Multiculturalism is a concept that I’ve always had trouble with. I take the view that if people want to emigrate to a country, then they adopt the values and practices of that country, And in return they’re entitled to have the host citizenry respect their culture without trying to create some kind of federation of tribes and culture – you get into terrible trouble with that.”

I think one of the problems with multiculturalism is we try too hard to institutionalise differences, rather than celebrate what we have in [common].

[–] fine_sandy_bottom@aussie.zone 7 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Isn't this just a more polite way of saying we ought to have one homogeneous culture though?

if people want to emigrate to a country, then they adopt the values and practices of that country

"values and practices" is subjective, but most people using this talking point really mean that migrants should behave, sound, and think the same way they do, except maybe possessing an innate ability to make a ripper fried rice.

Accepting this type of statement allows migrants to be accused of forming ghettos, having poor English, basically... just being different.

Multiculturalism (to me) is not about conforming to a common culture, rather we have a culture of embracing other cultures provided that they are not intolerant nor harmful. So basically, a migrant can behave as they wish subject to those provisos.

[–] GregorGizeh@lemmy.zip 0 points 1 year ago (4 children)

European here. Your definition of multiculturalism is precisely why integration has been difficult for many of our immigrants.

A society that has no requirements on its new citizens, welcoming them all in an enlightened spirit of tolerance, is ultimately self defeating. New arrivals have no reason to assimilate, since they get everything they need anyway, and instead they live just like they used to. This forms subcultures and does not foster allegiance to overall society.

At the same time, the lack of cultural assimilation and applicable education denies them opportunities to economically advance themselves, reinforcing the subculture effect and alienating the native population.

Now I’m not saying everyone must live in monoculture with the exact same set of beliefs and values, but they must at least value certain common rules, more than their religion or cultural upbringing. Otherwise Society fractures.

[–] surreptitiouswalk@aussie.zone 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I disagree. A society is more than culture. It's politics, law and economics, which are the pieces that actually run a society. I would never suggest migrants should ever import politics, economics and laws from their home country.

Culture and religion however, are personal things. There's no need to force those on anyone. If a society feels the need to do this, it has a tolerance problem and they ought to ask themselves, why does someone praying to a different god, speaking a different language or celebrating a foreign event threaten you?

[–] muntedcrocodile@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

A nation is defined by its couture without culture a nation is nothing more than a random assembly of people. With no common goals or interests a nation is goes nowhere.

If someone is to become part of a nation they must adopt that nations core cultural beliefs above there own even their religion because obviously we have never seen any civil wars based on religion being held above others and thank god we don't have at least one of those going on right now in the world.

I would argue that one of these fundamental Australian beliefs is that anyone are free to go believe in whatever fucking god u want but for many people their core religious belief is that their own religion is the only one and it must be spread by any means possible insert quote from Quran and Bible here. That belief must be given up and put below that of the nation else we have a religious genocide on our hands.

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