Should There Be Boundaries In Multicultural Societies?

Europe, The United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States all have a phenomena that some perceive as a good thing while others think it is one of the worst things that could happen - multiculturalism.

It all started when these European based cultures dominated the mode of travel, the ship, and the mode of power, the gun, and went to conquer the world. They arrived in lands that were already occupied and took over, imposing upon the residents their ideas of what a real society should be. Eventually, these great powers found it too taxing to keep up with these newly founded colonies and went back home, only to find some of these people followed them home.

It is only through the Euro-centric point of view can one see this form of imperialism as a completely good thing. Things were great for the country when they were running it and as soon as they left, the country went to pot, therefore the European way is superior. That discounts the rest of the story.

Of course colonialism introduced better standards of living to the Native culture. These cultures would not have arrived at these new ideas if they remained in isolation, however, if treated as equals instead of inferiors, perhaps they would have adapted faster in ways that suited them better. Remember, the higher standards were never meant for them, but to make the settler's lives more comfortable.

In times before the European domination, the Arabic/Middle Eastern region was the hub of all that was new and progressive. Cut off the trade and lines of communication along with the superstition of religions, you have an area stuck in time. The rest of the world benefited from this culture at one time because they did not try to impose their ways upon others, but shared their knowledge and traded with neighbours as equals. The European way was different. Cut off the rivals and dominate by any means necessary while keeping others in the dark as much as possible so they cannot catch up.

Cut off and unable to compete, the European based societies have grown into wonderful places to live with better opportunities and fairness towards all citizens while everywhere else is struggling to catch up. Of course in these Western societies, they had to do some growing up and learn how to treat others better. It was due to stepping over others ruthlessly that created and evolved into a civilisation based on the notion of basic human rights and fairness to be extended to all.

These colonies were not set up for the benefit of the Natives of the area, but for the comfort and profit of the settlers. The locals were treated in harsh ways by people who felt they were superior. Even when education and government was introduced into these cultures, the people of the land would have to take a back seat to the settlers who felt they knew and deserved better. The end result is a group of people with substandard education, lack of understanding of how to run a government, and when the settlers left, lack of an economy of any sort as these settlers destroyed the way things used to be. That is why when the Imperialists leave a country goes to pot and can take many decades or even more than a century to become stable.

I wanted to point this out to those stuck in the Euro-centric point of view who don't understand why their area is better. It is NOT because they are by nature superior, but they were raised and educated in ways that were superior. That is the difference between success and failure.

Given a taste that things could be better and knowing the way things are in their land it won't get that way and they are powerless to change it, they turn to the land of the ones who settled in their land and want to move there.

The settlers now at home have grown accustom to some of the things of the other land and long to share those experiences with others. As more come back from those areas, they bring with them those new cultures to the delight of those who are craving something new, exciting and different. The excitement grows, fades and then becomes a problem. It seems like there are too many of "those people" in "our land" and they don't want to be like "us" and want "us" to change everything "we value" to cater to "them".

Something that used to be new and exciting has become an unwelcomed guest with nowhere else to go. And even worse, to the mind of the Xenophobe, they are reproducing and taking over, taking away the jobs, and sponging off the system while dumbing down the educational system and making their safe world more violent. At least, that is how it is mostly seen in European countries.

In the United States, there is a false perception of it being the "great American melting pot" taking in your sick, your poor and your hungry so they can have a chance at the American dream living on streets of gold. That is the most ludicrous line of bull which people still believe. US immigration will take in people, but the requirements to come in have standards that most will never make it for anything other than a visit. The ones who do must show they will make a contribution to society in some way whether by a further educational plan, a professional career to benefit all, or to open a business and invest in the economy. Others looking for refuge from persecution can find a place, but face much hardship and discrimination. Those with mediocre job skills will have a hard time competing with others born here and often are returned home. Then again, America is a big place and many fall through the cracks. An overstayed visitor's pass can result in long term employment and residency. Most of whom never cause trouble and pay taxes.

That being the case, the US is still one of the better places in the world to live with a better shot of making a good living and feeling of safety and security than the majority of places in the world.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, many immigrants did indeed come to the US seeking freedom. The majority of them were Europeans who were quite similar to the majority of the Americans. The minority of the immigrants came from Asia, Africa, South America and the islands. The difference between these two groups is although they all faced some form of discrimination at the hands of the American citizens, the ones which looked white were better able to blend in. Everyone else would never really fit in and knew they had their place and were expected to stay there. That period of US history was quite a racist one.

The US melting pot consisted of the original descendants of the early colonists, newer incoming from the Old Country, slaves coming in from Africa to replace the dying Natives. This mix made up the mythical melting pot legend that one could come into this great country and make a better life for themselves. If you were of European descent, then yes, you had a chance at a better life. When the Gold Rush was on in the 1800s, word of great wealth spread across the world and immigrants from Asia and Europe came to stake a fortune. Those who didn't actually get on the trail West made a living by doing manual labour for American citizens who would hire them, or by profiting from the locals who wanted experience something new and different in a new dish, new outfit, new music, or something to brighten up the existing status quo...so long as these newbies knew their place.

But eventually people did start to come around and embrace the idea of the melting pot around the 1940s right after the war. Soldiers have been to different parts of the world and came back with new experiences to share with their families. Those who moved in from other countries were encouraged to follow the American Dream. Many immigrants started their own family businesses and became successful and were held as the highest ideal of what greatness it is to be an American. Anyone with a dream and a bit of hard work can be anything they want to be.

With a good education, hard work, and sound plans, anyone really could make it in the US, but for some it is harder than others who don't have all the good breaks. They feel threatened by the new influx of immigrants taking over their jobs, especially from Mexico who cross the border illegally to work without documentation at wages no one can compete with and live. This threat makes people uncomfortable and distrustful of this new culture that is growing and the fear is the culture that was "supposed to be here" is disappearing along with the identity of being an American.

Many in Europe are feeling the squeeze as refugees from Africa and the Middle East are coming over, taking up more jobs, and reproducing faster than the Native Europeans. These newcomers are insisting that as guests, the hosts should accommodate to their ways and cultures and treat them with respect and not ask them to change to any standard of "norm" because it would impose upon their freedoms of personal expression.

In a way, one might say it is karmic justice because you have outsiders coming into an established civilisation imposing a new order on people that already live there...much like the people of these lands have done to others. (Which is my reason for the diatribe above, not to make European people feel shame, but to understand what has been done to others for the past few hundred years.) What's so wrong about catering to these people that have nowhere else to go and paying in retribution for what was done to them? A lot!

It is nice and good to learn all you can about other cultures. It is good to respect people that are different. But it is not good when it comes at the expense of losing your national identity in the process.

The US is becoming the rubber-stamp society. Many towns have an identical pattern. The same restaurants, the same stores, the same brand of entertainment, and so forth, so when you visit one town to the next, you feel exactly as if you were at home because everything that was at home is everywhere else. After a point, you come to the feeling of why bother travel when it is the same everywhere?

Getting lost in multiculturalism leads to a lack of variety and excitement people crave. One who visits France goes with the expectation of French food, the French language, French entertainment, and the whole French experience - not to hole up in yet another McDonald's surrounded by French people who do not speak the language at all because they immigrated from other lands. What if you build up in your mind a holiday in Spain to go after the traditional Spanish culture only to find it few and far between because it has been taken over by Radical Muslims and corporate American businesses? England is a great place and one who visits looks forward to certain British treats, but are often surprised that British cuisine consists of Indian curries in many areas instead of the expected fish and chips.

I am not knocking Indian curry, McDonald's, or even foreigners who are seeking a better way of life or a means of survival. It is human nature to seek out a better place to live. Places are better because of the standards that are set. When standards change, sometimes it is not always for the better and only make that place no longer a better place to live.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying other cultures and respecting them, even in your own land. It is just not worth losing your identity over it. If it is your land and country, you should expect guests to live up to certain standards. You don't have to demand they go back to where they came, but you should expect a little more conformity of local standards.

In times past, one would visit an elderly relative with quirky ways about them. A wise parent would swat your hand if you did something disrespectful in their home and expect you to obey the rules of the elders. That was a sign of respect. A good host would make the guest feel comfortable, but a guest taking advantage of the hospitality would be asked to leave.

It is your home and you have the right to set the standards, but you also have guests coming to visit and should make them feel comfortable. Just like if you take in a border into your home, you expect them to abide by your house rules. When you have guests in your country who decide to make it their home, you should also expect them to abide by your country's rules.

When I go someplace else to visit, I try my best to fit in and be a good guest. I respect their rules, customs and traditions and in no way expect them to go through anything out of the way to make me feel better. I make due with the cards I am dealt.

And for those highly xenophobic people, if you so desperately want outsiders to leave your country, do something to make the other lands better so maybe they might want to return home. If you can't do it, then I suppose you are going to have to put up with people who are different because they are in your land to survive in a better place and not because they love your culture. They have no intention of being one of you and would in a heartbeat go back home if there was a home to go back to. This is something that has always existed as long as there have been people. It is not new, only the circumstances are different.