Multiculturalism – who is really benefiting?
Posted on December 13th, 2012
Shenali Waduge
LetƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s first set somethingƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s straight. Today the West enjoys coming up with theories and terminologies for how people of the world should function according to its formats. They issue blueprints for how nations should live. The West needs to be reminded that it was the West that began slavery, created white and non-white mentality from which discrimination, racism, and ethnic tensions originated. The West introduced inequality by way of formulating economic systems that divided people into haves and have nots and now wanting to tap further into the skills and unskilled of migrants to boost their economy they come up with the term multiculturalism which they use in other nations to forward their western agendas that eventually lead to the doctrine of R2P and foreign invasion if that nation has the resources the West desires. Another curse has been the theory of multiculturalism has changed the demographics of the world and posed a new set of challenges that nations and governments now have to deal with.
Was there really any need to have a buzzword called ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-multiculturalismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚? Were people of diverse national, linguistic, religious and cultural backgrounds not living together already?
Certainly the West has made good from multiculturalism. Migrants have been encouraged to make a second home not for any love of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-multiculturalismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and if more whites were not lazy enough not to depend on staying at home and living off benefits the influx of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-foreignersƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ would not have occurred. Multiculturalism was advanced to encourage people to make a second home ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” people who were prepared to work hard and be paid lower wages and perks for the same job that a white would have had to be paid more. The statistics donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t lie ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” in 2002, migrants added ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚£2.5 billion to the UK economy. Migrants account for one in eight of UKƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s working population and is likely to boost economic output by ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚£6 billion.
That economic boost does not come without tags for Britain or for any other Western nation.
Why have Governments been insensitive to the thinking of these natives who have silently had to watch their Governments accept Islamic Shariah laws and other such culturally opposite customs? In the case of Sri Lankan Tamils ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” they refuse to speak the language of the 74% majority Sinhalese but they have no issues in learning French, German or any other language completely forsaking their own for only domestic usage?
Does multiculturalism mean that once traditional looking western home architecture has visibly everything that makes any to wonder whether they are in India, China or Saudi Arabia?
Are natives not discovering that their nations are being turned into a replica of the nationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s these immigrants came from? Initially it was ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-tolerableƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ but now natives are realizing the changes they are witnessing are reaching ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-intolerableƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ levels.
In both Australia and South Africa the Muslim population is just 2% of the total but Islamic influence has been such that a number of food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical items are obtaining halal certification passing the cost to the non-Muslim consumer though how far these companies actually practice the true principles of halal sacrifice is questioned as most slaughter houses have been found to put a tape of the Quran and slaughter at a rate that meets the demand! This is certainly not the halal that is advocated.
But in welcoming migrants do natives and nations really want to give up what they once held proud. How far do they have to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-tolerateƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and exactly what do they have to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-tolerateƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Shariah banking, shariah laws, dedicated prayer areas in institutes and workplaces, closure of swimming pools for women, halal meat, Muslim taxi drivers some of whom refuse to transport people who have consumed liquor ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦leads to the question of whether Muslims really want to integrate into Western society and question other ethnic nationalities as well?
In place of the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-inclusionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ minorities and migrants prefer to lead parallel lives, preserving ONLY their ethnic behaviors and values. These counter what is practiced in the society that has welcomed them. As the guest they should not be intimidating the hosts! Creating parallel societies who want to live and behave as they did in the nations they left is nothing that natives are likely to tolerate.
Secularism for Britain will mean that in 20 years time Britain will no longer be a Christian country by 2030 and no Brit would have bargained for that eventuality! There are 4m non-whites now living in Britain and multiculturalism has led to some towns completely dominated by non-whites and immigrants.
Natives now find themselves not only questioning ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-multiculturalismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ but desiring to return to that feeling of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-BritishnessƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ they once felt and now feel no more. But thereƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s little anyone can do ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” migrant policies of political leaderships have come about to help their economies because natives are happy to live off social service. The situation is made worse in times of recession because even skilled migrants are happier to be paid far less than the natives with similar qualifications and employers rarely care about giving natives a place over profits to their balance sheet. Most of these migrants end up sending sometimes upto half of what they earn back home which hasnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t help state coffers either.
Simply because governments deem multiculturalism the key to solving a nationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s economic woes does that mean that natives must silently accept and endure a totally parallel living culture, custom and traditions which migrants refuse to shed on the acceptance that they have been welcomed to another nation that is not their own? Does the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚£6 billion boost to UK economy by migrants equate to mean that natives have to shut up and endure in silence? Natives are not experiencing an annual cultural exchange but a 24×7 alternate culture that they did not really ask for but what their governments had encouraged and yes it has been primarily due to the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-lazinessƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ of natives.
Numerous words are used ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” to be ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-open-mindedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-be tolerantƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦. But do these migrants think that they have come to another country and that it is THEY who should be ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-open-mindedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ about following the life of the nations they have come to live in and not make these natives adopt to how they have lived in their former habitats? If one goes to make a home in Britain, Canada, Australia or in EuropeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ should you not be living and following their customs or at least respecting their ways while practicing oneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s own rituals without much public spectacle or demand?
So what are the western nationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s paying for being lazy by boosting economy through the encouragement of migrant schemes using ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-multiculturalismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ bogey? Yes these western nations have come to benefit politically and economically from immigrant populations and natives have gone out of their way to accommodate them into their systems but what is the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-gratitudeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-loyaltyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ returned?
Australia is a nation of immigrants. It accommodated religions of both Catholicism and Protestantism since immigrants were initially either Irish or English. Color was a different cup of tea and non-whites were excluded through a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-White AustraliaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ policy. HowƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s that for open racism and this lasted over 50 years.
That policy changed only in 1970s incorporating multicultural policy that stressed that migrants had the right to maintain their culture and racial identity but not at the expense of society at large.
The US does not practice multiculturalism but there are over 310m people from all over the world living as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-AmericansƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” thinking and acting as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-AmericansƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.
Nevertheless, the demographics are certainly changing in nations that have embraced immigrants. With more people of the West following new trends of same sex marriage, open homosexuality, living together, opting not to have children the immigrant population is seen steadily and consistently rising that the forecasts are alarming. Most nations of Europe are predicted to become Muslim nations in a few decades time.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That is likely to soon put to rest any feeling of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-BritishnessƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ to be replaced with new cultures, customs and practices and how far the natives of these European nations including UK, Canada, Australia and even the US are ready to accept this remains a big question!
Arguably no one in Europe 25 years ago thought they would be in the mess they are in now ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” who would have though Europe would ever have to take austerity measures and have its people almost beg to live? It is the follies of the leaders and these very leaders instead of accepting their fault now blame multiculturalism ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” GermanyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Merkel has declared multicultural society has failed, Britains David Cameron has uttered similar sentiments, agreed by former French President Sarkozy and SpainƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s former leader Jose Maria Aznar.
If multiculturalism has failed in the West the nation that first started the drive why do they insist on enforcing the same tenets in Asia where nations and their people lived in harmony before the arrival of colonists who introduced all the ills that these nations today suffer from?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
December 13th, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Thanks Shenali for pointing out that multiculturalism in the West is dying and awaiting execution in the ‘death-Row’ by the natives who have realised the folly of their laders!. Please forward this to the Telegraph in the UK
December 14th, 2012 at 1:43 am
Multiculturalism started in Canada because they had difficulty attracting migrants to the cold, harsh climate but now refugees dont seem to care what sort if place they are going. I suppose there is plenty of social security at the Canadian taxpayer’s expense!
December 14th, 2012 at 4:45 am
OIl and water do not mix.
The same happens with barbaric stone age cultures and humane cultures.
Humane cultures can always coexist. Veddhas, Chinese, Gypsies and Bahais have lived in Sri Lanka for a long time without any problem. Selfish crybabies cause all the trouble.
December 14th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Multiculturalism is safe for large countries with large areas for diverse groups to segregate. Even in large countries, the cities have different laws to maintain peace and privacy for others.
But, in small countries, Multiculturalism may prove to be hazardous and a source of annoyance to others in some respects, where different groups live close to each other. For example, allowing loud speakers to operate in crowded living areas for religious purposes, slaughter of beasts for religious purposes even in homes, temples, will prove to be annoying and horrifying for most people in Sri Lanka.
Special Laws ought to be formulated so that peaceful resolutions to the problems can be found. For example, cooked food with meats can be distributed to the poor in the Temples & Mosques, instead of gory slaughter of animals in sight of everyone, even children to see. Also, with various modern day communication systems, Temple & Mosque announcements should be made possible without the use of loudspeakers.
In the case of languages, the main traditional language of any country ought to be used as the main language. A link language could also operate, such as English, which is the most useful language as it is the language of the computer and commerce & trade.
December 14th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Fran, it depends on what you mean by multiculuralusm. Countries such as Singapore, Mauritius, some Carribean islands, etc, all pride themselves as being “multicultural” and are 5 or 10 times smaller than Sri Lanka. It depends on the sort of practices allowed, I suppose. The problem worsens when politicians become involved in multiculturalism. Animal torture ought not to be acceptable even in multicultural sicieties.
December 14th, 2012 at 9:52 pm
The Protectionist Mentality will be eventually replaced by the Survival of the Fittest Cultures. The current trend in Multi Culture is blossoming around the world specially driven by economic factors. Multi Culture is embraced in some parts of the Arabian Peninsula (Emirates) with 193 Nationalities (80% of the Population) co-existing in Peace and Harmony. Multi Culture does open the door to economic prosperity if properly implemented.
December 15th, 2012 at 2:14 am
Protectionist Mentality – Thesawalamai, death to apostates, covering up of women like Gonibillas, segregation, fear of criticism, honor killings, not allowing people of other religions to build places of worship, etc.
Stone Age Barbarism – stoning, amputation, beheading, female testimony being half that of a man, polygamy, etc.
Economic Factors – the dole of course
Multiculturalism is the biggest flop of history, simply because protectionist, barbaric cultures cannot coexist with liberal, humane cultures.
December 15th, 2012 at 9:03 am
Voice 123,
Yes, peace reigns anywhere because suitable Laws have been put in place to accommodate peace & privacy.
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Sri Lanka has been constantly destabilized (part of new Silk Route & too near Tamil Nadu, India with Caste/poverty problems – dumping place for poor Tamils fleeing Caste/poverty of TN), and not able to attend to matters that ought to be addressed locally.
Unethical slaughter of beasts can be stopped by use of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and only cooked or already prepared foods allowed in Temples and Mosques. Ancient unethical practices have no place in modern societies.
As for Noise Pollution via loudspeakers & even drum beaters and music from boutiques, Laws can be passed in cities to stop noise over so many decibels.
December 15th, 2012 at 4:15 pm
Noise pollution is not a religious or multicultural issue. Noise pollution is an issue of noise pollution. Constant drumming and chanting, prayers or Praise Jesus Hallelujahs at 5am and 5 times a day on the loudspeaker, constant car horns, even selling fish, private tuition or lottery tickets etc via loudspeaker, can be equally disturbing. To say otherwise is hypocritical. Only rascals and crooks will try to use their culture or religion to promote it. Rascals must be identified and penalised fearlessly and impartially (without even a whiff of bias). Politicians who try to take advantage of the issue should likewise be penalised and all of these self-serving troublemakers be displayed to the public as bad examples and anti-social people. Problem of noise pollution solved. Good, unbiased, tough governance, where are you?
December 17th, 2012 at 7:09 am
Voice 123,
This problem has to be addressed via the Noise Pollution issue. That is how it is done in most developed countries. Cities in most developed countries are relatively quiet – why not Sri Lankan cities ?
Special concessions are given re Noise making for national events, parades, fun fairs, and various public events. Even these events must keep the noise levels within a certain range.
I agree that we need a good, tough governance. Our people admire Singapore style governance, but if attempts are made to govern Sri Lanka in that style , they howl about dictatorship in Lanka ! The biggest problem in Sri Lanka is HYPOCRISY.