From: gld@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Gary L Dare)
Subject: Re: The Blessings of MULTICULTURALISM
Reply-To: gld@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Gary L Dare)
Organization: The Bates Motel
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 03:19:13 GMT

john@anasazi.com writes:
>lindq@etek.chalmers.se (Johan Lindqvist) writes:
>]arf@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Jack Schmidling) writes:
>]|>  I frequently get called all sorts of names for being
>]|>  less than enthusiastic about our so-called "multicultural 
>]|>  society".  Here is a good example of the blessing it
>]|>  brings to our once peaceful country.....
>]|>  
>]
>]"our once peaceful country....."???
>]So America was better and more peaceful when the white man shot
>]at the Indians, and hit the black?
>
>Today's multiculturalism is IMHO a mistake. The old philosophy of the
>"melting pot" worked well except for blacks and Indians, who were
>excluded for other reasons. Now that we have MOSTLY removed racism,
>there is no reason for it not to work for all. 

John's last sentence in the quote is important, because that 
differentiates him greatly from Jack Schmidling's intent (to
John's credit).  The integration of the "melting pot" is a
very natural process if catch-pans are not set to stop the
flow.  At the same time, laissez-faire multiculturalism as
found in multi-generational Italian families in metro New
York or German in Pennsylvania or Chinese and Japanese on
the California coast can peacefully coexist because that
integration process has no timetable ... that's all right
with me, I'm from one of those myself (but Canadian) ...
it's the politically backed process either from pressure
groups or those in power that disturb me.

>Unfortunately, the "multiculturalists" have now declared war on the
>majority culture, while trying to isolate each immigrant (voluntary
>or otherwise) culture. The result is a huge increase in racially
>motivated crimes by blacks, a huge increase in racial tensions, and a
>Kulturefog which seeks to destroy what is good along with what is bad.

Here's another angle, which comes from Toronto (Canada's multicultural
capitol, as they like to tout these days) ... official multiculturalism
was shunned by longtime residents until the Establishment hopped on the
bandwagon.  Seemed odd at first.  But after living there a while, you
see something odd ... with the bulk of Canadian immigrants flocking to
Toronto for a couple of decades, the city and provincial governments
are still packed to the brim with traditional British-descended folks.
It seems that throwing a few cultural grants to the homesick but proud
community movers and shakers to organize folk dance exhibitions works
in the long run to keep them out of your hair, and marginalizes their
kids to "stay in the community" rather than go to U of Toronto (and
-- *gasp* -- gain membership at St. Michael's!!) or Queens, etc. thus
competing for those plum law school, grad school, etc. spots with your 
kids and be somebody ... imagine, the mayor or the premier (governor) 
being one of *them*? (-;

By the way, two Canadian ethnic groups affected by the above are
the Italians (not as long a history as their American NY cousins)
and the Portuguese ... colour doesn't even have to come into the
picture.

gld
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