Can we at least agree to disagree that Multiculturism has gotten us somewhere?
September 15, 2001 10:58 PM   Subscribe

Can we at least agree to disagree that Multiculturism has gotten us somewhere? Many Arab Americans are safer because of it. Is it possible that age-old liberal propaganda has insured at least partially, a much more measured response from the US government, as even conservative leaders seek to include Muslim voice in their sermons of American togetherness? Are we growing up as a society as a result of this cataclysm? (Warning: Link to antithesis of my point--which is exactly the point as it were)
posted by crasspastor (9 comments total)
 
Gawd! MulticulturALism. . .

I hate frontpage fuckups!
posted by crasspastor at 11:06 PM on September 15, 2001


Agreed crasspastor, I believe we are realizing - at least a little bit - the value of different cultures to add to the global voice.

(as an aside, I never followed the Ayn Rand stuff much until now, and it makes me physically ill)
posted by owillis at 11:11 PM on September 15, 2001


It has also created divided loyalties. I know of first generation Pakistani Americans, for instance, whose families found refuge and opportunities in this country and they still refer to themselves as Pakistanis, and express anti- American sentiments. I understand that we all come from different backgrounds and cultures, but one ought to cultivate the land one lives on and lives off of.
posted by semmi at 11:32 PM on September 15, 2001


There's a big difference between tolerance - living in peace and harmony with your fellow man - and multiculturalism as a political philosophy, as discussed on that link.

And conservatism hasn't been about shutting out Muslim - or anyone else's - voices since the 1950s. There is nothing to be surprised about them including Muslim voices in any service.
posted by aaron at 12:04 AM on September 16, 2001



Conservatism in theory, aaron- maybe. And that Ein Rand link makes no apparent distinction (that I can see) between multiculturalism as harmony and as political philosophy; rather, it seems to see them as one and the same, tossing up one straw man argument after another, using the brand Multiculturalism (tm) as an amorphous receptacle for all those nasty liberal ideas they didn't like to begin with, while "asserting the opposite": that multiculturalism is really racism in disguise. This is in fact so stunningly ludicrous a statement that it can't be so much defended with reason as it can simply be repeated often enough (hence the term 'asserting the opposite': see Fox News, protestations of a liberal media bias by) in hopes it will sink in as a political shibboleth.

Anyway, while I won't repeat the links that are already in MeFi now, the last few days certainly have shown many an outpouring of conservative feelings (I'm thinking most particularly of the vile Robertson/Falwell and the Ann Coulter statements, but the examples are too numerous to mention) that sure doesn't seem like much of an inclusion of Muslim voices. I guess you could argue that such thought doesn't represent "mainstream" conservatism, although if it doesn't it sure fools a lot of people.

In regards to cp's original question, yes, I think the age-old liberal propaganda has been a good thing for society, both in general and in this particular time, and has toned down what 60 years ago would have been a more xenophobic response (Such as the "Jap-killing" poster from the BUY WAR BONDS link, or the fact that Muslim internment camps couldn't be seriously discussed and would face significant and perhaps even immense popular dissent as so obviously a backward and misguided "solution"). But I don't think it's the cataclysm that's made us grow; rather, we've been maturing well enough these past few decades that even in this monstrous event we can show an admirable tolerance and thoughtfulness- while many still call for "killing the towelheads", it seems to me that far more are readily making the distinction between countless peaceful Muslim peoples and a handful of extreme radicals- a distinction greatly aided by real life stories of Muslim friends and co-workers who are as deeply affected by this as "real" Americans. Must be that blasted Multiculturalism at work...
posted by hincandenza at 12:38 AM on September 16, 2001




I understand that we all come from different backgrounds and cultures, but one ought to cultivate the land one lives on and lives off of.


One of my friends speaks Spanish as a first language and English as a second. Of course her family has been in California since before it was stolen from Mexico. I would think that situations like hers would give the english only partisans pause.
posted by rdr at 2:47 AM on September 16, 2001


Of course her family has been in California since before it was stolen from Mexico.

And of course, her family came there *after* Mexico stole California from the native americans, so maybe we should mandate Ohlone as the official state language?
posted by MrBaliHai at 8:17 AM on September 16, 2001


Can we at least agree to disagree that Multiculturism (sic) has gotten us somewhere?

No. What HAS gotten us "somewhere" is protection for all citizens, rule of law, and tolerance for other's expression of ideas & faith. To the consternation of some of my peers who identify themselves as "conservative," I also give great credit to the ACLU.

"Multiculturalism", as it is commonly presented & understood, seeks to require all people to "celebrate" the cultural/religious ways of traditionally smaller groups. Again, as it is commonly presented, "multiculturalism" often seeks to demean the prevailing (American) culture or otherwise portray it as "less than" non-American cultures; as if American society & culture is bland, devoid of spirituality, and otherwise "lacking."
posted by davidmsc at 8:24 AM on September 16, 2001


davidmsc:

< stuartsmalley > . . .and that's, your opinion, on multiculturalism < /stuartsmalley >
posted by crasspastor at 12:04 AM on September 17, 2001


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