Multiculturalism

[Zephyr]

Here's just a quick question for you folks out there:

Why should we accept or promote multiculturalism? It's really a simple question. Just give me a reason why.

 

[Sunstone]

What do you mean by "multiculturalism" for the purposes of this thread?

 

[standing_alone]

Because we can learn valuable things from other cultures

Because we are living in a world that is becoming increasingly inter-connected and "smaller" (global market/economy/trade/technology)

Because being exposed to other cultures helps us learn what the truth is about that culture and not the ethnocentric hype/stereotypes--that is, it will stamp out the unfounded fears we have of cultures different than our own

Because so many atrocities have been committed because of ethnocentrism and unfounded animosity/fear of different cultures

Because multiple cultures aside, we are still one human race

 

[Zephyr]

Let's just pluck the first sentence of the article on Wikipedia for now. If anybody would disagree and have a better definition, do speak up.

The term multiculturalism generally refers to a state of both cultural and ethnic diversity within the demographics of a particular social space.

 

[Zephyr]

Because we can learn valuable things from other cultures

Explain. What can we learn from other cultures that we can't figure out on our own?

Because we are living in a world that is becoming increasingly inter-connected and "smaller" (global market/economy/trade/technology)

And does this require us to intermingle beyond simply trade of goods and technology?

Because being exposed to other cultures helps us learn what the truth is about that culture and not the ethnocentric hype/stereotypes--that is, it will stamp out the unfounded fears we have of cultures different than our own

But then what of the real threats that we'd be inviting into ourselves? It's a trade-off. Not all fears are unfounded.

Because so many atrocities have been committed because of ethnocentrism and unfounded animosity/fear of different cultures

Many atrocities have been committed as a result of multiculturalism.

Because multiple cultures aside, we are still one human race

And? We may all be humans, but that doesn't mean we are all the same.

 

[Sunstone]

Many atrocities have been committed as a result of multiculturalism.

I'm unaware of any. Could you name a few?

 

[standing_alone]

Explain. What can we learn from other cultures that we can't figure out on our own?

Oh, I don't know, various agricultural pracrtices, different perspectives on philosophy, developments in medicine/science, and so on.

Could we potentially figure out some of these things on our own? Yeah, but why postpone realizing them over disdain or fears for other cultures? Also, some concepts, I don't think could be developed eventually later on by one culture, as different cultures have different perspectives--like Native Americans with spatial time and Europeans with linear time, as an example that came immediately to my mind. When cultures have vastly different perspectives on the world, I really think some developments can't be realized by another culture, though other cultures could benefit to know of them and widen their perspective.

And does this require us to intermingle beyond simply trade of goods and technology?

Yes, if one does business in another country, that will involve at least some individuals from a different culture to meet in other countries, practically speaking. Also, wouldn't it be better to actually have some understanding the people you are doing business with, rather than some stereotyped charactature?

But then what of the real threats that we'd be inviting into ourselves? It's a trade-off. Not all fears are unfounded.

Not all, no, but it seems when it comes to the issue of different cultures, more often than not those fears are unfounded.

I think ethnocentrism poses a far greater threat than multiculturalism. I present as Exhibit A: ethnic-cleansing.

Many atrocities have been committed as a result of multiculturalism.

Because of the resistance of the ethnocentric.

And? We may all be humans, but that doesn't mean we are all the same

Yes, we have cultural differences. So? Should we go back to the grunting, imbecile cave-manlike tribal designations so we can grunt around stupidly with those who most look like us or think like us because we fear our minds might grow a little or we could *gasp* learn something from someone who is "not one of us?"

 

[Scott C.]

Here's just a quick question for you folks out there:

Why should we accept or promote multiculturalism? It's really a simple question. Just give me a reason why.

I'm not sure what "promote" means here. We should love, respect, and accept multiculturism. It's enjoyable to mingle with people from different places who speak different languages. I'm glad we have this diversity in the country. While we should stick with one language spoken by everyone, multi-lingualism (is that a word?) is a good thing. It broadens your understanding of the world, to be able to communicate with people in their native language.

 

[Sunstone]

Should we go back to the grunting, imbecile cave-manlike...

Alyssa, I wish you wouldn't openly talk about my management style like that.

 

[standing_alone]

Alyssa, I wish you wouldn't openly talk about my management style like that.

I'm sorry, Phil. I don't know what got into me.

 

[Sunstone]

I'm sorry, Phil. I don't know what got into me.

It's OK. It's just that when you've worked as hard as I have to be true to myself....

 

[Mister_T]

Because we can learn valuable things from other cultures

Because we are living in a world that is becoming increasingly inter-connected and "smaller" (global market/economy/trade/technology)

Because being exposed to other cultures helps us learn what the truth is about that culture and not the ethnocentric hype/stereotypes--that is, it will stamp out the unfounded fears we have of cultures different than our own

Because so many atrocities have been committed because of ethnocentrism and unfounded animosity/fear of different cultures

Because multiple cultures aside, we are still one human race

Everything that Alyssa has mentioned, I agree with.

Our country was built on multiculturalism.

 

[Sunstone]

Everything that Alyssa has mentioned, I agree with.

Our country was built on multiculturalism.

I second that, with the caveat that our country was built on a certain amount of assimilation too. There's a balance to be struck there between multiculturalism and assimilation.

 

[standing_alone]

I second that, with the caveat that our country was built on a certain amount of assimilation too. There's a balance to be struck there between multiculturalism and assimilation.

That's a very good point; the resulting dilema, though, is, to what/whose standard do we assimilate? Do we assimilate only to the dominant culture? Or to the traits found most useful in several cultures, into a sort of "meshed-assimilation?"

 

[Sunstone]

That's a very good point; the resulting dilema, though, is, to what/whose standard do we assimilate? Do we assimilate only to the dominant culture? Or to the traits found most useful in several cultures, into a sort of "meshed-assimilation?"

Excellent question! Historically, assimilation has often been a two way street in the US, hasn't it? For instance, the Anglo-Saxon culture tended to back prohibition while the German culture tended to oppose it. The Germans, who were not the dominant culture of the time, were among those who eventually won out on the prohibition issue.

I think the ideal would be to take the best that each culture has to offer and mainstream it.

 

[Smoke]

Here's just a quick question for you folks out there:

Why should we accept or promote multiculturalism? It's really a simple question. Just give me a reason why.

We should learn as many languages as we can and appreciate the literature and music and cuisine of other peoples, or at least other peoples who don't eat bugs, blood, and eyeballs. Biscuits and gravy are nice, but imagine if you never got to try fasolakia or sauerbraten or pierogi or pad thai. Tennessee whiskey is nice, but so are vodka and slivovitz and amaretto.

Multiculturalism has its limits, though.

 

[Mister_T]

I think the ideal would be to take the best that each culture has to offer and mainstream it

That's what I was thinking as well. I also think that multiculturalism is an inevitable mechanism of our history. I can't imagine what the world would be like if nobody embraced outside cultures.

 

[standing_alone]

Excellent question! Historically, assimilation has often been a two way street in the US, hasn't it? For instance, the Anglo-Saxon culture tended to back prohibition while the German culture tended to oppose it. The Germans, who were not the dominant culture of the time, were among those who eventually won out on the prohibition issue.

I think the ideal would be to take the best that each culture has to offer and mainstream it.

Then another problem results in, who determines what is best? What standard is our measure?

I guess, the difficulty in this issue of mutliculturalism and assimilation is, does assimilation become ethnocentrism? Kind of see where I'm getting at?

I just think these are interesting questions to ponder--perhaps even essential.

Multiculturalism poses problems like these, but looking at the alternative, I'd rather these, generally, intellectual problems to solve than mass graves and a shattered humanity...

 

[Sunstone]

Then another problem results in, who determines what is best? What standard is our measure?

I'd leave it up to the people "voting with their feet", so to speak. If they want to adopt the Christmas tree from the Germans, and that tree catches on to become mainstream, then so be it.

I guess, the difficulty in this issue of mutliculturalism and assimilation is, does assimilation become ethnocentrism? Kind of see where I'm getting at?

Yeah. I think there's always that danger. But a certain measure of assimilation is necessary to keep the body politic together.

I just think these are interesting questions to ponder--perhaps even essential.

Multiculturalism poses problems like these, but looking at the alternative, I'd rather these, generally, intellectual problems to solve than mass graves and a shattered humanity...

Me too.

 

[standing_alone]

I'd leave it up to the people "voting with their feet", so to speak. If they want to adopt the Christmas tree from the Germans, and that tree catches on to become mainstream, then so be it.

Yeah, I can see that. Also, with different cultures having more "dominance" (at least numbers-wise) in different regions, we should see different values and perspectives crop up that wouldn't have elsewhere, and see what the value is in it and if it's something we'd like to adopt as a whole.

The only thing I always keep in consideration, though, is that one culture is dominant over all others by possessing the positions of power, by owning and/or operating the media/distribution of information/ideas, and in those ways shapes and determines the wider-culture without the people really getting a say or shaping anything--but perhaps that is impossible to avoid (or, optimistically, easy to overcome if we just decide to fix it)...

Yeah. I think there's always that danger. But a certain measure of assimilation is necessary to keep the body politic together.

Oh, certainly, some assimilation is always important. My question would have been better phrased as "Is there a point (or when is the point) that assimilation becomes ethnocentrism?"