Multiculturalism, even in a political sense, may be interpreted in various ways. Generally speaking, it has come to mean the argument for extending equal status to distinct ethnic and religious groups without promoting any specific community values.
Originally, in my opinion, it was thought to lead towards assimilation and monoculturalism. But, now, this commendable idea seems to have failed.
We have a global society that is multinational and where everyone in the developing countries, today, because of the Internet and other forms of international media, desires a higher standard of living ... and we cannot be critical of that. The problem is the perceived entitlement of citizens of poorer countries to emigrate to richer countries and, this, they will attempt to accomplish illegally, if necessary.
As I said in the introduction, it is “extending equal status to distinct ... groups without promoting any specific community values”. Therefore, it accepts religious beliefs dependent upon observance of the country’s laws and constitution. For example, if Sikhism requires a man to carry a knife, the knife should by symbolic and unable to cut. If Islam requires a women to be modest, it is too extreme to completely cover the face, and security laws must predominate. If genital mutilation is considered to be a violent and disfiguring injury, then, those who carry out such acts must face the full force of the law. Finally, Sharia law is not part of Canadian law, and any attempt to include parts of it, must be strongly resisted.
Ask an immigrant from Somalia (for example) if they are, either, a Somalian, a Somali Canadian, or a Canadian (assuming citizenship), there should only be one answer.
Assimilation was never going to be successful and, now, it seems that multiculturalism is a failure too, at least, according to many powerful world leaders — Thus, another look at our whole immigration philosophy is necessary.
Therefore, it is a political requirement ... highlighted in Norway, recently.
Is that a controversial comment to make? I hope so.
Is that a controversial comment to make? I hope so.
