Multiculturalism, a misguided outlook

Arizona Daily Wildcat ^ | 21/11/03 | Susan Bonicillo

[Jakarta ex-pat]

Last week, the Theta Nu Xi sorority hosted its second annual "Create a Hate-Free Zone" forum. Guided by the spirit of multiculturalism, the forum provided students with the opportunity to confront, among other issues, stereotypes regarding race and ethnicity.

Multiculturalism, as an ideology, maintains that we should accept different cultures under the premise that all are equal and beautiful. Though this seems like an entirely altruistic idea, multiculturalism holds back the improvement of race relations in a number of ways.

The notion that in order for race relations to improve we have to be entirely accepting of other cultures is not only unreasonable but also unhelpful. This way of thinking makes one blind toward aspects of other cultures that one does not agree with. It suppresses dissent and does not allow an open dialogue between people to occur.

Unfortunately, the fear of offending another, coupled with the possibility of being accused of being prejudiced, prevents open dialogue. As a result of accepting differences without bothering to understand them, we are left just as uninformed as before.

Suppose the practices or mindset of a certain culture goes against the beliefs and morals of a person. Accordingly, this person voices a dissenting opinion. He or she has made a valid judgment based on a thoughtful analysis, not a hasty conclusion based on ignorance.

All too often such an action is perceived as being intolerant and bigoted in light of multiculturalism. Hypersensitivity has caused society to label someone as a "racist" when he or she voices an opinion that goes against the current trend of indiscriminate opinion. To fully understand anything, one must question, rather than accept it with no thought whatsoever.

Cruising the Internet, I ran into a prime example of tolerance without regard to personal beliefs - the Cultural Awareness Club of Cincinnati's La Salle High School. Its philosophy is as follows: "Regardless of race, we are all people, and to prosper as a nation we must remember this. ... If an Irish American student glorifies an Irish Warrior our nation should glorify this Irish Warrior, and if a Filipino student enjoys Filipino food then our nation should enjoy Filipino food."

This type of thinking is training a new generation to abandon reflection in favor of unopposed approval.

Multiculturalism breeds a mentality of "You're OK, I'm OK, and let's leave it at that." The ability to think critically loses out to an ethnic harmony whose basis is an unquestioned acceptance bordering on tyranny. Consequently, the growing diversity of ethnicities is leading toward homogeny in thought.

This openness to one another serves merely as a superficial token gesture. It does not help nor extend understanding. Rather than bridging the gap between people, multiculturalism creates divisions. It results in cultural isolation, broadening the gap between "us" and "them." Though admirable in its attempts to ward off the threat of assimilation, it leans towards such a separatist stance that it offers no chance at cohesion. The standoffish nature of ethnic self-segregation is a disservice to all.

By taking race and culture into such high regard, individuality is lost as a result. People are defined solely by their race, having their identity overshadowed by their bloodlines. Rather than taking into account the myriad of things that can affect a person's character (such as education, upbringing or environment) the color of someone's skin takes precedence.

We are presented with arbitrary and PC-formulated images regarding the way we should be. Those who don't follow whatever racial image is presented are branded as selling out and guilty of being ashamed of their race.

As a nation, race is taking precedence as the main factor in determining personal worth. For example, college campuses are praised for their efforts to bring a wider ethnic diversity to their student population. Advocates are hailing demographics rather than individual merit.

If we are to become a more equitable society, we have to stop letting race determine our lives. It would be foolish to say that race is not a part of who we are. However, it is not the sole factor contributing to one's sense of self.

In the age of the prefixed American, the issue of race still weighs heavily on the country's consciousness. We are told we must be proud of our heritage, our background.

Various groups clamor and demand that you check the box that applies to you, that you find the nice little label that will tell the world exactly who you are. This can lead us to only one end. The only valid label one has is his or her name. After that, self-definition should be a personally guided action.

[Jakarta ex-pat]

If this young lady, a journalism sophmore, is the new face of media, America is in good hands.

[OpusatFR]

"." The ability to think critically loses out to an ethnic harmony whose basis is an unquestioned acceptance bordering on tyranny. Consequently, the growing diversity of ethnicities is leading toward homogeny in thought."

She almost says it. Unquestioned acceptance of anything that a tyranny promotes is the goal of the left.

[white trash redneck]

Having served on the U of A faculty for many years, I can report that the writer, unfortunately, is not typical.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

"E pluribus unum" was chosen by the first Great Seal committee in 1776. The correct English translation is: Out of many, one.

They will have to change this as the RATS and other
anti-Americans want it to say "destroy the one for many",
"sumptum pluribus unum"!

[dinasour]

They will have to change this as the RATS and other anti-Americans want it to say "destroy the one for many"

Or, "Divide and Rule"

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

"classis dominor "
"Divide and Rule"

[Spok]

Multiculturalism describes the bounds of acceptable and unacceptable behavior and beliefs, based on race. And this is someone's idea of freedom?

[MissAmericanPie]

The whole race/culture thing is an agenda to eat away at rugged individualism. It makes it easier to destroy the rights of the individual for the sake of the many.

In the not too distant past, government, both local and federal, lived in terror of violating the individual or his right, that respect is gone, now they feel far too comfortable throwing a blanket net, trapping the innocent with the guilty, and then sorting them out.

In our public schools, all students are treated as potential drug dealers and mass murderers as the police and their dogs walk between the desks sniffing for drugs or gun powder while the students sit unmoving like good little desciples of the police state.

The WOD's nets the innocent and the guilty in the "Know Your Customer" bank reporting that the IRS has now taken over. The innocent citizen driving down the street with $750.00 in his pocket can have it confiscated along with his car for suspected drug money.

The race/culture thing is another leg on the table supporting the death of individualism.

[DustyMoment]

There was a time when America was known as the world's melting pot. We all came here for one purpose - to live free as Americans.

We are no longer the world's melting pot. We are a large continent where other people come to live and enjoy what we have carved out of life, while forcing the culture they abandoned on us and showering America with the rivalries they left behind in their own country.

Multiculturalism, like liberalism and socialism, nazism, fascism and communism, must be eradicated. It is destroying our culture by introducing and honoring rot that is eroding the fabric of our society.

[Jakarta ex-pat]

"It is destroying our culture."

Maybe your culture and mine wern't strong enough?

[PfromHoGro]

Did anyone see the California Congressman, towards the end of Fox & Friends, expound about a Latino museum as part of the Smithsonian?

It's over.

No, don't contribute to the American culture, and join with displays in the current Smithsonian's American history museums, separate the accomplishments of your collective.

Will current displays be remove from Smithsonians to display is each of the new "Bulkanized" museums? I find this very disturbing, but not surprising- wankers

[DustyMoment]

As an American, I'm hard-pressed to understand your comment. What part of my culture wasn't strong enough? I was born here, my parents and their parents and so on for generations were all born here. We have welcomed immigrants to wanted to come to America and be Americans. What has changed is that the liberals have allowed immigrants to come to this country and forced Americans to kow-tow to the culture and values that the immigrants left behind. If you came to America to be an American, partake in our freedoms and culture, welcome. If you came to America to take advantage of our freedoms and force your language and culture on us, go home.

[ladylib]

"In our public schools, all students are treated as potential drug dealers and mass murderers as the police and their dogs walk between the desks sniffing for drugs or gun powder while the students sit unmoving like good little desciples of the police state."

This is so true and must be so insulting to those students.

A friend of mine's daughter was looking at a public school in Miami. She and her mother walked in the door, saw the goon squad patrolling the halls and walked through the metal detector. The daughter looked around, said to her mother, "This place looks like an effing jail," turned on her heal and walked out with her mother following her.

Why would any parent in their right mind want their kid to go through this nonsense every day? And an even more important question Will the students who suffer through this at their public schools want their future children to?

[FrankR]

Good article...

I believe racism is perpetuated by those who see it as leverage to: (a) obtain money; (b) get their way.

Civil rights has been a daily, on-going subject for about 40+ years now. Yes, there is still racial hatred - both ways - and there will always be those who perpetuate the stigma.

However, except in those localized pockets, the races get along pretty well nowadays...generally.

There are still those who are unsatiable in advocating, and plotting, revenge for slavery days. They will never get enough "equal rights", no matter what. In fact, I believe that if all "whites" suddenly were taken from the planet, those who whine about equal rights, would just set their sights on another race, different from their own.

This is where the phrase "reverse discrimination" comes from.

The ongoing "race wars" will never end until everyone - including the government - stops jumping to their every whim and whimper. Many have been so spoiled that they don't have a clue as to the true meaning of "NO".

America is suffering now as our jobs and corporations move to foreign soil...and why? Mainly to avoid punitive taxation and regulation...which includes environmental laws as well. We now have a faction of liberals who advocate hating America because she does not provide every single want of every single citizen.

Someone doesn't get "their way"...and a civil rights lawsuit is launched. Try to punish someone for doing wrong and breaking the laws/rules...a civil rights lawsuit is brought.

This can't continue indefinitely...at some point, all hell is going to break loose as those who have about had enough of the "sanctioned theft" and redistribution of wealth by force, will eventually stand up to those who are taking it. Those who are taking it, have been spoiled to the point where they considered that anything they want, should be theirs. It's like the old saying, "an unstoppable force meeting an unmoveable object"...somethings gonna blow.

Thanks to TV, the media, and the government, the "intimidatORs" are gaining daily footholds on the "intimidatEDs".

Is it going to take the action of a brave few to stand up to this ongoing demise of America? Will there be a brave few who will rise to the occasion to ward off this enemy of our country, as they did when we fought off the British to regain control?

How long will we stand and see our Constitution be destroyed by groups like the ACLU, and the DemoncRATS? At what point will we stand up and say, "Shut the f**k up" to these anti-American/pro-communist/socialist groups?

They way "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"...maybe there's something to that...takes a lot to "rebuild" a nation, and I don't think another America - as we know it - could be built in this modern age.

The only peaceful way to protect and restore America - the polling booth - has even come under attack...if their candidate doesn't win, they pout...bring lawsuits, and then heap tons of disrespect upon the candidate who did win fair and square...with the help of the mainstream media, of course.

Didn't mean to get on a rant, but I feel strongly about all this...I'm 58 years old, and I'll probably run out before the country does...but I have children and grandchildem whom I would like to leave a peaceful and prosperous America too.

[trebb]

If an Irish American student glorifies an Irish Warrior our nation should glorify this Irish Warrior

"If a Muslim terrorist hates a Jew, we should all hate Jews."

[GladesGuru]

"if a Filipino student enjoys Filipino food then our nation should enjoy Filipino food."

Perhaps the student who wrote that naieve line should be made aware of such "multi-cultural" delights as the infamous Vietnamese rotten fish sauce called "nuoc mam".

Never mind that platitude about walking a mile in the other person's moccassins - just down that plate covered with nuoc man and then tell me about eating something because someone else does.

[dinasour]

classis dominor

Thanks. I'll remember that.