Multiculturalism:Your Opinion

[sun rise]

Actually, the US "melting pot" concept (where all immigrants are expected to become "American") is distinct from "multiculturalism". People who come here (to Canada) are not obligated to conform to our dominant white / English culture, apart from following our laws. They are welcome to speak their own languages, practice their own religions, and stay intimately connected with their own people and cultural traditions. Somehow we still get along pretty well.

Here's something you rarely if ever see in a multicultural society:
...

Anti-immigrant sentiment has unfortunately been part of American history for quite some time. It was the Irish that suffered from that, then Jews and now Spanish-speakers amongst others along the way.

I personally think that we'd be better off if we imported some Canadian virtues into this country.

 

[LuisDantas]

Strange wording not withstanding, first option all the way.

 

[Riverwolf]

"multiculturalism" used to be called the American "melting pot" and celebrated for the strengths that every different nationality and culture brought to America. After a generation or two the children or grandchildren of immigrants became fully American while still calling themselves Irish-American, Italian-American and in general "hyphen American". That adoption of American culture is still true today and it's still true that American diversity helps make us strong. For example, the children and grandchildren of Spanish-speaking immigrants become primary English speakers by the third generation IV. Language Use among Latinos | Pew Research Center's Hispanic Trends Project

Actually, the US "melting pot" concept (where all immigrants are expected to become "American") is distinct from "multiculturalism". People who come here (to Canada) are not obligated to conform to our dominant white / English culture, apart from following our laws. They are welcome to speak their own languages, practice their own religions, and stay intimately connected with their own people and cultural traditions. Somehow we still get along pretty well.

I've always regarded the US as more of a salad bowl than a melting pot. From what I know of it's history, Ireland is more of a melting pot.

 

[Pegg]

mulitculturalism means very little where there is no love shown between the different cultures.

 

[Tarheeler]

You'd think they would learn the difference between "are" and "our" before making that demand.

 

[Buttercup]

Actually, the US "melting pot" concept (where all immigrants are expected to become "American") is distinct from "multiculturalism". People who come here (to Canada) are not obligated to conform to our dominant white / English culture, apart from following our laws. They are welcome to speak their own languages, practice their own religions, and stay intimately connected with their own people and cultural traditions. Somehow we still get along pretty well.

Here's something you rarely if ever see in a multicultural society:

Just want to clarify for myself what you're explicitly saying here. Are you saying in a multicultural society you don't have idiots? Because the US is definitely multicultural, no question there. But, if you don't have idiots in Canada, I'm packing up and moving north, TODAY!

 

[Father Heathen]

I'm all for diversity and tolerance, but the respect has to be mutual between cultures.

 

[Alceste]

Just want to clarify for myself what you're explicitly saying here. Are you saying in a multicultural society you don't have idiots? Because the US is definitely multicultural, no question there. But, if you don't have idiots in Canada, I'm packing up and moving north, TODAY!

Nope. No idiots except the Prime Minister and the mayor of Toronto. We spell check our protest signs, and they are all hockey-related and full of contrition.

But seriously, it's a public policy thing. The melting pot is a different approach than multiculturalism. That's the only thing I remember from grade 12 social studies.

 

[YmirGF]

Nope. No idiots except the Prime Minister and the mayor of Toronto. We spell check our protest signs, and they are all hockey-related and full of contrition.

But seriously, it's a public policy thing. The melting pot is a different approach than multiculturalism. That's the only thing I remember from grade 12 social studies.

Even someone who is diametrically opposed to you politically is inclined to agree with you on multiculturalism. Having grown up and lived most of my live in Vancouver, B.C., I can attest that multiculturalism can be a wonderful, albeit sometimes frustrating, experience. In my view, multiculturalism made a great country (Canada) even greater.


Sadly, I could not vote in the poll given its skewed choices.

If you drop the drivel of "and anyone who opposes it is a bigot and racist" I'd go with option one.
Although I will say that people who are strongly opposed to multiculturalism are often bigots and racists... Just sayin'...

 

[Buttercup]

Nope. No idiots except the Prime Minister and the mayor of Toronto. We spell check our protest signs, and they are all hockey-related and full of contrition.

As it should be.

But seriously, it's a public policy thing. The melting pot is a different approach than multiculturalism. That's the only thing I remember from grade 12 social studies.

I'm sure not the US has a definitive approach to accepting varying cultures but we are a melting pot and a country with diverse multiculturalism. It's very clear in Southern California.

 

[Alceste]

Even someone who is diametrically opposed to you politically is inclined to agree with you on multiculturalism. Having grown up and lived most of my live in Vancouver, B.C., I can attest that multiculturalism can be a wonderful, albeit sometimes frustrating, experience. In my view, multiculturalism made a great country (Canada) even greater.


Sadly, I could not vote in the poll given its skewed choices.

Yeah, during the world cup in Toronto there was a street party in some neighbourhood or other after every game. What's not to like?

 

[StarryNightshade]

I don't like this poll.

I voted for #2, but my actual answer would have been something like "Multiculturalism can be a wonderful thing, as long as all cultures (including the dominant) have some respect and tolerance for one another. That being said, multiculturalism can also lead to misunderstanding and division if not approached/applied carefully".

 

[xkatz]

I voted for #2, but my actual answer would have been something like "Multiculturalism can be a wonderful thing, as long as all cultures (including the dominant) have some respect and tolerance for one another. That being said, multiculturalism can also lead to misunderstanding and division if not approached/applied carefully".

^This and also pluralism should be encouraged.

 

[Alceste]

As it should be.

I'm sure not the US has a definitive approach to accepting varying cultures but we are a melting pot and a country with diverse multiculturalism. It's very clear in Southern California.

I think there is a difference between welcoming immigrants but expecting them to adopt the dominant culture eventually, and expecting them to carry on doing whatever they were doing before.

At least that's what they taught me in grade 12 social studies.

 

[YmirGF]

I don't like this poll.

I voted for #2, but my actual answer would have been something like "Multiculturalism can be a wonderful thing, as long as all cultures (including the dominant) have some respect and tolerance for one another. That being said, multiculturalism can also lead to misunderstanding and division if not approached/applied carefully".

AH, but the truly great culture will dominate because of assimilation. The only problem I can see is if a country has a sudden influx of people, a large number of people, who are not inclined to assimilate. That could be problematic.

 

[StarryNightshade]

AH, but the truly great culture will dominate because of assimilation. The only problem I can see is if a country has a sudden influx of people, a large number of people, who are not inclined to assimilate. That could be problematic.

Fair enough.

 

[StarryNightshade]

^This and also pluralism should be encouraged.

Yes. Pluralism is a must.

 

[Alceste]

AH, but the truly great culture will dominate because of assimilation. The only problem I can see is if a country has a sudden influx of people, a large number of people, who are not inclined to assimilate. That could be problematic.

Tis true that all of my neighbours are Chinese. I may have to work on my Cantonese...

 

[Viker]

No me gusta esta encuesta.

 

[Father Heathen]

I think there is a difference between welcoming immigrants but expecting them to adopt the dominant culture eventually, and expecting them to carry on doing whatever they were doing before.

At least that's what they taught me in grade 12 social studies.

Let's set aside the mawkish, mewling ideologies for a moment and look at things critically and objectively.
How exactly does a society that embraces freedom and equality also embrace an outside culture that's highly repressive, homophobic, misogynistic, and doesn't embrace its host society in return?