Dear Editor:
In his letter dated September 12, Cristopher Ralph refutes the opinion of Allan Levine on Quebec’s history of intolerance against minorities especially the Jews. In addition, Christopher disagrees with Allan that French-Canadians do not endorse multiculturalism as a principle. He claims that Allan is oblivious of the French natives as the first nation to settle in Canada constituting a 27% population and their attitude to oppose any law that undermines their conspicuous existence. Christopher asserts intolerance to be a two way street and the country is too far from realizing.
Canada is a multicultural country. The federal government opened its doors to immigrants citing low productivity in factors of production. With most of them emanating from Northern Europe, particularly France and Britain. During the post-word-war11, more immigrants immerged from other parts including southern Europe, Africa and the middle-east. This led to the birth of multiculturalism, a character that has defined Canadians’ social culture.
Charles Taylor, one of the most renowned Philosophers of our times quoted in one of his writings on Multiculturalism, “Equal treatment often requires treating people in a different blind-fashion-that is “the other” must be respected in his or her historical and cultural fulfillness”. This statement can be attributed to the continued coexistence of people with different cultures and citizenship in Canada. In the 21st century, no country can claim to have a mono population-population with no foreigners .this is due to political instability in different nations, unemployment and intermarriages. As a result a nation will be composed of different cultural practices, religious beliefs and languages.
One of the implications of multiculturalism is identity crisis. Immigrants tend to retain their ways of practice including their culture. The natives feel intimidated that their children may inherit some of the practices that they deem immoral. In addition, the locals claim that the foreigners are utilizing the scarce resources available especially in employment opportunities. This fear is logical and should be contained since it is usually a recipe of racial violence. I therefore support Charles Taylor’s assertion of endorsing all cultural diversities. This can only happen if a clear distinction between political identity and diversity.
Christopher’s criticism towards Allan’s assertion is logical. Allan accuses French-Canadians of fostering multiculturalism to preserve their culture. He fails to understand that they were the first to settle in a nation with a different culture. In my opinion, there cannot be Pareto optimality in a multicultural society. Whereas, the culture of the native s supersedes other cultures from foreigners, equality has to be exercised to prevent racial-violence. Common political obligation should be committed to all citizens regardless of their origin. However, they should be allowed to retain their basic cultural practices, way of thinking and be granted an opportunity to express their sentiments.
Intolerance of foreigners by the locals is wrong and unacceptable but inevitable. It would be insensitive to wholly blame the Quebec’s discriminative intolerant act towards Jews.Inter-collision in cultural beliefs and religion inclination is attributed to this behaviour.
