The Cultural National Divide

[leahbobet]

Today I am writing my paper on why we should support Canadian Aboriginal languages. It is due Tuesday. This is why I'm not talking to anybody really today.

However, I did talk to a few people about said paper, and, because there's no faster way to get a Canadian to do something, one of my sideswipe supporting points is "if Canadians don't support that then they're not supporting multiculturalism and then we're *gasp!* acting like Americans with their Melting Pot."*

It is amazing how all the Canadians find this ruefully hilarious (and reminiscent of fifth grade history!) and all the Americans are getting pissed off. *g*


*Because no shit, this is how multiculturalism is taught in grade school to us. It is contrasted with the evil that is Americans. And if they're going to install a national-psychological button that's big and red and shiny, when I am writing persuasive papers meant to garner awareness and funding, I will use the hell out of it.**

**Yes, I am an evil propagandist.***

***I got to call people racists too.

Comments

[ringwoodcomics.livejournal.com]

Is this how most people define melting pot?

Not me, so I'm as surprised to read all this as you are. I always took it to mean -- come, join in our big smorgasborg, bring your culture but leave the hates of the Old World behind. Idealized, certainly, but we're talking about ideals here.

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

The way it's presented to us is as...well, leaving more than the hates behind. That one conducts oneself in public, at least, as Just American: no headscarfs or saris or languages not English or hanging a flag of something other than the U.S. in your window.

But then, they were teaching us about an opposing system, so I expect that is somewhat generalized and prejudiced.