A rchive Date
[ 02-08-2004 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ Canada ]
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[http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Columnists/London/Alex_Yazdani/2004/08/01/565986.html
Multiculturalism strengthens democracy
ALEX YAZDANI, London Free Press
2004-08-02
By its very definition, a democracy is for the people by the people. How, then, can it be suggested that multiculturalism could lead to its breakdown?
The idea comes from the apparent rise of ultranationalism and religious-based nationalism around the world and the thought that as citizens of these societies immigrate to Canada, these tendencies will be brought with them.
While this is entirely possible, to assume that it will cause society to become fragmented and turn inward, with little to keep the groups together, is false. It is false because Canada's attitude toward culture is not the same as it is in other parts of the world. Here, differences in language and culture are allowed and respected.
"What people are really thinking of when they make the argument that (multiculturalism) can undermine democracy is that people will cease to be part of the collective that are countries and start to identify much more with a narrow identity group, and therefore forsake their civic and democratic responsibilities for the countries that they exist in and cleave more to the nation (or group) that they belong to," said Jerry White, professor and chair of the department of sociology, at the University of Western Ontario.
White and several others in his field believe that multiculturalism, in fact, strengthens democracy. While there are examples from various parts of the world where differences in culture have caused war, genocide and abuse of power, it is because differences are not allowed or given equal value that this occurs.
"If you look at the Kurdish people, for example, what we find is that because the Iraqi government tried to suppress their identity and their national institutions, language, culture, they got more and more resilient in their demands to hold on to it and more and more militant about defending those identity borders," said White.
"If we take a look at Canada, the more and more we've moved toward bilingualism, the recognition of Quebec's rights, the recognition that people have a right to culture and language in Quebec, the more that has undermined the movement to separation and sovereignty. Whereas, we know that in Canada if we were to take a fairly dramatic assimilationist stance, such as proposed by Lord Durham in the 1840s, if we were to push that kind of policy now, the reaction in Quebec would move them closer and closer to demanding sovereignty-association and a positive vote."
Almost half of Torontonians are foreign-born. Is Toronto's government being threatened by ethnic groups and communities where language and culture have a geographic centre? Does this concentration of cultureChinatown, Greektown, Little Italy and Little Indiamean that these populations have not assimilated into Canadian culture?
The suggestion that these groups will turn inward, reject the government that currently rules and have nothing in common to bind them is far-fetched.
It is not far-fetched, however, to believe that a new model is being created that has not been witnessed in any other country or federation of states. Canada just may be a demonstration of how unity can occur within diversity.
It is not to say that difficulties will not arise in the future as existing practices are questioned, such as which religious holidays should be observed as federal statutory holidays. But this will force Canadians to work together to find inventive solutions that are unique to our country and our problems.
Many people come to Canada looking for a place to start over, for a peaceful home in which to raise their family, and where a new beginning can be made. It has been demonstrated over and over that turning inward without respect and recognition of others can lead to divisiveness and violence.
Multiculturalism may change the laws and policies that were once based on British law and heritage. But the democratic system will ensure that what replaces these laws are decisions made by Canadian peoples for the Canadian people.
Alex Yazdani is a London freelance writer. Her column appears Mondays. Home Page
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