Saturday, February 05, 2011

Idea of a Nation - ia

It will be the turn of the British Prime Minister now to denounce Multiculturalism or "State Multiculturalism". I wonder whether the report is a deliberate rumour to gauge public opinion (What is the term?).

Addressing a security conference in Germany, David Cameron will argue the UK needs a stronger national identity to prevent people turning to extremism.
Different cultures are encouraged to live apart, and objectionable views met with "passive tolerance", he will say.

Via BBC

Update:
The same post at BBC has been updated to reflect the actual given address. I should have copied the complete text in the first instance.

A small change in the above sentence:
"Frankly, we need a lot less of the passive tolerance of recent years and much more active, muscular liberalism," the prime minister said. 

Anyway, he goes on to say:
Building a stronger sense of national and local identity holds "the key to achieving true cohesion" by allowing people to say "I am a Muslim, I am a Hindu, I am a Christian, but I am a Londoner... too", he said.
He probably is clueless. That is alright as I believe that a civilized idea of a nation is still in its infancy. 

3 comments:

anilkurup59 said...

Civilized living itself is a distant dream or may be in its early embryonic stage.
And as for multiculturalism in the former empires ,and conquistadores like Britain, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands or France - migrant population , they must understand is the penalty they have to pay for colonising and plundering.

VM Weber said...

Civilized living itself is a distant dream or may be in its early embryonic stage.

Your view is true for some societies; somewhat exaggerated in others (like India); and not true at all in some others ( I suppose Scandinavian countries). These are my standards.

And as for multiculturalism in the former empires ,and conquistadores like Britain, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands or France - migrant population , they must understand is the penalty they have to pay for colonising and plundering.

As of now it appears to be a case of their failure to convert the colonies to Christianity.

anilkurup59 said...

Nordic countries - ha they are apart. Economically and socially. They follow the GNH ( gross nation happiness) and not literally the dreary economics of GNP ( gross national product). Where religions and faith do not usurp your happiness , freedom and life .
In India where the few peoples billions are at the expense of the millions in the slums hoping vainly for a square meal- yes I feel the "dream" is still a mirage.