It’s been a crazy month.  But still, with how busy it’s been, I’ve come across some interesting multiculturalism commentaries — three in particular. I think they’re really worth a read.

• Indo-Canadian journalist Haroon Siddiqui recently wrote a piece in the New Internationalist on the state of Canada’s multiculturalism – including some emphasis on Muslim Canadians – and why it seems Canada is better as compared to everywhere else, Europe especially. An interesting commentary: No Room for Bigots.

• Ahmed al Mansoori’s Opinion column, We must walk the two-way street to cultural integration in the United Arab Emirates’ The National, al Mansoori notes the significance and importance to the UAE of cultural integration in building a sense of unity and cohesion. I could not help but dwell on this passage in particular:

“Cultural integration is a tool that leads to the development of common goals and values. And in turn, these shared aspirations allow for a more cohesive and healthy community.  Sure enough, social development programmes and government agencies should provide the necessary knowledge and infrastructure to support this integration process. However, it is ultimately up to individuals who make a personal choice to become involved with other cultures. The first step of this process is learning more about them.”

• Finally, an article in Australia’s Brisbane Times last week caught my eye in particular, but not for its ‘lead’ (reaction to American-Mexican born and former Australian telco CEO “Sol” Trujillo calling Australia backwards and racist); but, more for raising the notion that Australia’s multiculturalism is still in need of some work.  In Sol, your wakeup call is important: we’ve no reason to be smug the article’s author Adele Horin notes that:

“…the lack of diversity in corporate life compares unfavourably with the US where decades of strong affirmative action has had effect. The same applies to TV. Here reporters and newsreaders do not reflect a diverse society. Networks don’t seem to consider it important …

But if we are not as bad as Trujillo implied, nor are we as tolerant as we like to think. Overseas visitors have long been amazed at Australia’s acceptance of Aboriginal destitution. Surveys consistently show about one in 10 Australians is a hardcore racist – a big enough number to cause problems on trains, in some workplaces, and on sporting fields…

Under [former Prime Minister John] Howard, respect for different cultures and different ways of being Australian was set back as politicians questioned the value of multiculturalism. Symptomatic was the introduction of a citizenship test that sought to put Anglo culture at the centre of what it meant to be Australian…Lack of political leadership unleashed the incivility and racism that usually lies dormant. And we still live with that legacy.”

To be honest, after reading other articles about the recent racially-motivated violent attacks on Indian students in Australia, it made me feel that Canada, in comparison, is much better off.  But then, I discovered this (authored by our own Federal Multiculturalism minister Jason Kenney).

Perhaps it’s easy for me to say, given I participate on Twitter, because I do believe that one tweet shouldn’t characterize someone in their entirety.  Having said that, maybe Canada still has some work to do.