The myth of a vibrant multi-culture

When Pierre Eliot Trudeau first started musing about the advantages of multiculturalism, it was seen in terms of that Coke commercial of some two decades ago wherein young people of all races joined hands around the world and sang, “I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony...” While that was an attractive and effective image in a commercial hyping soft drinks, it didn’t quite materialize in those terms in Canadian society.

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The reality of multicultural Canada is rather more squalid, as ethnic enclaves cling to their cultural identities and jealously guard them, lest they become Canadianized. Multiculturalism has resulted in ethnic ghettos appearing in nearly every major city across the country with residents of those ghettos looking upon everyone else with suspicion and mistrust. Many Canadians view multiculturalism in terms of exotic foods, bright, colorful costumes and quaint customs and festivals. Occasionally the dark side of multiculturalism appears with news accounts of honor killings, “kitchen fires” or inter-ethnic violence such as the rivalry between Greeks and Turks or the shakedowns taking place in the Tamil community. An accepted tenet of multiculturalism is that all cultures are morally equal and “right and wrong” are relative terms that fluctuate with one’s ethnic origin. For instance, certain practices of inbreeding, such as marrying one’s first cousin have long been taboo in Western cultures, as the eventual result is a flawed gene pool. Not so among certain ethnicities that have transplanted themselves into Western society. The practice of marrying one’s first cousin as arranged by the respective families is designed to ensure that there is no interbreeding with outsiders, which is clear proof that the multicultural model is not about weaving a massive rainbow-hued quilt, but a series of small mats carefully arranged so that none touches another. Many Canadians who see multiculturalism in single dimension, i.e. in terms of exotic, # foods or bright, colorful costumes are unaware that some of the cultural practices plied by certain ethnicities are completely at odds with the values that comprise Canadian society. Those who are aware of these practices are discouraged by the threat of being accused of racism. It’s a can of worms that Mr. Trudeau couldn’t possibly have considered when this idea first took root for if he had, then the idea would have died a quick and merciful death. The policy of official multiculturalism has put many Canadians at odds with their own culture simply because it is politically incorrect to even notice some of the less than acceptable customs that found their way onto these shores. Many Canadians find themselves in the position of having to say, “Yes, I would like another helping of the curried goat, thank you, it’s very good. But I think I’ll take a pass on the honor killing and inbreeding.” Rather than risk the wrath of overzealous commissars seeking to denounce anyone who questions the sacred shibboleths of multiculturalism as a racist, many Canadians, particularly older Canadians, are relocating to smaller communities where the multiculture craze hasn’t quite taken root. While multiculturalism by all measures has proven to be an abject disaster, our politicians seem to cling to it as if it were a life raft keeping them afloat in shark-infested waters. But that’s understandable, given the votes that politicians can harvest from pandering to ethnic minorities. Rather than causing a multitude of cultures to intermingle, multiculturalism has served to create numerous incompatible solitudes, each afraid to reach out to the other. In the process the idea of Canadian citizenship becomes meaningless, as those who would import their cultures intact into Canada have little interest in things “Canadian”. I believe that Quebec has it right in its insistence of protecting its language and its culture. I never thought I’d say this, but the rest of Canada could learn a valuable lesson from its francophone neighbors.