November 16, 2019
The Tyranny of Multiculturalism
Timothy Birdnow
A Facebook group I am in recently started a conversation about multiculturalism and plurality. I left the following comment:
Human beings are tribal in nature; it comes from our evolution as a species during the late Pleistocene when we created the tribe as an extended version of the family (which is a biological unit.) Economics forced our ancestors to join with larger tribes to create citeis and eventually nations, but at heart we are still apt to seek those most like ourselves. "Birds of a feather flock together" the old saying goes.
That's why there are cliques in high school. That's why there are private clubs.
The key is to foster loyalty to a larger social group without trying to force people out of their loyalty to their tribe. America HAD been somewhat successful at that - more than most other nations. In America, you could be a Puritan from Boston, entirely blue-blood, and at the same time stand with a black sharecropper from Alabama when he is threatened. Why? Because the other guy is an America too! We aren't brothers exactly, but close cousins. That is, perhaps, the best we can do.
But the move has been towards total unity by erasing loyalties and at the same time promoting our differences - the exact opposite of where we should be going. And internationalis
What makes a nation? Common culture, common faith, common beliefs. America had all that; we were pluralistic, but we held the Judeo-Christian
Today we demand respect as a right and think we can abuse others if they disagree with us. We think "diversity is our strength" and so sever the bonds of affection while at the same time forcing conformity on the individual. We have rejected our Judeo-Christian
So, was America perfect before this? No, but do we really want to throw the baby out with the bathwater? Even living badly in America has traditionally been better than living in other places. Why did so many Chinese immigrate during the Nineteenth Century? They were discriminated against here, but they lived better than in China. The reason was ultimatley we had a system that had freedom of association and a sense of moral duty, even while it suffered bigotry.
There were good reasons the black community never embraced the Liberian experiment; they could have immigrated back to Africa but chose to stay here. Why is that?
Today America's central government is too powerful; we've become an empire. Force is now the thing that holds this country together. That is not a long-term stable situation.
Multiculturalis
A Facebook group I am in recently started a conversation about multiculturalism and plurality. I left the following comment:
Human beings are tribal in nature; it comes from our evolution as a species during the late Pleistocene when we created the tribe as an extended version of the family (which is a biological unit.) Economics forced our ancestors to join with larger tribes to create citeis and eventually nations, but at heart we are still apt to seek those most like ourselves. "Birds of a feather flock together" the old saying goes.
That's why there are cliques in high school. That's why there are private clubs.
The key is to foster loyalty to a larger social group without trying to force people out of their loyalty to their tribe. America HAD been somewhat successful at that - more than most other nations. In America, you could be a Puritan from Boston, entirely blue-blood, and at the same time stand with a black sharecropper from Alabama when he is threatened. Why? Because the other guy is an America too! We aren't brothers exactly, but close cousins. That is, perhaps, the best we can do.
But the move has been towards total unity by erasing loyalties and at the same time promoting our differences - the exact opposite of where we should be going. And internationalis
What makes a nation? Common culture, common faith, common beliefs. America had all that; we were pluralistic, but we held the Judeo-Christian
Today we demand respect as a right and think we can abuse others if they disagree with us. We think "diversity is our strength" and so sever the bonds of affection while at the same time forcing conformity on the individual. We have rejected our Judeo-Christian
So, was America perfect before this? No, but do we really want to throw the baby out with the bathwater? Even living badly in America has traditionally been better than living in other places. Why did so many Chinese immigrate during the Nineteenth Century? They were discriminated against here, but they lived better than in China. The reason was ultimatley we had a system that had freedom of association and a sense of moral duty, even while it suffered bigotry.
There were good reasons the black community never embraced the Liberian experiment; they could have immigrated back to Africa but chose to stay here. Why is that?
Today America's central government is too powerful; we've become an empire. Force is now the thing that holds this country together. That is not a long-term stable situation.
Multiculturalis
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at
08:56 AM
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1
I must say, dam*, you're good, Tim!
Posted by: Dana Mathewson at November 17, 2019 12:08 AM (upVNJ)
2
Thanks Dana!
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at November 17, 2019 11:31 AM (xChcj)
3
You're welcome.
I say "Let various peoples come together if and when it happens, but don't force it." I see neighborhood kids waiting for school buses, socializing naturally, and they are white, black, Hispanic; and they seem to get along just fine. The bulk of them are from two large apartment complexes here, so these kids have ample opportunities to mix as it is.
And they go to the local school system, which is a good one. Thank the Lord they aren't in the St. Paul or Minneapolis school systems, which are rotten. Two of the girls are close enough to me that I have talked to them about school a bit. The white one and the black one both like school, which says something, I think. They aren't just telling me what they think I want to hear.
I say "Let various peoples come together if and when it happens, but don't force it." I see neighborhood kids waiting for school buses, socializing naturally, and they are white, black, Hispanic; and they seem to get along just fine. The bulk of them are from two large apartment complexes here, so these kids have ample opportunities to mix as it is.
And they go to the local school system, which is a good one. Thank the Lord they aren't in the St. Paul or Minneapolis school systems, which are rotten. Two of the girls are close enough to me that I have talked to them about school a bit. The white one and the black one both like school, which says something, I think. They aren't just telling me what they think I want to hear.
Posted by: Dana Mathewson at November 17, 2019 01:49 PM (K0lJT)
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at November 18, 2019 08:04 AM (ztiAl)
5
School busing, anybody?
BTW, when was the last time you heard Kamala Harris's name? Is she still in the race?
BTW, when was the last time you heard Kamala Harris's name? Is she still in the race?
Posted by: Dana Mathewson at November 18, 2019 11:10 AM (9EUJB)
6
Kamaflage who?
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at November 18, 2019 11:19 AM (YPn0d)
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