I am interested in other frameworks; especially those that treat the promise of multiculturalism and civic nationalism seriously. Where Canada is the people and the cultures who are here, right now, treated equally. Where we retain the connections and through lines from origin cultures, and collectively own them. Instead of being an Anglo-French nation with Indian people in it, we could be an Indian nation, and a Chinese one, and a Haitian one.
I don't know how this other kind of framework works in practice. One part of it, I think, is recognizing that if everyone in Canada is "us", our history goes much farther back than Frobisher and Cartier. Our books trace the stream of history across the ocean back to England and France, but it includes what happened here for indigenous people going back to time immemorial, even when no English and French people were in sight. And it streams back to Kashmir and Guangdong and Jamaica and Italy.
A second one is that the role of immigrant cultures is contingent. We were invited, and we are tolerated, and we are treated as almost equals. But that invitation can be rescinded if the founder cultures see a reason to or if they just get in a bad mood.
I am interested in other frameworks; especially those that treat the promise of multiculturalism and civic nationalism seriously. Where Canada is the people and the cultures who are here, right now, treated equally. Where we retain the connections and through lines from origin cultures, and collectively own them. Instead of being an Anglo-French nation with Indian people in it, we could be an Indian nation, and a Chinese one, and a Haitian one.
There are so many problems with this cultural framework. First and foremost is our inability to find a just structure for inclusion and recognition of indigenous peoples. We've thankfully started a process of reconciliation, but nobody knows where it will end up.
A second one is that the role of immigrant cultures is contingent. We were invited, and we are tolerated, and we are treated as almost equals. But that invitation can be rescinded if the founder cultures see a reason to or if they just get in a bad mood.
One tension in this framework is that all citizens in the nation are treated as equals, but all cultures are not. We have city festivals for Chinese holidays, sure, but that only emphasizes that the other 364 days of the year are for the norm of regular anglophone-francophone things. The other cultures are a treat, not a regular meal.
There are so many problems with this cultural framework. First and foremost is our inability to find a just structure for inclusion and recognition of indigenous peoples. We've thankfully started a process of reconciliation, but nobody knows where it will end up.
Here in Canada, our national framework is based on the imperial aims of two founding cultures, the English and the French, one of which defeated the other but kept it on as a junior partner. Together they dealt with, and then controlled, the indigenous peoples who lived here first. They strategically invited workers from Europe, South and East Asia, North Africa and the West Indies to join them. Over time, the managerial relationship with indigenous people unravelled and a new one is being made.
One tension in this framework is that all citizens in the nation are treated as equals, but all cultures are not. We have city festivals for Chinese holidays, sure, but that only emphasizes that the other 364 days of the year are for the norm of regular anglophone-francophone things. The other cultures are a treat, not a regular meal.
It's closely tied to multiculturalism.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiculturalism
Here in Canada, our national framework is based on the imperial aims of two founding cultures, the English and the French, one of which defeated the other but kept it on as a junior partner. Together they dealt with, and then controlled, the indigenous peoples who lived here first. They strategically invited workers from Europe, South and East Asia, North Africa and the West Indies to join them. Over time, the managerial relationship with indigenous people unravelled and a new one is being made.
Thanks, all. I've been thinking a lot about civic nationalism. It's the idea of a nation that people adhere to ideas and institutions, rather than forming a nation around an ethnic group.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civic_nationalism
It's closely tied to multiculturalism.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiculturalism
Is the Risorgimento an important part of Canadian history?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unification_of_Italy
#EvanPoll #poll
Thanks, all. I've been thinking a lot about civic nationalism. It's the idea of a nation that people adhere to ideas and institutions, rather than forming a nation around an ethnic group.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civic_nationalism
Is the Risorgimento an important part of Canadian history?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unification_of_Italy
#EvanPoll #poll
Once again, Fediverse liberals are rehashing exactly whose lives and human rights should have been sacrificed to make Harris win the 2024 election.
There's only one right answer.
Evan Prodromou