Quotes: On Multiculturalism
BERLIN – Chancellor Angela Merkel's declaration that Germany's attempts to build a multicultural society had "utterly failed" is feeding a growing debate over how to deal with the millions of foreigners who call the country home.
Merkel told a meeting of young members of her conservative Christian Democratic Union that while immigrants are welcome in Germany, they must learn the language and accept the country's cultural norms — sounding a note heard increasingly across Europe as it battles an economic slump and worries about homegrown terrorism.
"This multicultural approach, saying that we simply live side by side and live happily with each other has failed. Utterly failed," Merkel said.I would have to agree with her. People who move around need to learn to accept the local norms of their new home. They don't have to practice them all, but they have to speak the language at least. It is tough with all the diversity this world has, and unfair to those who are displaced from their homes, but I think it is necessary.
I think you are right. When I came to the US I spoke English fluently. There are many things I don’t like here, but there are many things I don’t like in France either. I adapted to the US culture. While in New York we visited the Tenement Museum in the Lower East Side. I was astounded to find out how many Germans immigrated in the 19th century and lived in that area. They had their own German newspaper, food, stores of all kind; they did not need to speak English at all. The same happened when the next wave of immigrants came from Ireland, then Italy and the Eastern European Jews. Since they had Little Italy, Chinatown I tried to find if there was a Frenchtown or Little France. What I found is that not many French people immigrated for some reason. The French in New Orleans were not native of France but those who lived in Canada and were thrown out by the British, then came to NOLA and were called Cajuns
ReplyDeleteIsolating and hiding within their own little worlds within the country isn't very productive for themselves and their families. The isolation causes stagnation and make it harder for the rest of the country to accept who they are. Doesn't mean you can't try to keep old language and traditions, just don't make it exclusive and confining.
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