I was reading this article today about multiculturalism in the UK. Funny, I was having a conversation with an English friend here just yesterday about the same thing. It's funny how things like that happen.
As well, I find it funny when England calls itself a multicultural country.
If you don't already know this, Canada has multiculturalism built into it's constitution and it's been like that for close to two decades. One morning, all Canadians woke up to learn that we have been "legislated" a multicultural society and we have grown into that policy. To me, it not only meant that we were a nation that consisted of many cultures but also that there was an acceptance and respect of the diversity of people that live here.
Many live by this belief, I am sure but I am guessing that there are also many who think that we should "protect our own" much to the disadvantage of the other groups. A "Let's protect Canadians" kind of thinking. Personally, I believe that if people would like to immigrate to our country, they should be able to as long as they are doing it because they would like to be a part of this country of ours. I think that is just the way it should be... it's part of what makes Canada a great place. We have grown into our multicultural skin and let it flourish.
The bad thing about this is that it gives me a kind of superiority complex that no other country can do it as well as we can. Thus my amusement about the United Kingdom. I felt that (when I was there last) there was a huge diversity of people from around the world however, I also felt that there was a subversively negative feeling about non-Britain's living there. It's a hypersensitive part of myself that notices these things. It seemed like an underlying racism.
However, this article makes me think twice about it. Could I come off of my moral high ground long enough to believe that it is possible that some other country of the world is capable of the same kind of acceptance?
I know what some of you think about the subject but it would be nice to hear what you have to say about it. About anything really... comment on the article or the state of the world.
Anyway, it's election day in my country... again. I know the results that I'd like to see but it will be interesting to know the final results. Do we stick with the old guard, the Bush-ass-kissing conservatives that think women should stay at home and have children, the fence-sitting NDP (which by the way, all three of these parties seem intent on mud-slinging their way through the campaign) or the Greens (who haven't had much of a chance to prove anything).
Looks like many of us will wake up with a whole new government tomorrow morning...
As well, I find it funny when England calls itself a multicultural country.
If you don't already know this, Canada has multiculturalism built into it's constitution and it's been like that for close to two decades. One morning, all Canadians woke up to learn that we have been "legislated" a multicultural society and we have grown into that policy. To me, it not only meant that we were a nation that consisted of many cultures but also that there was an acceptance and respect of the diversity of people that live here.
Many live by this belief, I am sure but I am guessing that there are also many who think that we should "protect our own" much to the disadvantage of the other groups. A "Let's protect Canadians" kind of thinking. Personally, I believe that if people would like to immigrate to our country, they should be able to as long as they are doing it because they would like to be a part of this country of ours. I think that is just the way it should be... it's part of what makes Canada a great place. We have grown into our multicultural skin and let it flourish.
The bad thing about this is that it gives me a kind of superiority complex that no other country can do it as well as we can. Thus my amusement about the United Kingdom. I felt that (when I was there last) there was a huge diversity of people from around the world however, I also felt that there was a subversively negative feeling about non-Britain's living there. It's a hypersensitive part of myself that notices these things. It seemed like an underlying racism.
However, this article makes me think twice about it. Could I come off of my moral high ground long enough to believe that it is possible that some other country of the world is capable of the same kind of acceptance?
I know what some of you think about the subject but it would be nice to hear what you have to say about it. About anything really... comment on the article or the state of the world.
Anyway, it's election day in my country... again. I know the results that I'd like to see but it will be interesting to know the final results. Do we stick with the old guard, the Bush-ass-kissing conservatives that think women should stay at home and have children, the fence-sitting NDP (which by the way, all three of these parties seem intent on mud-slinging their way through the campaign) or the Greens (who haven't had much of a chance to prove anything).
Looks like many of us will wake up with a whole new government tomorrow morning...
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