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To what extent is Canada Multicultural?

[Note: This article is a small bit.. 'Loopy'. It is the effect of Vodka.]

The importance of this topic is immense. People are discriminated against daily in the world by violence, by loss of human rights, and by everyday words sent at them. No one is ever left out of the racial treadmill that turns the globe- the phenomena is everywhere, in every culture, and in every nation. There is no escaping the racial hatred that has built the nations divisions over the thousands of years past. The Romans and the Gauls did not jump in bed with each other at first because of the many racial tensions that then caused a massive amounts of death. The South African policies on treating Black Africans below everyone else has also been built on racial tensions between opposing values. And how about the deaths of hurricane Katrina in which the death count was dominantly of African descent because (from some sources) of the large economic gaps between the majorities and minorities. Another interesting event would be the recent cases for aboriginal rights to health care in their health care desolate areas up north- and how the federal government are being insanely closed minded about their special problems(transporting people through wilderness to hospitals, for example).

This issue is so complex because of all the viewpoints on it. Some people believe blindly that we are multicultural by just the government telling them so, and all the happy propaganda that'd make even Lenin insane with neoconservative glee. Others believe we are in no way multicultural because of the racism that still exists in Canada- even with the laws in place to protect minorities. People in certain groups also believe that this country is for the most part multicultural, except for the 'rare' instance. The Canadian government doesn't go all out to please the minority and majority cultures in this wonderful country other than large amounts of spending( I'd like to draw your attention to the Gomery Inquiry: to the wasted dollars of people promoting 'Canadian Culture' to the Quebecois) aimed at buying the leaders of the many cultures that inhabit Canada. Another view point is we're simply more tolerant of other people and their cultures than every other country on the planet.

People believe, people believe, and people believe.. .. As many people there are in Canada, there is just as many opinions on this topic. Mostly, though, people seem to be following the idea that is smashed into their skulls from the second they enter Canadian society- Canada is multicultural: or else. Or else what? Face social self-imposed hermitage by your rare beliefs? Is that view truly rare though? I dare any one to run around downtown Calgary screaming,' CANADA IS NOT MULTICULTURAL!' during a traffic jam and see how quickly you get arrested for 'disrupting the peace.' People don't want crazy people running around waving signs disrupting their lives. Multiculturalism is all fine and dandy till it starts to bug people. But if multiculturalism or my examples bother you in the slightest- your racist in public view, correct? These are many views on this issue.

For sure Canada is multicultural on paper, in the media, in many laws, and in many sub clauses. But is it in reality? Can you really make laws on how people communicate to each other, and what they talk about? Freedom of speech only goes so far as to looking as an idiot. The second your confirmed as an idiot: no one is going to listen to your opinion (unless your idiocy is humorous, but you'll still will not be taken seriously in the thought process of a country). I know for a fact that you, the reader, is going to nod and note on my slight insanity on this issue that is amazingly popular amongst grade ten social studies teachers.

In the statements within the Multiculturalism act, it clearly tells the reader that the Government cares about the culture and heritage of it's citizenry. Matter of fact, the large list of rules and policies repeats and reminds you of it ever six to ten words. This act is cited every time a racial issue comes up in Canada: we're multicultural because of a piece of paper says so. How can a small piece of paper judge someone, and put them through the legal system we have in place for criminals of much more severe crimes? It's like having a sign-in sheet for a school but neither the student nor the teacher truly cares about it, and simply ignores it. Does the government go out there, and support multiculturalism? Yes. Yes it does. The government spent millions from 1996 through 2001 to simply show propaganda in Quebec- huge useless Canadian flags showing them that they are Canadian. They're showing that they care- something they repeated many times in the multicultural act. If you say something enough, eventually it become truth( Or is it already?). We're going to repeat this policy enough times till we are eventually become a multicultural super country.

Why are we Bilingual when we're multicultural? Shouldn't we use the term Bicultural, instead, since culture actually encompasses language? If we're multicultural, shouldn't we be extremely strict with it? We would have to use every single language known to man, and every language used by the citizens in this country- which is impossible. Who would use Pig Latin to argue about Ultilingualismmay? In the 1940s the French speaking Canadians could not be represented in the Canadian parliament because of language barriers: everyone spoke English, and barely anyone spoke French.That caused many people to not be represented in our government, and lost their huge right of representation. But, if everyone spoke Wandarang, Wandaii or even Zuni and Asaro'o: it'd simply be too difficult to communicate anything. Without communication- Democracy doesn't exist because solutions cannot be found(except by using violence and rude hand signals).

Guess how stupid we were towards 'other' cultures previous to our written act(are we still?)? We threw Japanese in war internment ( internment is without due process of law and without a trial) camps just in case they were plotting against our government. Children were abused/discriminated because they were the descendants of the people that the Canadian government were fighting at that moment( or were out at 1:00 A.M. partying loudly). During World War II, 22,000 people were torn from their homes, and thrown in horrible housing across British Columbia. All because of the slight chance that they might be aligned with the current Axis Of Evil. I find it rather humorous.

How about inequality in the economic side of Canada? A study done by a York University Proffesor (Michael Ornstein) suggests there is a massive gap between said majorities and minorities in Toronto. In his study he interprets his data and has written that Ethiopians, Ghanaians, Afghans, Somalis are sitting at a 52.2% to 70% poverty rate. They're in low paying jobs, even with most of them having a high school education. The provincial welfare cuts in 1996 didn't help, either. The study also has listed several other minority groups with a vast majority of their population below the poverty line.

There's a problem with the relation between poverty and race, and a lot of people recognize this- but has there been anything done? Does the Canadian Government care? Of course they do. They made an law about it, didn't they? "AND WHEREAS the Canadian Human Rights Act provides that every individual should have an equal opportunity with other individuals to make the life that the individual is able and wishes to have, consistent with the duties and obligations of that individual as a member of society, and, in order to secure that opportunity, establishes the Canadian Human Rights Commission to redress any proscribed discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin or colour;". Odd, isn't it? Why are we not, as a sovereign nation, following out own set of rules and our own laws for discrimination? Looks like the teacher hasn't been taking attendance.

With all this, I believe Canada is multicultural on paper, and in the books, but not in reality. People are in large economic gaps, and when compared to race- shows a huge correlation between racial and financial happenings. We're Bilingual- not multilingual. In our history, we've basically did extremely stupid stuff to people based JUST on their race, beliefs, and cultures. Still, though, Canada is many times more multicultural than all the other countries on this planet put together.

When it comes to being multicultural I think a piece of paper plays no game, but is merely a guideline.
Rights in this country are all based off of population opinion and can change or remain untouchable.
I have international friends from school and found that people in school are far different from the adult environment.
I have some gay friends and they're the best people I've ever known and I've learned so much from other cultures.
I do on the other hand believe that religion is the major battle that causes racial indifference- Although there are other multicultural issues that regard color of skin and beliefs.
I personally snob my nose at anyone who tries to convince me that my religious belief is wrong (Roman Catholic) And that I shouldn't say Merry Christmas to benefit people who don't celebrate it.
It's a touchy topic, but Canada by far seems like one of the few places which primarily accept you for who you are.

Then theres the stuck up snobs who don't accept anything that turn their noses. xp