What is meant by multiculturalism?

I first travelled abroad 55 years ago, everything was so different from were I lived.

As the years went on and I traveled and lived abroad the differences decreased, it has become increasingly difficult to find anywhere different .

People have moved around the globe taking their culture, food etc., with them.

That to me sums up multiculturalism.

Parsley3 I think of it as similar tbh.A country where regardless of colour and ethnicity you can work, socialise and worship and get on in life.That’s multicultural Britain.

Sadly I think that for many it means that people who don't have white skin aren't acceptable. I don't know how else to put it.

Multiculturalism a society that exists of people from different cultural backgrounds ethnicities and religions.

Sadly I think that for many it means that people who don't have white skin aren't acceptable. I don't know how else to put it.
That is not multiculturalism, that is racism.

Multiculturalism a society that exists of people from different cultural backgrounds ethnicities and religions.
That is exactly what it is. Whether or not it works is another matter and open to debate.

From that lovely Seekers song
We are one
But we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We share a dream
And sing with one voice
I am, you are , we are Australian
That should have been our National anthem

It means whatever you want it to mean in positive or negative way. To many is a welcome variety of culture to other it’s a threat to the British culture.

Katie59

It means whatever you want it to mean in positive or negative way. To many is a welcome variety of culture to other it’s a threat to the British culture.

I think you have to look further than the U.K. Katie59

The world is becoming multicultural, on the whole it works, as when people relocate they bring their traditions and heritage with them.

All countries have a rich individual cultural identity, it would be shameful if these got lost along the way.

Katie59

It means whatever you want it to mean in positive or negative way. To many is a welcome variety of culture to other it’s a threat to the British culture.

I think that we can now scrap the notion that it means anything but a threat. A senior politician has been loudly applauded for announcing that it doesn't work and heads are nodding in agreement. And not a single example of where it doesn't work to back up the claim. It looks like a vote winner though so well done Braverman.

The trouble is, to many people IMO it’s meant turning an official blind eye (for fear of accusations of racism) to cultural practices like forced marriages of very young girls and FGM.
Not to mention all the Rotherham grooming business.

Katie59

It means whatever you want it to mean in positive or negative way. To many is a welcome variety of culture to other it’s a threat to the British culture.

It's a threat to all cultures. I love that each country has (or had) its own identity, food, costumes and ethnicity. It makes them all unique to visit and study. I think it's tragic that this is all slowly being lost as vast numbers of people migrate and mingle. It particularly affects the west as that is where everyone seems to be heading.

It's a threat to all cultures. I love that each country has (or had) its own identity, food, costumes and ethnicity. It makes them all unique to visit and study. I think it's tragic that this is all slowly being lost as vast numbers of people migrate and mingle. It particularly affects the west as that is where everyone seems to be heading.
Do you mean Scots in kilts, Germans in lederhosen, Mexicans in sombreros etc, etc? I think you will find that is stereotyping which is quite a negative way of viewing people.

In simple terms multiculturalism is a recognition that society is not a monoculture, ie consists of different cultural and racial groups but in practice, I think it refers to the structural changes that are or are not made to ensure that the individual needs of different groups are met fairly and equally. It's of interest that despite MPs being much more representative of the UK's population, the road to success in politics is still paved with "white values" ie remains ethnocentric. Has "multiculturalism" failed? Suella seems to think it has and she is at the heart of the UK govt. I think the real question is, have we ever actually tried it?

Chestnut

Katie59

It means whatever you want it to mean in positive or negative way. To many is a welcome variety of culture to other it’s a threat to the British culture.

It's a threat to all cultures. I love that each country has (or had) its own identity, food, costumes and ethnicity. It makes them all unique to visit and study. I think it's tragic that this is all slowly being lost as vast numbers of people migrate and mingle. It particularly affects the west as that is where everyone seems to be heading.

Can you give me a brief run down of what British culture is, or to narrow it down a bit, English culture?

Parsley3

^It's a threat to all cultures. I love that each country has (or had) its own identity, food, costumes and ethnicity. It makes them all unique to visit and study. I think it's tragic that this is all slowly being lost as vast numbers of people migrate and mingle. It particularly affects the west as that is where everyone seems to be heading.^
Do you mean Scots in kilts, Germans in lederhosen, Mexicans in sombreros etc, etc? I think you will find that is stereotyping which is quite a negative way of viewing people.

You'd better ask the Scots if they feel wearing kilts and blowing bagpipes is a 'stereotype and a negative way of viewing them'. 🙄

Witzend

The trouble is, to many people IMO it’s meant turning an official blind eye (for fear of accusations of racism) to cultural practices like forced marriages of very young girls and FGM.
Not to mention all the Rotherham grooming business.

Everything that you have mentioned is illegal, forced marriage is forbidden under Islam and is illegal in pretty much every Muslim/Asian country as is FMG. They are not acceptable cultural practices by anyone's standards. The grooming gangs were not acting in a cultural way, they were evil men who prayed on vulnerable girls, the failure of the police and social services to protect these girls is a scandal and I think is clear evidence of how poorly trained they were and IMO made them as guilty as the vile perpetrators of these crimes.

foxie48

Chestnut

Katie59

It means whatever you want it to mean in positive or negative way. To many is a welcome variety of culture to other it’s a threat to the British culture.

It's a threat to all cultures. I love that each country has (or had) its own identity, food, costumes and ethnicity. It makes them all unique to visit and study. I think it's tragic that this is all slowly being lost as vast numbers of people migrate and mingle. It particularly affects the west as that is where everyone seems to be heading.

Can you give me a brief run down of what British culture is, or to narrow it down a bit, English culture?

Just a quick list off the top of my head of what English culture is, Sunday afternoon cricket matches, tea and scones, village fetes and carnivals with a carnival queen, Morris dancing, traditional English folk songs, cheese rolling and many other quirky local customs (too many to list), Chelsea Flower Show, Chelsea Pensioners, Beefeaters, London Buses, taxis, phone boxes and letter boxes, Epson Darby, Henley Regatta, Wimbledon Tennis, The Boat Race. I could go on but I'm sure you know all this anyway.

How many people have experienced the above over the last year?

I've been on a bus and posted a letter, but that's it. I would imagine I could do those things in most countries in the world.

Chestnut

foxie48

Chestnut

Katie59

It means whatever you want it to mean in positive or negative way. To many is a welcome variety of culture to other it’s a threat to the British culture.

It's a threat to all cultures. I love that each country has (or had) its own identity, food, costumes and ethnicity. It makes them all unique to visit and study. I think it's tragic that this is all slowly being lost as vast numbers of people migrate and mingle. It particularly affects the west as that is where everyone seems to be heading.

Can you give me a brief run down of what British culture is, or to narrow it down a bit, English culture?

Just a quick list off the top of my head of what English culture is, Sunday afternoon cricket matches, tea and scones, village fetes and carnivals with a carnival queen, Morris dancing, traditional English folk songs, cheese rolling and many other quirky local customs (too many to list), Chelsea Flower Show, Chelsea Pensioners, Beefeaters, London Buses, taxis, phone boxes and letter boxes, Epson Darby, Henley Regatta, Wimbledon Tennis, The Boat Race. I could go on but I'm sure you know all this anyway.

How does multiculturalism dilute or affect any of these things? It's an honest question. I'm white, British born in a Midland city and very English. Pretty much everything you have listed would be part of Tatler's social season, the only person I know who has been to most of these events is my SIL, who is very well connected and rather wealthy. I, of course, have sat on a London bus, made a phone call, posted a letter and travelled in a black cab but so have thousands of non white English people.

You forgot 'elderly ladies cycling to church in the morning mist', Chestnut

foxie48

Witzend

The trouble is, to many people IMO it’s meant turning an official blind eye (for fear of accusations of racism) to cultural practices like forced marriages of very young girls and FGM.
Not to mention all the Rotherham grooming business.

Everything that you have mentioned is illegal, forced marriage is forbidden under Islam and is illegal in pretty much every Muslim/Asian country as is FMG. They are not acceptable cultural practices by anyone's standards. The grooming gangs were not acting in a cultural way, they were evil men who prayed on vulnerable girls, the failure of the police and social services to protect these girls is a scandal and I think is clear evidence of how poorly trained they were and IMO made them as guilty as the vile perpetrators of these crimes.

Legal or not, those things still go on - it’s naive to pretend they don’t. Much as we may wish it.
And IMO the Rotherham type abuse was at least partly cultural - white girls seen as of little account, unworthy of respect.

When a dd was a student in Nottingham, she and her friends regularly had young boys who lived in the same street, no more than about 10 or 11, of Pakistani immigrant parents jeering ‘Dirty white whore!’ at them in the street.

Where did that come from, if not from the parents? Who (I should add) were almost certainly uneducated - it was a relatively poor area. I’m well aware that educated attitudes will be different.

Witzend

foxie48

Witzend

The trouble is, to many people IMO it’s meant turning an official blind eye (for fear of accusations of racism) to cultural practices like forced marriages of very young girls and FGM.
Not to mention all the Rotherham grooming business.

Everything that you have mentioned is illegal, forced marriage is forbidden under Islam and is illegal in pretty much every Muslim/Asian country as is FMG. They are not acceptable cultural practices by anyone's standards. The grooming gangs were not acting in a cultural way, they were evil men who prayed on vulnerable girls, the failure of the police and social services to protect these girls is a scandal and I think is clear evidence of how poorly trained they were and IMO made them as guilty as the vile perpetrators of these crimes.

Legal or not, those things still go on - it’s naive to pretend they don’t. Much as we may wish it.
And IMO the Rotherham type abuse was at least partly cultural - white girls seen as of little account, unworthy of respect.

When a dd was a student in Nottingham, she and her friends regularly had young boys who lived in the same street, no more than about 10 or 11, of Pakistani immigrant parents jeering ‘Dirty white whore!’ at them in the street.

Where did that come from, if not from the parents? Who (I should add) were almost certainly uneducated - it was a relatively poor area. I’m well aware that educated attitudes will be different.

This week marks a watershed moment in a decade of discussion of “grooming gangs”: a much-anticipated Home Office report has concluded that there is no credible evidence that any one ethnic group is over-represented in cases of child sexual exploitation.

www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2020/dec/analysis-new-home-office-report-admits-grooming-gangs-are-not-muslim-problem

I agree with Chestnut. Absolutely right.

Chestnut Many of the items listed are perhaps outdated. It may be because I was a teenage/young adult during the 60s I found Morris Dancing and that other folky stuff rather boring and still do.

I invited some French friends to afternoon tea recently and made scones (for the first time in 20 odd years) and served them with butter, jam and creme fraiche. They loved them.
As often happens with scones we talked about topping goes first and one lady reminisced about clotted cream which she ate when she lived in England.