eileengreene

David Byrne on: The Limits of Multiculturalism

A thoughtful and well-written journal post: From vigilante hipsters vs. Williamsburg Hasidim, to smuggled monkeys, Byrne asks: how much do we allow ethnic and religious groups to not blend in and to not become part of the general social fabric, especially in a major metropolis?

...Multiculturalism, I gather, is the idea that we shouldn’t force outside cultures and immigrants to conform to the culture of the dominant ethnic group — we should respect the integrity of their beliefs and customs. More than just allowing halal or kosher butchers to move in, this idea implies that we might start to see things from the other’s point of view — and sometimes accommodate their wishes, even if they don’t conform to those of the majority. This idea has met its match since 9/11 — Europe, previously a bastion of Muslim enclaves and ghettos of various types and ethnicities, has in recent years pushed back against multiculturalism, and a more nuanced idea is taking hold — sometimes. Other times intolerance rears its ugly head.

http://journal.davidbyrne.com/