Thread: Feelings about Ethnic Diversity?

Originally Posted by mutmekep

I will give you some historical clues !
The Celtic world , ancient Iberians , Amazon tribes , Borneo tribes , Altaic peoples of Siberia , the Bushmen .
They were/are all mono cultures living isolated from the rest and their contribution to mankind is exactly zero , some still live in stone age!
Now think
Ancient Mediterranean (Phoenicians , Egyptians , Hebrews , Greeks, Etruscans , Romans, Hittites)
Multiculture mix of everything , social , technological , cultural and genetic contributions , starters of western civilisation
Ancient Mesopotamia (Sumerians, Akadians , Assyrians)
Multiculture mix of everything , the first to make scriptures , built houses , irrigate the land , write history , starters of human civilisation
Ancient Mesoamerica (Olmecs , Zapotecs, Toltecs , Mayans, Aztecs)
Multiculture mix of everything far far far ahead in all aspects from any other region in their continent

I think the answer is easy.

The answer to what? There is no reason any of those cultures cant coexist as long as they abide by the notion of public/private space.

Originally Posted by MegadethFan

Culture is not the same as ethnicity. You have every right to not live amongst an ethnically diverse society, however that does not mean society should have to create an alternate reality for you. As for your children, same thing applies, however I fear secluding them as your propose is tantamount to abuse given it deprives them of actually engaging with the real world. Cultural diversity is another thing, but like ethnic diversity, is entirely fine and not open to restriction in a free society.

QFT

I agree, what drives people apart is not ethicity, but culture, and my minor quibble with the above is that I would include religion in "culture". A shared culture with similar beliefs, values, and loyalties will last a lot longer than a single ethnicity with a lot of cultural differences. An African American is not very cuturally close to an African. North Africa is largely Muslim, and most Christian African Americans would have less in common with a Muslim African of similar genetic make-up than an American white man. A German American wouldn't have much in common with a modern German, but might get along quite well with an American Hispanic. When you go even further abroad, the cultural differences would be even more stark -- say the difference in mind-set between an American Chinese and a Chinese.

Originally Posted by Anders Hoveland

I prefer being around other people of my same ethnicity, and would not enjoy it if everyone else around me was from a different ethnicity.
It is both their physical appearance and the cultural differences. I also question how much of these "cultural" differences are truely cultural, and whether they are ever going to go away once the newcomers fully "assimilate". (there may likely be some genetic influence on behaviour and personality)

I am concerned that my ethnicity may become a minority in our country within a relatively short period of time, and think that our descendents will not be the happiest living as a minority. These will be people they will have to interact with everyday in school and work.

So my question is: Am I the only one that prefers being around my same ethnicity? Or do most people not have any problem with this?

Most people do not have any problem with this.

You must not like it here, as recent threads show racist views are very much in the minority.

More ethnic diversity is surely a good thing, and more ethnic shops would be great.

Originally Posted by septimine

QFT

I agree, what drives people apart is not ethicity, but culture, and my minor quibble with the above is that I would include religion in "culture". A shared culture with similar beliefs, values, and loyalties will last a lot longer than a single ethnicity with a lot of cultural differences. An African American is not very cuturally close to an African. North Africa is largely Muslim, and most Christian African Americans would have less in common with a Muslim African of similar genetic make-up than an American white man. A German American wouldn't have much in common with a modern German, but might get along quite well with an American Hispanic. When you go even further abroad, the cultural differences would be even more stark -- say the difference in mind-set between an American Chinese and a Chinese.

Great observation. I agree.

Originally Posted by MegadethFan

The answer to what? There is no reason any of those cultures cant coexist as long as they abide by the notion of public/private space.

The answer to how multiculture help societies develop , i can not feel bad for something that promotes my community.

Originally Posted by mutmekep

The answer to how multiculture help societies develop , i can not feel bad for something that promotes my community.

What does it matter if it does or doesn't? How "society develops" is ultimately totally irrelevant to right and wrong action.

Originally Posted by septimine

QFT

I agree, what drives people apart is not ethicity, but culture, and my minor quibble with the above is that I would include religion in "culture". A shared culture with similar beliefs, values, and loyalties will last a lot longer than a single ethnicity with a lot of cultural differences. An African American is not very cuturally close to an African. North Africa is largely Muslim, and most Christian African Americans would have less in common with a Muslim African of similar genetic make-up than an American white man. A German American wouldn't have much in common with a modern German, but might get along quite well with an American Hispanic. When you go even further abroad, the cultural differences would be even more stark -- say the difference in mind-set between an American Chinese and a Chinese.

Septimine, are you suggesting in a subtle way that Muslims do not fit in with American culture and that it should be Christian.

Originally Posted by alexa

Septimine, are you suggesting in a subtle way that Muslims do not fit in with American culture and that it should be Christian.

No I think he was saying culture unites people more than race, well that's how I interpreted his meaning. There is no reason there cannot be a culture of inclusion between all religious faiths

Originally Posted by MegadethFan

No I think he was saying culture unites people more than race, well that's how I interpreted his meaning. There is no reason there cannot be a culture of inclusion between all religious faiths

I am not sure. If you read it again you will see it could imply this. I do not know him so I will wait for his reply.