Global Culture

There is a certain hint of a solution in the Toronto Star (Canada) article “Redefining multiculturalism” when it tries to alleviate the claims of others that multiculturalism should be abolished. In concrete, it proposes:

Instead of funding ethnic dance shows, the government needs to modernize immigration and settlement programs into one basket with the common goal of not only enriching what we have here, but to provide the country with access to the skills that will allow it to connect better with the new global economy. Thus, you reframe “multiculturalism” as “strength through integration of diversity.”

The article cites the stereotypical example of a chinese family that never leaves their neighborhood, therefore never bothers to learn other languages than their own. Lacking the tools to survive outside of the boundaries of their “ethnic ghetto”, they would not be able to integrate fully into this society.

While it is very likely that extreme cases such as this exist, the fact is that in an important twist to McLuhan’s generation gap, the youngsters born in a foreign country are more likely to absorb the general elements of culture to find their ways among peers at school, while at the same time will carry their ancestors culture in many ways. This demographic group, the mythical gap, can help bridge not the generations, but the cultures that are represented at each side.

Attending Democamp (an informal gathering of Toronto’s geek community) earlier this evening confirmed the fact that there are many bloggers with diverse ethnic backgrounds who consider themselves bridges between their cultures and our city. Considering the amazing diversity of cultures Toronto hosts, it can play a fundamental role in the shaping of global culture.

Blogger? Migrant? Want to power the multicultural engine? Consider participating