KICKER: Optional
Freedom to maintain own identity and belief
The world is getting smaller and migration to more comfortable areas of the globe is become easier. Therefore, the ever increasing desire for greener pastures is encouraging the less privileged people, from turbulent and impoverished areas of the world, to venture into unknown lands to live among different cultures and unknown languages.
The host country needs to be appreciated and thanked for extending its hospitality to complete strangers, who are totally different from themselves. The immigrant must realise that he or she is the one who needs to adjust to bear with the culture and sentiments of the host, irrespective of how different it could be from his or her own traditions and beliefs. However, it is not necessary for him or her to implicitly accept and imitate the lifestyle of the host. The immigrant has all the right to maintain and preserve his or her own identity and beliefs.
It would be primitive on behalf of the hosting country to deny its guest his or her personal freedom as long as it does not hamper with the peace and security of the country. Multiculturalism can contribute a lot in raising the prosperity of such countries and immigrants could become the most cherished asset of his or her adopted country.
From Mr Thomas Varghese
Training manager based in Ras Al Khaimah
KICKER: Fear factor
Assimilation sets a false moral-cultural standard!
Assimilation is when an agent is absorbed into the host nation, its differences discarded, conforming to the host’s idea of the norm. Like in the case of Malek above, this idea can engender fear and even anger. In a previous article, I talked about how differences do not necessarily cause tension in and of themselves, yet the focus here now is the flip-side of that: Do they necessarily foster good relations in the majority-minority divide? Does ‘multiculturalism’ better society? The answer is yes and no. It simply depends on what you mean by the term.
There will always be differences, and free will dictates this, but it is not an agent of action itself. When it is acted upon, it can become the impetus for tension or learning. There should not be a “one or the other” style of thinking on this issue. Much like this idea of multiculturalism should be reimagined, so should the idea of assimilation. We’re continually assimilating different cultures in little or big ways into our own while keeping the core tenets like language and values intact. The idea of assimilation now meaning the whitewash of one culture over another is superficial, and in the extreme can set a false moral cultural standard.
One thing to remember is, there is no single fount of wisdom; every culture has contributed to modern society. We can either realise this or press on thinking differing trains of thought or culture are not building-blocks but obstacles that keep piling up on our way to ‘progress’.
Since we continue to borrow from each other in the meantime, we are all in a way multicultural. Thus, multiculturalism is not something we should strive for, or debate; it is something we already have.
From Mr Daryl Mc Oirghialla
Journalism graduate based in Dublin, Ireland
KICKER: Mutual understanding
Integrating is necessary, assimilating is not
In 2005, the United Nations reported that there were nearly 191 million international immigrants worldwide. There are a lot of challenges that come with immigrating to a new place, one of which is acclimatising to the culture of the place one moves to. There is always a need and pressure to make changes to fit into that culture. I feel that it is necessary to respect the culture of the new place we are in, and understand it, however, I don’t think there is a need to change our own beliefs, culture and values in order to ‘fit in’. Multiculturalism in society is an important thing, and helps us learn more about different cultures around the world. Otherwise, society would be generic and limited. I do believe however, that there are some efforts that need to be made in order to make living in a new environment possible. For example, if a non-English speaking person moves to an English speaking country, I think it is necessary for that person to learn English, as this is part of understanding and respecting the culture they are in. How else would they be able to communicate and interact with people? As I mentioned before, having a mix of cultures in society is good for learning about different places and cultures in the world, but if communication isn’t possible, then no interaction takes place, and people immigrating will feel alienated and isolated. This doesn’t mean that people moving to a new country should abandon their values and adopt the ones of their new place, on the contrary, I think they should value their own, and add to their knowledge by learning more about the place they are in, adopt the language, and perhaps educate those around them on their own culture and background.
From Ms Hadeel Al Jazzaf
General practitioner based in Kuwait
KICKER: Respect
Follow and respect the rules of the land
Assimilation is definitely not the way to move forward in order to fit in to society. With the rise in immigration, comes the rise in multiculturalism. This is something that should be embraced, rather than feared. It is not and should not be seen as a threat, rather beneficial to the country as it will only add to its growth and success. By accepting immigrants as they are, the host country will encourage social cohesion and unity within the country, which further helps the integration of immigrants with the natives. However, by accepting immigrants as their own and letting them share their land, in turn, immigrants need to do their very best to integrate into society and the natives of the country. It is vital to showcase the very best, to learn and understand the culture and traditions of the host country, though you don’t have to necessarily incorporate this into your own life, but at least be aware of it. It is important to overcome all barriers in order to make the gap between ‘us’ versus ‘them’ as small as possible. As a token of respect, it is necessary to follow the rules of the land, even though you might not agree with them.
From Mr Hamad Al Marzouqi
Business graduate based in Dubai
KICKER: Acceptance
We should be the best version of ourselves!
Multiculturalism is a beautiful concept and if it can be practised properly, it most definitely encourages social cohesion and unity. There is an inevitable communal peace that comes with understanding each other by living together and not expecting the people around you to conform to what is the “right” way to live. This understanding that we achieve from one another seeps into all aspects of life.
Our friendships become cultured and we learn from each other’s traditions, allowing us to further our tolerance of each other. We try different types of cuisine, which can expand our knowledge on foods. It might even give us the great opportunity to understand someone else’s customs and etiquette in this way, allowing us to be more considerate. Learn a bit of another language, know how to greet others in many different ways, understand culinary beauty and learn from the wisdom of the values and customs of others. These things can only happen if we are open and accepting.
Have a family dinner with someone from another culture, indulge in conversation and understand their happiness. We will only harm each other if we begin to fear one another. By accepting and not assimilating, we won’t only make the world a little more peaceful, we will also make ourselves better people – the best people that we can be.
From Mr Eisa Al Bannai
Engineer based in Sharjah
Facebook comments:
We need to accept the fact that people come from different ethnic backgrounds. We live in a global world, and we need to learn to deal with cultures different from our own. To succeed financially, socially and politically, multiculturalism is important. Some degree of assimilation is required to survive in any environment, but realising that we can blend into one nation while still retaining our cultural identities is important.
From Ms Farwa Shahid
UAE
— Compiled by Donia Jenabzadeh/Community Web Editor
