Kickoff debate

[adalger]

So, now that we have some members, here's a topic:

Is "multiculturalism" truly beneficial?

I'll start off by taking the negative position.

Multiculturalism is a tool used by the establishment to prevent the unification of Americans into one common culture. It perpetuates inter-cultural tension by emphasizing the differences between Americans who come from different cultural heritages. The only true path to peace and unity is to abandon this continued segmentation to fulfill the promise of the Melting Pot.

Discuss. :)

Comments

[ex_autopoiesi457]

Leaving aside the question of what one means by "multiculturalism"--because there a lot of different ways the word might be applied--it wouldn't make sense for an establishment control measure to prevent cultural unification, when one would think a culturally conglomerized population would in fact be easier to control. Which is an argument against the Melting Pot metaphor.

ETA: That's not the same thing as saying identification with a larger crosscultural national identity is a bad thing, or even an unnecessary one. But why should peace and harmony depend on people giving up their differences/Culturally Specific Important Stuff?

[adalger]

The establishment depends for power on being able to prevent the different cultural groups from uniting behind a single opposition candidate. A homogeneous culture could act in unity in its own best interest; A heterogeneous cultural mix is too busy acting in opposition to itself to act in unison against its oppressors.

[ex_autopoiesi457]

The establishment depends for power on being able to prevent the different cultural groups from uniting behind a single opposition candidate [ . . . . ] A heterogeneous cultural mix is too busy acting in opposition to itself to act in unison against its oppressors.

One might argue that they just did, this past November. :-)

[adalger]

One might. Are you so arguing? 'cause the President is still a Democrat, one of the Two Parties. There has yet to be a viable alternative candidate to the artificially limited choice presented by the Democrats and Republicans. As evidence I present Ralph Nader.