever-increasingly segregated society, like many nations within a nation. This only encourages ethnic tension and rivalry. One nation under God, indivisible with Jesus in every heart is the only focus that this country needs. The rest is worldliness and will doom this nation to destruction if it is not stopped. God save us all.

Answer 4

No. You seem to have fallen prey to an often mistaken difference between multiculturalism and pluralism. Webster defines the two this way:

Multiculturalism: : of, relating to, reflecting, or adapted to diverse cultures

Pluralism : a state of society in which members of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, or social groups maintain an autonomous participation in and development of their traditional culture or special interest within the confines of a common civilization b : a concept, doctrine, or policy advocating this state

Under a pluralistic state there is separation and autonomy which may lead to internal conflicts within the country or region. In a multicultural society there is a sharing and balancing of power in a centralized government which gives consideration to the cultural differences of all the people and builds connections by bringing people together on common needs and concerns. Given the choice, I would favor the multicultural approach as it brings people together.

Answer 5

Absolutely not. The experience in India is quite the contrary. For various historical reasons many cultures Hindu, Muslim,Christian came together here and each one of them has benefitted from the other. The Bhakti cult in Hinduism, even it theoretically it could be argued that its roots could be traced out in the old scriptures, it received sustennce only after its association with the Sufi cult in Islam. The Islamic culture even though it entered as a conquerer mellowed down with time and is almost taunted as a kafir by staunch Muslims. e.g. adoption which has no religious sanction in Islam is practiced on a large scale in Indian Muslims. Apropos to the recent uncalled for and unkind remarjks of the Pope aout Islam it may be stated that the Holy Koran itself had tried to understand the grief and guilty feelings of the Christians that they did not protest effectively against the crusifixation of Jesus. It says that they need not feel guklty because they did not crusify him. In fact,Jesus was never crusified at all since God had already withdrawn the spirit of Christ and what was crusified was a body with only life but sans soul.To us it may appear it as unsatsfactory but it shows how the coming together can bless both the cultures. In Islm in India by an eminent Muslim authoris described a medival movement of integrating Islam into Hinduism by propogating the theory that Paigambar was the 8th incarnation of Gorakhnath.I have recently come across a brochure by a Hindu author whih seriously argues that Mohammed Paigambar was the 10th incarnation-Kali-of Lord Vishnu. He has pointed out the strange resemblance of the names of Mohammed Paigambar's parents to the sanskritised versions of the names of the persons who will be the parents of the 10th incarnation. The partition of India was politiically motivated by some ambitious Muslim leaders under the guise of religious arguments. Even after partition more Muslims remained back in India than the entire population of Pakistan(Both wings). And by and large the boys they left back had been loyal to India. Both Hindus and Muslmims celebrate the Tajia festival together.Not that there cannot be frictions but by and by the edges become blunt and people get along nicely together.The West which have all along been monoculture may be finding it difficult in the new multicultural development but the coming together cannot be avoided also In France with a sizeable population of Muslims there have hardly been any frictions except the recent one where some bigot modernists have been trying to impose regimentation in the dress-code. This will pass.

Answer 6

I think that in a overall view, it seems like multiculturalism would be a good thing, allowing all ethnicities to celebrate their heritage and accept those of others. BUT, with human nature being what it is, I do think it can cause separateness.
We are all biologically programmed to instinctively draw toward people and things that are familiar. That is why monkeys out in Africa are hostile toward other primates that are not originally part of their social order.
I remember in high school, I would sit on the bleachers while everyone else played basketball (I went to an all boys school). Not because I was unpopular, but because I don't sweat on purpose. I would look up from my book and see that all the Caucasian guys were on one end of the court while all the African-American guys were on the other. I don't think they did this on purpose, I think they were just gravitating toward people they were similar to. It was my first observation in a sociological way, and I became intrigued with this pull in human behavior.
It's what started me on my quest to find out what makes people tick, and why I was a sociology major.

Answer 7

Could? It does.