Peter Scchwartz has published an article called "The Racism of Diversity", in which he attacks multiculturalism and its rhetoric. I think his article makes some valid points about rhetoric but some of what he says is rubbish. His racist article can be found at: http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7915&news_iv_ctrl=1021
My response that I sent to him can be found right here, exclusively on JoeUser. Well, not exclusively, obviously because I sent it to him and it's also to be found on my computer, but you get what I mean. Actually you probably don't. But soon you will....
Dear Peter Schwartz,
You make a good argument and there is certainly some validity to your claims about multicultural rhetoric. However, you also ignore several points that in many instances make your arguments flawed.
Firstly I must take issue with your unjustified statement that "racial integration" is a valid objective. There is nothing in your paper to justify such a stance. To me racial integration sounds like a new term for assimilation. In other words, requiring people to become part of a monoculture where they are not allowed personal _expression.
However, the more important problems with your article are these. It is certainly true that many anthropologists have ignored the individual in their study of culture. And many people in the general population have then appropriated such attitudes so that they express ideas or at least think that all people from a particular race act the same way.
It is of course important to realise in a country like mine (Australia) that many Aborigines now choose to practise Christianity, although their ancestors originally learned Christianity under duress when they were imprisoned on missions. Other Aborigines practise a more "traditional" lifestyle. And there are many many ways to be an Aborigine.
Culture is a constantly evolving thing and thus we should never tell other people the right way to practise their culture.
However, culture does exist, and your article verges on denying this. Although not all Anglo-Saxons celebrate Christmas, it is certainly important that such a practise be respected. It is a big part of Australian culture. Many Australians share this holiday and share the values and beliefs that are traditionally associated with it. Others celebrate "Christmas", but in actual fact are not Christian, and so should probably call the celebration "Yuletide". Nonetheless, it is part of my culture not to call it as such, and that is importatnt to acknowledge.
This is not a denial of the individual. To acknowledge multiculturalism is to acknowledge the individual. Each individual chooses to believe in certain things, value other things and behave in certain ways. However, culture celebrates what certain groups of people have in common with each other. Many human beings feel it important to feel that there are other people like them. But this does not mean that they have to disapprove of anyone different to them. I am proud of my religious beliefs, but I also find other peoples' religious beliefs fascinating. In many cases I subscribe to the beliefs of people from other countries*. I do not feel that my Anglo-Saxon racial grouping has stopped me from believing in certain aspects of various Aboriginal religions. However I can see that growing up in this environment, surrounded by people engaged in similar activities has shaped my attitudes and who I am today.
Multiculturalism should be seen as a celebration of difference of _expression. We are not bound by our race, but we are shaped by our culture. And it must be said that for many years culture grew out of people's perceptions of racial boundaries, as well as other boundaries.
* If readers wish to subscribe to beliefs of people from other countries, simply send a stamped self-addressed envelope to me and you too can receive copies of the annual magazine "Beliefs of people from other countries" for only $19.95 a month.