SteynOnline - ADVENTURES IN MULTICULTURALISM| Steyn on Canada and the Commonwealth [short article] | |
| THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2011 | |
Further to yesterday's musings on multiculturalism, Barbara Kay takes up the theme. Mrs Kay is one of the smarter writers at the post-Conrad National Post, but, as Kathy Shaidle says, "seriously?" The subject is federal funding for a shelter for women fleeing "honour-motivated abuse" by second- and third-generation members of certain immigrant communities. "Honour" violence is a rich, vibrant "cultural tradition", but not one of the ones that looks quite so good at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. This is a good example of what David Cameron means when he says we need to work harder at integrating immigrants: more government spending for desultory and politically squeamish attempts to reverse deeply entrenched pathologies. Nevertheless, in the course of praising it, Barbara Kay writes: This project will, I think, be remembered as a turning point in the history of Canada's multiculturalism adventure. Now there's a phrase. We all of us like a bit of adventure, don't we? In the old days, you had to go somewhere else to get it. In the words of Barbara's namesake and fellow Canadian, John Kay of Steppenwolf: Get your motor running Sometimes it's all very agreeable: A two-week safari in Africa, and then back to suburban life. Other times, it doesn't go so well - as for Lara Logan of CBS News, or for Pippa Bacca, the Italian performance artist. In 2008, Signorina Bacca set off to hitch-hike from Milan to the Palestinian Territories to promote “world peace”. She was dressed as a bride, and the purpose of her trip was to show that if only you put your trust in our common humanity then all will be well. A month later, her naked body was found in the bushes near Gebze in Turkey. She had been gang-raped and then killed. Her "multiculturalism adventure" met reality. Canadians did not choose to make a bland, tranquil, prosperous, advanced settled democracy a "multiculturalism adventure". To modify the old line, "Adventure" is a great place to visit but you wouldn't want to live there. Now millions and millions of people have no choice. Ceasing to discuss the subject in fatuous slogans more suited to a children's theme-park would be a good start. | |
No comments:
Post a Comment