Earlier today, the Prime Minister of the UK launched an attack on multiculturalism as it has been expressed in the UK and Europe. His criticism, in summary, is that the "hands-off approach" to multiculturalism has created a fragmented society that can foster extremism, and called on European governments to pursue "much more active, muscular liberalism."
There is certainly an argument for taking care with multiculturalism. We do not want to entirely quash the traditions from which our various citizens hail, particularly in a nation like ours that is built, in a very real sense, on the backs of immigrants. Undoubtedly, almost all of us can trace our ancestry back to another continent -- Europe, Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands. Surely, many of these cultures have positive things to contribute to society. The question becomes, then, to what extent do we allow varying cultures to express themselves, and to what extent do we insist on integration into "mainstream" society? Do we allows Muslims to practice Sharia law in their communities, or push our system of laws on them? Do we insist that immigrants learn English, or allow them to continue to speak their native (where non-English) tongues? And, perhaps most relevant to us... to what extent do we teach to, and about, the varying cultures that make up our society?
I do not purport to have any answers. I only provide the questions.
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