"Degrees of Multiculturalism"

By: Richard Chuen-Shiuh Chu

(Originally published in the sixth volume (1997/1998) of Perspectives)

What do you think about when you hear the word: Multiculturalism? Do you see a street of East Indian families? Do you see a market full of Chinese people? How about a school of students from all walks of life? To be honest, I’m not always one to see this last picture. Whether it is intentional or not, I will concentrate on my own heritage. But, Multiculturalism is not about cultural isolation, but about cultural integration, and the recognition of the various degrees we all can associate with Multiculturalism.

I may be optimistic, but I believe that many of our own generation believe implicitly in the ideal of Multiculturalism. At the minimal level, it is a culmination of ideals that are expressed as being Canadian. The existence of so many different people, with differing abilities, make Canada a place where the world can meet.

One friend of mine is a student from Taiwan who, in agreement with her parents, came to Canada to get a Canadian education. The reasons were diverse, but one that was on the minds of the parents was the greater appreciation of the diversity of the world, and the different perspectives she would gain by studying in a foreign, but soon to be, homeland. She was really shy at first, but as her English improved, she became more confident, and eventually become an involved person in her community of friends.

Another story is of a Chinese guy, born and raised in Canada, living a life between his parents’ Old World, and their New World. Throughout the year, his grandparents and relatives from Taiwan and Japan would come and visit, providing him with a link to his cultural past. He would listen to the Chinese news, hear interpretations of Japanese news, and gain, an albeit, second-hand look at the diverse world he was a part of. Between his parents, Taiwanese, Mandarin, Japanese, English were all spoken. As he grew older, he would find himself acquainted with more diverse people, gaining a thirst for knowledge, experience, hoping to gain the real experience for himself in the near future.

This third story is of a Dutch friend, raised in a Dutch environment, listening to stories of his live-in grandparents who were first-generation immigrants. Stories of the World Wars would always be around, and while the young man couldn’t entirely appreciate the struggles of war, he could appreciate that he had it pretty good, and his grandparents’ generations sacrificed a lot. Although, it never really occurred to him that his Japanese friend could possibly be directly related to the atrocities of a war, as mentioned by war veterans, and by textbooks. He knew they were true, but wouldn’t blame his friend for the sins of his people’s past. History was history, and as far as he was concerned, it was nothing to ruin a long and cherished friendship over.

The final story is of a Canadian. She has an Irish past, but she’s never associated herself with it. Her parents were Canadian-born, and so were her grandparents. She concentrates on Canadian culture: a die-hard Canucks fan, loves Ashley MacIsaac, Alanis Morrisette, and U2, and takes an avid interest in issues affecting Canada directly. She has no problem with immigration, or the influx of Asian immigrants, but does worry about the effects of such a dramatic change in social diversity.

The diversity within Canada is a remarkable thing. Not only do we have a diversity between ethnic groups, but we have diversity within ethnic groups. This diversity provides us with a unique cultural bridge with Multiculturalism as the foundation. First, we have someone who has come to Canada to build a bridge between cultures. Second, we have someone stepping up to that bridge, and starting his journey to the other side. Third, we have someone walking that bridge. Finally, we have someone who sees that bridge as a fixed mark of one’s heritage, and a reality that one that is taken as a given. To me, these various levels with which we can associate with Multiculturalism really makes Canada a country with the potential to not only co-exist, but interact, to not only tolerate, but accept, and to not simply isolate, but unite.

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