Views of Multiculturalism

Samual Taylor's article The Challenge of Multiculturalism focuses on the perplexity of multi-cultural education in the teaching of American History. He provided examples of historical events that are normally covered in the classroom that present problems in a multicultural environment. He discusses the attempts that have been made to develop a multi perspective version of history and the criticism it evoked. Taylor discusses the perspective that the identity of America's origins are being abandoned and replaced by multiple national identities. He states that "One of the strongest motives for building public schools was, therefore, the need to make Americans out of Europeans."

Pithissippi Burning, an article written by Pj Tobia that illustrates the detrimental affect that white nationalist propaganda poses to the multicultural movement. He discusses The Northwest Homeland, a white separatist movement that epitomizes the ethnocentric and monocultural mindset that still plagues our country today. Tobia alludes to the danger generated by an inter-net novel "The Brigade" written by H.A. Covington. He describes the work as "both a believable piece of fiction and a how-to guide for everything from bomb building, assassination and interrogation by torture." In conclusion to his article Tobia forewarns about future perils when he paraphrases Faulkner "the past is not behind us. It isn't even past." He reminds us that the ignorant hate groups that "want to rid the world of non-whites" are as contentious and determined as ever.

Why Multiculturalism is Wrong is an article that presents examples of the negative outcomes of a multicultural society. The author feels multiculturalism limits an individuals freedom, possibilities and possible futures. He uses the Netherlands to exemplify how multiculturalism can result in racism and segregation. He discusses the problems that originated with their implication of compulsory culture and their return to mono-culturalism. This article demonstrated how multiculturalism made culture an inherited factor and how in the name of preserving "their own culture" children were made to learn designated languages that were not their familiar or ethnic language. In places like Turkey multiculturalism makes cultural identity correspond with an individuals nation. The author of this article presents the perspective that an anti-cultural opposed to a multicultural movement would best benefit our nation.

I have been a proponent of a multicultural educational system. I realize schools in the United States still function as an institution used to Americanize immigrant children. I believe in an individuals right to honor their own culture. I also see the difficulties that are arising as we try to develop an acceptable form of multiculturalism in our school systems and in society. I think until recently our nation has maintained an educational system representative of mono-culturalism and I do not feel that has benefited our children or our nation. The varied views in these articles demonstrate the perplexity of the issue. The author of Why Multiculturalism is Wrong presents the choice of no culture. He feels that no cultural representation in schools would be more beneficial than designating a culture or utilizing one conservative cultural view nationwide. Could we develop a curriculum free of cultural perspectives? Could we teach without our cultural beliefs influencing our teaching? Could we have a non-representational national culture and still maintain individual cultural beliefs? Can we as a nation learn to be accepting and respectful of all cultures? Taylor stated "The purpose of American public education has never been simply to impart knowledge. One of its central goals has been to make children into Americans." Maybe, the answer is to re-define what defines the "American" we want to shape our children into.