Multi-culturalism

**Crazed Rabbit** · 10-28-2005, 17:38

Originally Posted by TinCow

I understand what you are saying, but American culture in particular IS immigrant culture. Nearly all of our most popular foods are slightly altered versions of other nations' traditions. Our art, our vehicles, our architecture and even our language are heavily based upon foreign influence. I think this domestic dilution of the native culture can certainly be a problem in places like Sweden, France and Italy. However I think the US is very different in these regards and can't quite be discussed in the same way.

Right you are. And I'd love other immigrants adding to the national culture we have here. But multiculturalism isn't that. The leftists want american culture to fold in completely whenever its different from an immigrant culture.

Crazed Rabbit

**TinCow** · 10-28-2005, 17:50

Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit

Right you are. And I'd love other immigrants adding to the national culture we have here. But multiculturalism isn't that. The leftists want american culture to fold in completely whenever its different from an immigrant culture.

Crazed Rabbit

I'm not quite sure I know who you're referring to. I'm pretty liberal as are many of my friends and I don't know anyone who actively wants to substitute our culture with a foreign one. Like everyone else we have good and bad aspects.

However, regardless of who you are referring to, I do not believe it is something to be concerned about in the US. We actively absorb new cultures and integrate their traits into ours whether they like it or not. I can't imagine that any group of people would ever be able to overcome the well-established melting pot of America. Even the massive influx of Latin American immigrants over the past several decades has done little more than boost the consumption of salsa and given us some new blood in the entertainment and sports industries. The current prevalence of Spanish through the nation is simply the reflection of a new group that has yet to full assimilate. It took a few generations for the major influxes of Italians, Irish, Germans, Greeks, etc. to drop their languages as well.

If you want to see a nation that HAS lost their cultural identity, look at Singapore. They systematically knocked down nearly everything of any historical significance. The few old things that remain were preserved largely due to British influence rather than domestic. Singapore is now a soulless techno-city which I dare to say has no culture at all beyond capitalism.

**Radier** · 10-28-2005, 18:07

I as a Swede can´t possible vote yes because the integration here is totally unmanagible because the system sucks and we take in so many immegrants every year. There are immegrants here who have lived here for years and don´t know a word swedish. This multiculturalism do more bad than good.

My friend gor robbed, my cousins friend grouperaped. My other cousine´s boyfriend was allmost beaten to death. One guy at work were stabbed in the back, and some guys stole my expensive bicykle a time ago. All these crimes where comitted by NON-europeans, mostly from the arabic countries. Why shall I be happy with multiculturalism? The only thing multiculturalism has brought to me are these things and the motivation too learn how to fight...

If I want polish culture I travel there. If I want algerian culture I travel there. How fun would the world be if there where the same mixed culture everywhere?

I have some immegrant friends who are fully integrated to the swedish society and our culture. That is million times better than the other nonintegrated immegrants I have met.

Those of you who voted yes, I would like to see you settle a year in the gettos of example Rosengård or Rinkeby in Sweden. Then we shall se what you think...

**Crazed Rabbit** · 10-28-2005, 18:09

Exactly. That's not multiculturalism.

CR, who exactly are the "they" that you are referring to?

Its's how multiculturalism is supported in the US, by them, aka leftists-not liberals or democrats, but the very left wing radicals.

the irony of this statement against multiculturalism is delicious, indeed.

You don't understand the paradox of multiculturalism in the US, obviously.

We actively absorb new cultures and integrate their traits into ours whether they like it or not.

I know. My point is that the radical supporters of 'multiculturalism' don't want this to happen. They want our society to be a non-integrated one with multiple cultures. They are trying to prevent the assimilation.

Crazed Rabbit

**solypsist** · 10-28-2005, 18:15

being blindly dismissive doesn't strengthen any argument.

Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit

You don't understand the paradox of multiculturalism in the US, obviously.

<<lives in NYC - I think I know a little about living around people with different cultures. That and my extensive world travel have informed me pretty well about integration of peoples in different (global) societies.

**Duke Malcolm** · 10-28-2005, 18:25

One does not need to live in a multi-cultural society to learn about other cultures. There is such a thing as world travel, i.e. travelling across the world, experiencing other cultures. The simple argument of knowing more is weak in itself.

**solypsist** · 10-28-2005, 18:29

oh nevermind. kids.

**Duke Malcolm** · 10-28-2005, 18:35

Originally Posted by solypsist

being blindly dismissive doesn't strengthen any argument.

Originally Posted by solypsist

oh nevermind. kids.

Hypocrisy is a terrible thing...

**Crazed Rabbit** · 10-28-2005, 18:30

being blindly dismissive doesn't strengthen any argument.

I've yet to see any argument at all from you.

Crazed Rabbit

**solypsist** · 10-28-2005, 18:35

my argument is that simpy keeping one's options narrow is not productive.

now i have to head to the airport - Portland to NYC, an all day trip. Sheesh.

have fun guys.

Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit

I've yet to see any argument at all from you.

Crazed Rabbit

**Ser Clegane** · 10-28-2005, 18:43

Originally Posted by King Malcolm

One does not need to live in a multi-cultural society to learn about other cultures. There is such a thing as world travel, i.e. travelling across the world, experiencing other cultures. The simple argument of knowing more is weak in itself.

Actually not everybody can just jump on a planer and travel to experience whichever culture he/she is interested in - not a very realistic alternative in many cases.

Multi-culturalism means that I can go to the wedding of Turkish friends and experience a part of their culture because they do it "their way".
It means that I can enjoy the annual African/Carribean festival in our neighbourhood.

It does not necessarily mean that these people live in some kind of parallel societly that does not overlap with tha "native" society.

Integration is not equivalent to giving up your own culture - integration also requires both sides the "native culture" and the "immigrant culture" to be willing to integrate