What do you think is the state of multiculturalism in Canada?

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Lucy

The more cultures the better - for me - as you know. I do, however, understand the concerns of the Canadian people. Compared to the US -anians, Canadians act more accommodating towards the different cultures - my experience.

But, I'll tell you - a light bulb went off in my head when the Asian student went off on a killing spree in Virginia. I understand why he did what he did. I know, it's not right - but he is a product of THIS society, we created the monster who killed those innocent people.

What I mean is quite simple. When I was 16 a few American girls made my life a living hell because I was pretty, I was smart and guys loved my accent. I was called a b!tch and a whore on a daily basis - to the point that I did not want to take the school bus anymore. I went home crying every day! My dad wanted to come to school and kick their @sses (old style!). Well, it escalated to the point that one day, they beat me up. Three fat ones of them and one skinny me. I would've gotten some punches in, but they attacked from behind, on the football filed, with the gym teacher right there. By the time her fat @ss turned around - she was an extremely large woman - and no disrespect to big people - she just made me want to vomit - I was already on the floor. She didn't believe me and she send me to the consular, another idiot! He didn't discipline them and he sure as sh!t didn't help me. Anyway, it's emotional for me, so I'm sorry to swear so much.

My point is that I am vocal, I talk about things, but those who are quiet, will eventually snap! This is what happened with the Korean boy - I'm sure. I feel sorry for him just as I feel bad for the people who died and for those who set bombs. They act out of rage. We, the US, want immigrants to come here and take the jobs that no one will take and barely make enough to live. Then, we laugh at Mexicans because they live so many in a house and manage to save money and send it home to their families. I find it ironic. We let them in, we make it so easy for them to spend their money (se habla espanol) but we don't help them adjust. I mean, psychological help! For the record, I like Mexicans. Most of my students were from Mexico and I understood how kind they were and how difficult their life was on a daily basis. My students loved me though because they knew that no matter what happened, I was there to help them, and that I did.

If we just start treating immigrants like people and not aliens, we really should have no reason to fear them - that's how I feel about it.... Case closed ;-)

David01

First off I'll have you know that I'm from the United States, so you will not be getting the perspective of another Canadian. But, I do have something to say about multiculturalism.

In nations like the US and Canada there has been some from of multiculturalism from the beginning of European settlement. Each new country that sent people over here to claim their own piece of the New World gathered and settled on one particular area. English here, French there, Spanish, German, Portuguese in other places. In this way, this part of the world has always been multicultural.

But after independence of these new world nations was achieved there was a great deal of cultural blending and homogenization, which is a factor in how these nations became greater and grew to the powers they are today. If the new world had remained divided by countless little settlements of different cultures there would have been no unification and growth into larger nations. If there were no assimilation into a greater blended culture then the new world would still be made up of small stagnant colonies tied forever to their motherlands for cultural self-worth and even political and economic power.

While assimilation may have eliminated ties to all the cultures that built the new nation, the value of a new and greater nation was well worth it. If modern states kept people divided into smaller cultural sects and clans then no greater nation can be built.

One can still keep ties to the lands of their forefathers, but they don't have to live exactly as their forefathers did. That is exactly the reason many of our ancestors left those places long ago. They wished their progeny would have a new life, in a new nation not confined by its shackles of old world, but one that could draw value from all cultures around the world.

Multiculturalism seeks to keep all different cultures intact in nation made up of countless ways of life, but it does so at the expense of creating a shared culture of new nation. The dogma of multiculturalism seeks to increase the self-worth of a minority ethnic group by preserving it in a new world, but in doing so it belittles it to minority status instead of valuing its unique contributions to a greater whole.

When a group is singled out and special and given privileged cultural status due to its minority population is will affect the way those members react to world events. I do believe that multiculturalism will result in direct conflicts with those minority cultures that have been ghettoized and separated from the greater society. These groupe do no become part of their new homeland, they just live there.

In the case of Middle Eastern and Muslim groups, I do believe we are seeing this already in action in Europe. In Germany and in France young Muslims are rioting on a regular basis against a nation that hold vastly different culture values than then ones they have been told culture holds.

Other nations like the US and Canada have been free of this sort of reaction so far. But, if policies of multiculturalism and political correctness are taken to their logical and extreme ends, then we too will suffer at the hands of groups we have marginalized and alienated by our own misguided actions.

All peoples who see themselves as being members of a distinct cultural group should be encouraged to join in and enjoy the benefits of assimilating into the larger and welcoming national culture. We should reach out to these groups and seek common ground and understanding with hopes of unification into a greater culture.

P.S. I am German, English, Swedish, French and Cherokee, but I'm also 100% American.

shoredude2

Every country needs a certain number of things that unite them together as a country. This doesn't mean that people in the same country can't have differences.

Unfortunately, a small percentage of newcomers come to the US and Canada, only for the financial benefits and have no desire to become American or Canadian. But we shouldn't allow that small percentage effect our view of other cultures in our country. The acceptance of other cultures is one of the things that makes us American or Canadian.

dreamersleague

Multiculturalism creates a void where the Canadian Identity should be. My opinion is it allows everyone to live in Canada and just basically be whatever they were (Chinese, Italian, Iranian, ect), except living in Canada. I find very there are very few "Chinese-Canadians". Most immigrants in Canada are "Chinese People living in Canada", or "Iranians living in Canada". It doesn't make them become Canadian. And how can they? There is almost no Canadian identity for them to assimilate to. Don't believe me? Ask people abroad to describe the typical Canadian.

Compare that to the Americans. American Identity vs. Canadian Identity. The Canadian Identity, to 90% of the population is "Not American". How sad.

Anyone who argues the "Canada is a young country!" thing is just not thinking. Austrailia is a young country, and there is a definite Australian identity.

In my opinion, Multiculturalism in Canada has failed miserably. We should just do what the United States does. More people want to move to the United States than Canada, so you can't argue that the American system is cruel or not compassionate.

Just my opinion.

avtr

It's working a little bit too well in my opinion; there should be more that unites us, not separates us which is what militant multi-culturalism can do.

isotope2007

Actually here on the west coast enrollment in and demand for ESL has gone way up.

The one thing Canada does not want is the melting pot myth the US has. It hasnt worked, in fact its had a divisive effect of the country, people are bashed and abused for NOT becoming American. Which has the greatest racial tensions and conflicts? Assimilation or diversity?

And what is American anyhow? Besides waving the American flag and celebrating the 4th of July WHAT is traditonally "American" that makes their culture stronger than the Canadian culture?

I believe Canada has a much stronger culture than the US has. We dont have to all look like clones, dress like clones, talk like clones.

The Canadian culture is partly our diversity. The country was built by immigrants from different European countries working side by side, no one tried to force their culture onto the others - they just became friends and neighbours.

Canadian culture is taking pride in what has been a peaceful country, a country that has always stood for peace, and for helping our friends and neighbours. We have fought wars, we just dont have an economy based on war.

Canadian cultures is all around you, in our oceans, our forests, out wheat fields, and the people who work hard to create a resource based economy, not a war based one.

Canadian cultural symbols are the Maple Leaf, the french voyageurs, the over lander settlers, its our two official languages, its the 1st of July, people like Terry Fox and Rick Hanson, Wayne Gretsky, etc. Its in our foreign aid, its the people lining up with respect for the fallen soldiers, its in our armed forces, our coast guard, our search and rescue people, our fire fighters, who knows how to fight forest fires?
Its our RCMP who have always been respected as a police force. Its our Snow Birds.

We help the US fight fires , and now we are on our way to Greece to help them. Its the thousands of registered native indian fire fighters in Footner Lake Alberta and elsewhere in Canada. Its people of different races working together for the common good of our country.

Cdn culture isnt waving flags, its about rolling up out sleeves and getting the job done, no matter who's job it is that needs doing.

When I see a group of young people talking on the school ground and some of them are "white" some are East Indian, some are Chinese, some are Native Indians, some are black, I think this is Canadian culture.

Our culture is in our land, our wilderness, our clean environment, our diversity of races and religions, its in our strength as people.

Every one of you has posted what Canada stands for, what Canada is "like" and yet when someone asks about Canadian cultures you draw a blank - you live Canadian culture every single day.

You dont have to wave flags to have a strong culture - you dont have to all look alike, dress alike, speak alike - thats cloning. You throw too much into the "melting pot" and all you get is one big mess.

Yes there are "growing pains" but maybe if the younger generation were more welcoming, less judgemental of new Canadians, and werent so inclined to believe these new immigrants should "assimilate" the way they are forced to in the US you wouldnt find them so hard to accept.

To tolerate a person means to "put up with them" that isnt what Canada has always been about. Its been about celebrating our differences and learning about other cultures.

You are allowing the media to create fear in you of other cultures and races. IF you had never watched these fear mongering new reports would you still be worried about "people who dont look like you?"

The terrorist reports are created to perpetuate the fear in the US so people will believe that war is a necessity and to keep the American people complacent and brainwashed into believeing its kill or be killed. It keeps the US economy going.

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