The Deconstruction of Multiculturalism
February 20th 2011 10:35
From the smallest town, village or province to the largest city in the industrialized world; there is a tidal wave gripping the hearts and minds of each and every world citizen.
A conversation that involves the way cultures were able to exist in separate corners of the globe but have been forced to come together in what feels like a smaller and smaller world.
Multiculturalism is a heavy term used in light conversations to convey a message from many different points of view.
Without a clear definition, this word has been tossed around to describe the “melting pot” mentality of the United States of America while also presenting a clear warning that surrounds the fears that exist from things we do not understand.
When we take a deeper look at the history of nation states created by immigrants from foreign lands; the conversation must begin by asking ourselves when the “us” and “them” began.
Terms that came easy for nations established by centuries of history and tradition that gave citizens, what they felt was, the ability to be intolerant of outsiders because of nativity issues.
For these nations, battles were waged to reign in what was perceived as a threat from immigrants on their culture, native religions and way of life but necessities of the industrial and technological age ultimately resulted in the multicultural atmosphere that exists in the modern age.
In nations like the United States of America, Canada and Australia the conversation takes on a different tone.
While the robust history of a nation built by the blood sweat and tears of immigrants from across the globe indicates that the United States of America should be celebrated for its diverse languages, religious views and traditions; there is an unspoken crusade to grind everything together in the creation of a definition known simply as “American”.
A term that has been left up to interpretation for each generation to figure out for themselves...
While the majority of men and women who consider themselves “American” are of the Christian faith and speak the English language; the framers of the Constitution made it a point to not create or allow the creation of a national language or religion because of the problems that would arise from doing so.
The problems that come from the exclusion of groups of people willing to make the sacrifice for themselves or their family in pursuit of the American Dream.
The achievement of the dream by thousands of immigrants that came before has been transformed into a culture war created by extremists from both sides of the spectrum.
Extremists who are willing to sacrifice their own lives to instill fear and misunderstanding into the hearts and minds of men and women unwilling to see past the truths slapping them in the face.
For these men and women who live their lives by twisted versions of a religion for their own purpose of destruction of all those who do not believe the same as they do; there is nothing beyond the things they have been told to believe and no truth outside of fundamentalist extreme's.
Much like the warped thinking of a Christian terrorist that detonates a bomb in an abortion clinic in the name of their twisted beliefs; the Islamic fundamentalist who expresses themselves through terror has no regard for the destruction of those who are for or against their cause.
For the man or woman who wages terror there is no singling out bystanders by those who believe and do not believe but rather a simple message for the greater part of society.
A message about how they would like to see the world in constant conflict over the things that divide us as a world society as opposed to the things that should be bringing us together.
No matter how it’s deconstructed, framed in a speech or explored in a documentary we are a world that begins in small groups before branching out into towns, provinces, cities, nations and ultimately a world community.
As much as we enjoy thinking that we have advanced past race, religion, national origin, language, sexual orientation and other things that divide us as a race of people; these are still the things that we identify ourselves by and have become our culture.
It is this multitude of culture that keeps the world balanced when differences are understood and respected.
As much as we would like to dream of world where human beings could simply call each other brother and sister within the human race; history has proven time and time again that one tribe will always work towards toppling another in a power struggle when motions are made to push everything under one banner.
With this understanding we must work towards stepping outside of our own shells to understand the power of extremism within our own houses instead of throwing rocks at the things we do not understand.
The power to create a definition of multiculturalism beyond the fear mongering, hate and misunderstanding is within us as individuals but we must do our part by making the effort to step outside of our boxes instead of judging the world from our personal dark corners.
For more political conversation, movie reviews, music reviews, discussions about culture and life be sure to check out my other blogs at www.politicsandculture.net and check out the links to my other social networking pages on Facebook Myspace, Youtube and Twitter.
Please also click the vote button and the featured ads for this and other blogs on www.politicsandculture.net to show your support for the cause that isn’t about finding a place where everyone can agree on issues but is about finding a place where everyone can join the conversation and have their voice heard by commenting below or on the individual social networking links.
Comments for discussion are always encouraged and welcome.
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A conversation that involves the way cultures were able to exist in separate corners of the globe but have been forced to come together in what feels like a smaller and smaller world.
Multiculturalism is a heavy term used in light conversations to convey a message from many different points of view.
Without a clear definition, this word has been tossed around to describe the “melting pot” mentality of the United States of America while also presenting a clear warning that surrounds the fears that exist from things we do not understand.
When we take a deeper look at the history of nation states created by immigrants from foreign lands; the conversation must begin by asking ourselves when the “us” and “them” began.
Terms that came easy for nations established by centuries of history and tradition that gave citizens, what they felt was, the ability to be intolerant of outsiders because of nativity issues.
For these nations, battles were waged to reign in what was perceived as a threat from immigrants on their culture, native religions and way of life but necessities of the industrial and technological age ultimately resulted in the multicultural atmosphere that exists in the modern age.
In nations like the United States of America, Canada and Australia the conversation takes on a different tone.
While the robust history of a nation built by the blood sweat and tears of immigrants from across the globe indicates that the United States of America should be celebrated for its diverse languages, religious views and traditions; there is an unspoken crusade to grind everything together in the creation of a definition known simply as “American”.
A term that has been left up to interpretation for each generation to figure out for themselves...
While the majority of men and women who consider themselves “American” are of the Christian faith and speak the English language; the framers of the Constitution made it a point to not create or allow the creation of a national language or religion because of the problems that would arise from doing so.
The problems that come from the exclusion of groups of people willing to make the sacrifice for themselves or their family in pursuit of the American Dream.
The achievement of the dream by thousands of immigrants that came before has been transformed into a culture war created by extremists from both sides of the spectrum.
Extremists who are willing to sacrifice their own lives to instill fear and misunderstanding into the hearts and minds of men and women unwilling to see past the truths slapping them in the face.
For these men and women who live their lives by twisted versions of a religion for their own purpose of destruction of all those who do not believe the same as they do; there is nothing beyond the things they have been told to believe and no truth outside of fundamentalist extreme's.
Much like the warped thinking of a Christian terrorist that detonates a bomb in an abortion clinic in the name of their twisted beliefs; the Islamic fundamentalist who expresses themselves through terror has no regard for the destruction of those who are for or against their cause.
For the man or woman who wages terror there is no singling out bystanders by those who believe and do not believe but rather a simple message for the greater part of society.
A message about how they would like to see the world in constant conflict over the things that divide us as a world society as opposed to the things that should be bringing us together.
No matter how it’s deconstructed, framed in a speech or explored in a documentary we are a world that begins in small groups before branching out into towns, provinces, cities, nations and ultimately a world community.
As much as we enjoy thinking that we have advanced past race, religion, national origin, language, sexual orientation and other things that divide us as a race of people; these are still the things that we identify ourselves by and have become our culture.
It is this multitude of culture that keeps the world balanced when differences are understood and respected.
As much as we would like to dream of world where human beings could simply call each other brother and sister within the human race; history has proven time and time again that one tribe will always work towards toppling another in a power struggle when motions are made to push everything under one banner.
With this understanding we must work towards stepping outside of our own shells to understand the power of extremism within our own houses instead of throwing rocks at the things we do not understand.
The power to create a definition of multiculturalism beyond the fear mongering, hate and misunderstanding is within us as individuals but we must do our part by making the effort to step outside of our boxes instead of judging the world from our personal dark corners.
For more political conversation, movie reviews, music reviews, discussions about culture and life be sure to check out my other blogs at www.politicsandculture.net and check out the links to my other social networking pages on Facebook Myspace, Youtube and Twitter.
Please also click the vote button and the featured ads for this and other blogs on www.politicsandculture.net to show your support for the cause that isn’t about finding a place where everyone can agree on issues but is about finding a place where everyone can join the conversation and have their voice heard by commenting below or on the individual social networking links.
Comments for discussion are always encouraged and welcome.
Follow Me on Youtube
Click Here
Facebook Fan Page
Click Here
Friend me on Facebook
Click Here
Friend me on Myspace
Click Here
Follow Me on Twitter
Click Here
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