Whilst there is nothing wrong with this kind of attitude - on the contrary, it is highly commendable, some people have voiced their concern that celebrating multiculturalism has been the Government's way of blunting nationalist aspirations, banishing those to the history books and reassuring they will never resurface again. Curiously enough, I was first acquainted with this view while reading an article, posted by an immigrant living in Leicestershire! This is the link: http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2010/02/leon-hadjinikolaou-why-i-as-an-immigrant-hate-the -way-labour-has-used-multiculturalism-to-undermine-.html
The author does make some valid points. For example, when he talks about Culture A and Culture B and how it sounds insane asking people of culture A (if they form 90% of the population of a given country) to stop practising their culture and way of life just so representatives of culture B do not feel alienated, uncomfortable and not fitting into the picture.
Multiculturalists, however, advocate that the culture A must stop practising their culture in order not to make culture B feel uncomfortable.
I do not agree with this description of multiculturalism. What multiculturalists have advocated such a position? Can you provide any specific examples that would illustrate Mr. Hadjinikolaou's premise? The march of civilizations is a series of defenses that man has put up against the dread of pure existence.
Let's have a look on some examples of peaceful immigration. Between 1880 and 1900 there was a significant movement of Jews from Eastern Europe to Ottoman Syria and the United States. Between 1840 and 1900, a large number of Germans emigrated to the United States. Today there are approximately 50,000,000 German-Americans. In 1820 a large number of Irish migrated to the United States for purely economic reasons, well before the Famine. A second wave of Irish immigration happened during the Great Irish Famine in 1845. Today more than 35,000,000 Americans trace their ancestry to Ireland. As far as we can see, there was no big fuss about these waves of immigration.
Between 1880 and 1900 there was a significant movement of Jews from Eastern Europe to Ottoman Syria and the United States.
Between 1840 and 1900, a large number of Germans emigrated to the United States. Today there are approximately 50,000,000 German-Americans.
In 1820 a large number of Irish migrated to the United States for purely economic reasons, well before the Famine. A second wave of Irish immigration happened during the Great Irish Famine in 1845. Today more than 35,000,000 Americans trace their ancestry to Ireland.
As far as we can see, there was no big fuss about these waves of immigration.
I.e., Palestine. No big fuss?
Cough! And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg
The key problem with multi-culturalism is that it classifies people by nebulous ideas of "culture". It's divide and conquer by skin colour and where your ancestors came from.
For example, when he talks about Culture A and Culture B and how it sounds insane asking people of culture A
