Sunday 13 February 2011
Multiculturalism is a fact
A day earlier, British prime minister David Cameron said:
"Frankly, we need a lot less of the passive tolerance of recent years and much more active, muscular liberalism," (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12371994)
And then:
"Let's properly judge these organisations: Do they believe in universal human rights - including for women and people of other faiths? Do they believe in equality of all before the law? Do they believe in democracy and the right of people to elect their own government? Do they encourage integration or separatism?" (same source)
If you want to listen to all the speech by Mr. Cameron, you'll find it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiIk14m1EgE
John Rees made a comment on infamous words of Mr Prime Minister, and I will make mine:
1. No, we do not need any more of ANY liberalism, we suffer liberalism for last few decades and I believe that it is well proven this just does not work. It is liberalism that pushed us into the crisis from which Europe will not recover for next few years, not to mention "muscular liberalism", as we also know this one, too, or more precisely Iraqis and Afghanis know it very good.
2. Mr. Cameron obviously decided to carry on very populist politics and this is very sad, especially that he apparently did not watch the news, and was not aware what was happening at the very same time in Egypt.
3. Multiculturalism did not fail, I am alive example of that, as I am not English, living in UK and I feel quite good here and I do appreciate what was built in this country by British government and British people (sadly I feel I have to stretch it: also British people that happen to be Muslims).
4. Making speeches like that can be seen as an afford to alienate and marginalize Muslim majority in UK, and this will certainly not create any greater sense of national identity, unless what Mr. Cameron meant was some sort of "white power"? I'm sorry Mr. Cameron, but Britain is not white any more, it is multi-coloured now and you really cannot change it.
5. There were, no doubt here, made some mistakes in the unifications policy before and I can see it clearly even not being English or even British. The very first one is: the language - many, far too many people that moved over to UK to work are not able to communicate in this language and this problem was not dealt with nearly at all. Moreover wherever you go, you can find a translator, there are clerks in banks and other places that speak foreign languages.... which of course very kind and nice, but the thing is that language and communication are the very first thing that make bounds between people.
Another problem is that English people do not know anything about Islam (for example) and many Muslims here live on the side of the society, because they can feel what Mr. Cameron expressed: not being accepted as part of society, ironically most of those people have British passport, and were born here.....
Dear Mr. Cameron you do not create sense of unity by dividing people....
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Disclaimer: anything I write, unless otherwise mentioned, is merely opinion and subject to fallacy and/or change and is not intended to offend anyone or any thing specifically or indirectly. :)
ReplyDeleteMulticulturalism hasn't failed... it just hasn't quite finished succeeding yet. At its most basic level, it works but as with all things, there's much room for improvement. I may be British and inherently proud of that fact but even I can admit we're not perfect and never were, despite our "undisputed world war champions of the world - twice," status (to quote Al Murray: The Pub Landlord).
If I may pick up on the last point you made (you probably knew I would ;D )
My Opinion** is that, if you go to a country to visit (i.e. on holiday / just passing through to a different place), then it's perfectly fine if you only know a few phrases in that nation's tongue. However, if you intend to settle down and grow some roots then you should endeavour to learn as much of that language (or more than one if you live in, say, Belgium or Malta, for example) as humanly possible - immerse yourself in it by attempting to speak it first and foremost whenever you can and resort to your first language when in the company of fellows who are either in the same boat as you or who think it easier for you in that instance to do so. That's not to say that you should *ever* forget your native vocabulary, far from it - I just think that taking multiculturalism to the point where everyone has the same culture / language is a mistake. Attempt to acclimatise with the local culture, absorb it, but never let it destroy the one you came from (unless of course that was the entire purpose for leaving it behind in the first place - in that case, to each their own, if that's your choice in life).
It'd be great if there was a 'world language' that everyone could use elsewhere, to ease diplomacy and trade for example, but to homogenise everything... no, I disagree with that Star Trek view of Utopia.
**I'm open to the idea of other concepts and opinions so please don't think me stubborn and unchanging if what I've said offends anyones' sensibilities. :)
As for not knowing about Islam: I freely admit to my ignorance, but I feel I must extend it to most religions in general and any that aren't Christianity specifically (fact of being taught in Protestant primary and secondary schools, with a mostly agnostic/Protestant family upbringing). The only thing I find disquieting about Islam is the impression that's been forced upon me by mainstream media, that it's trying to be the dominant religion on this island when Christianity has been here for a millennia or more. The resultant marginalisation of Christians by the government in a bid to appease those of other faiths and cultures instead of growing a backbone and saying 'we'll allow you here but remember, live by OUR rules while you are'... ***
I'll conveniently gloss over the fact that Christianity was forced upon the native peoples of this land when it arrived on these shores and that the small gods and goddesses of everyday life were consiged to the dusty attic of social memory. *attempts to whistle an innocent yet jaunty tune*
***I'm fairly sure I was trying to make a point there but it got away from me, so I apologise if what's left is confusing in any way.
/gets off soapbox and awaits the reaction...
I like to use a comparison between being an immigrant in some country and being a guest in someone's house, it is obviously a simplification, but I believe it will serve our little cause :)
ReplyDeleteIt comes without saying that visiting someone we don't always like everything in the house or all the habits our host have, nevertheless we know damn well good we have no right to change anything there, unless we become a part of the family (as a husband/wife for example).
Here it comes: if one decides to live in some country, he.she should respect the this country and its people, and there are many ways of showing this respect with an afford of learning the language at the very first place. It is also, I believe obvious that we do not like everything in this country (whether it is England or Iceland :P ), if we want to change anything we can ONLY use the means that are accepted by wide public (sadly minorities always will be in a way disadvantaged).
After Tariq Ramadan I will repeat: Western Muslims (I think it applies to Buddists, Sikhs etc as well) have to be responsible for the countries they live in and Western governments have to enable their minorities to successfully blend in their societies, because there is no way back. There is work to be done on both sides.
But we cannot be expected to prove that we are not terrorist all the time, because such an assumption base solely on my faith is just unfair and simply racist.