Multi-culturalism, Good idea?

Question

This is something the government has been recently apologising for and we have to endure the likes of John Reid admitting that maybe its not worked out to well. But is multiculturalism a good idea, and i mean really think about it.
Like communism it is wonderful in theory but maybe not so good in practice.

Some good points but before i get tagged as someone who reads the sun and never leaves the pub, i am not. I have travelled extensively around the world and have noticed that throughout the world 'large scale' muliticulturalism seems to segregate societies and cause tension. I love variety and experiencing new cultures. But i wont to go to India to experience Indian culture, these days you just jump on a train up north! I know this will annoy many gaurdian readers but without 'wonderful' multi-cultural northern england - 52 peoples lives would of gone on longer than 7th July 2005.

Answer 1

You can't make people happier to live with people they think are very different unless you can find ways to build bridges - & that hasn't happened in the UK. Instead, multiculturalism has often seemed to be an excuse for white, liberal types to rubbish many of the things they don't like about the 'traditional' aspects of life in the UK.

Answer 2

I have thought about it an awful lot, and believe me, it doesn't, isn't, and never can work. We can't even agree what we mean by culture. In the Muslim world, the components that we normally separate ie. Politics, Religion and culture are inextricably linked in such a way that you can't identify one against the other. That is why the 'racist' word, is so often misapplied.

It has also encouraged separateness of minority groups. There has to be much more things of a fundamental nature that bind citizens together, than there are things that separate them. Otherwise, you have states within a state, and no sense of shared values or Britishness.

It is all very well for the Government to admit at this very late stage that multiculturalism (whatever it is) doesn't work. As far as this Government is concerned it has served its purpose, the immigration flows have occurred.

Communism focuses on trying to share out the cake, but has forgotten that there are no incentives for citizens to bake it the first place. Multiculturalism, argues that we are all enriched by each others culture, but fails to recognise that our differences prevent us operating as a cohesive society. It's all very left wing and PC. I do enjoy other peoples culture etc, and that is why I used to go abroad on holiday to experience it.

On a very small scale, you can get away with it if you are dealing purely with what we would regard as the cultural element, but, when the numbers increase, or you are trying to embrace the non-cultural elements, there is no chance.

Answer 3

Multi-culturalism is not a good idea. Just look at the north of England there's bad feeling all round amongst the different races.
Hardly anyone integrates, its a shambles. Without being prejudice in any way I do think the government has took on a big responsibility regarding multi-culturalism and it could be to late to do anything to find a solution to it. I do believe to answer this question correctly a person has to work and live in communities where a lot of races come together.
I live in such an area and what I see and hear gives me the distinct impression that multi-culturalism is not working in my area. I can only assume there are a lot of other areas in the UK the same as mine, but i'm not sure of that.

Answer 4

When does Multiculturalism become ethnic cleansing. I will answer that, when the numbers of ethnic homesteaders/invaders begin to outnumber the indigenous population and in doing so take over that which the indigenous people had fought to make their own over thousands of years. Culture, religion, education, homes, work and identity etc. New Labour have made no bones about the fact they intend to open up the doors to all and sundry and remove the terms English, Scots, Welsh and Irish from the frame. Jack Strew has already openly said ''There are no English so there is no right to exist' being Jewish tho he defends the right of the Jewish Community to exist. Multiculturalism is another word for mass immigration purposely engineered by previous governments and especially New Labour. Remember New Labour have upped immigration levels from 50000 a year to 250000 a year for the next ten years at least. This will mean a total population increase of one thirtieth of the present population. Mass immigration was and still is a mistake the only losers are the indigenous people themselves.

Answer 5

Bad idea in general, I'd say.

By dividing society into different sections, treating each section differently (by their own rules etc), we sacrifice the idea of a national culture.

That is the hypocrisy that strikes me over this matter. We have politicians insisting that people should be treated according to their background, and that if one belongs to an identifiable group then they should be treated according to a different set of rules. Different to other groups, and also different to those who do not align themselves with any particular "culture". At the same time as encouraging people to identify their differences, the politicians then go on to bemoan a lack of "national identity" and introduce citizenship as a curricular activity.

We are all different, even within each of the many "cultures". So we should be treated as such - not given privileges or special treatment because of creed or race. This will encourage faction and friction. (How's that for a sound bite!?)

I heard a great definition of culture: "It's the way we do things". So multi-culturalism is self defeating as it becomes a single, negative culture in itself.

Multi-culturalism, by its nature, allows people to become or feel disenfranchised and isolated. And they wonder why extremist beliefs are becoming more prevalent?

It is no longer "correct" to wonder about our differences, think about them and then shrug them off. Or blatantly ignore them. I'm sure that used to work pretty well?

Answer 6

Multiculturalism is a mixed bag, and depends partly upon the traditions and culture of the nation as a whole. In the United States, multiculturalism is often railed against (Irish immigrants, Chinese immigrants, black equality movement, Hispanic immigrants), but generally has led to a peaceful and beneficial outcome in the end. Other places, such as certain parts of India, have had Hindu/Muslim clashes for years that show no sign of letting up.

I suspect that as long as the different cultures are of the same religion, they can typically coexist in the long run. Sometimes, schisms between religions can coexist (Protestant and Catholic in the US), and sometimes they cannot. (Protestant and Catholic in Northern Ireland, Shi'a and Sunni in Iraq)

I hate to say such a thing, religious harmony would be wonderful. However, as you say, perhaps it simply does not work so well in practice.

Answer 7

When all cultures are able to live together, make allowances for and respect the other cultures then yes.

As a Welsh girl who trained in Indian dance and music since I was a child then I've enjoyed multiculturalism in this respect.

When one or another culture begins to demand special treatment and see itself as superior to others, then that breeds resentment and the whole thing falls down. Islamic Suicide bombers are evidence of this.

Answer 8

Multiculturalism sounds good. Who doesn't like a good kebab, or even a nice curry? But then:
Female circumcision (male circumcision should also be illegal), forced marriage, flogging, ritual slaughter of animals, "honour" killings, amputation of limbs for minor offences, stoning for adultery, hanging for sex outside marriage. They are all parts of other cultures in the UK

I would give up curry and kebabs for never having such things happening in this country.

Answer 9

I strongly belive that it is concpetually a fine idea- but the theory is let down in its half-arrsed application by simple-minded idealogues not prepared to ask their own constituents what they want in their own country.
Many who strongly advocate multi-culturalism or racial pluarlity rarely practice anything they preach and live in majority white middle-class areas, marrying whites and having white children marrying other whites.
Thus we have the lamentable situation of the hypocrite not practicing what he preached. A fine example is the Leftist folk-singer Billy Bragg- extolling the virtues of Brixton (most Brixton dwellers themselves are not happy with problems there) but he lives in a model majority Anglo-Saxon, affluent village in Devon couyntryside.
I've brought many poeple back to London from Asia, and all ask why there are so many non-Caucasians living in London (they of course were misguided into beliveing that Brtain was a white society). I decline to comment on their perceptions of this being a positive or negative.

Answer 10

It's a good idea in theory.

I don't think it will be anything more than a dream until people can live together peacefully. Wherever you go there will be people calling other racist, there will be people pointing out each other's flaws and diferences and there will always be those people who think it is "trendy" to have friends of different races.

Until we can live together in genuine peace without even noticing people's differences in skin colour, culture and heritage then there will always be racism of some form and multi-culturalism will be nothing more than an idea.

I would also like to point out the blatant hypocrisy of people like Tony Blair, John Reid and George Bush who are fighting for multi-culturalism by going to war with people of different cultures.

Answer 11

you are able to also aspect out each and each of the marvelous food we were given from multi-culturalism. We does no longer have pizza. That on my own is worth it. We get the perfect food from global huge. the american subculture is type of a filter out. It filters out the crap some cultures eat, and the reliable stuff will develop into Americanized. i does no longer have it any opposite direction.