Reply #142: Are you confusing SOCIETY with culture?

[ultraist]

When you refer to ethnic restaurants you make the assumption that one has to be a member of an ethnic community to see value in that community's culture.

My statement about respecting Multiculturalism in no way presumes that one has to be a member of that culture to see value in it. You are extrapolating illogically. I couldn't appreciate Jazz and see the value in it?

I can appreciate and experience other cultures but I would not be so presumptious in saying "I know and understand what it is like to be Black, Jewish, Gay, etc as well as a Black, Jewish or Gay person." There IS a difference.

I do not see the melting pot theory as equal to minority assimilation into WASP culture. I see it as a unique combination of flavors that produces a new, unique, and wonderful new taste.

Allowing different cultures to exist and enjoying and appreciating them all within ONE SOCIETY is Multiculturalism . It is NOT creating one culture from bits of other cultures. Whose religion would we use and whose would we omit? Whose food, language, music would we use?

You also stated we should have a "world culture." I disagree with that. I don't think we should have ONE World culture by taking bits of other cultures, eliminating other aspects, to create one culture. Again, whose religion would we use? Whose music?

We HAVE numerous different cultures that exist within our US SOCIETY. Each of these cultures should be respected and appreciated. Diversity is a good thing. ONE CULTURE (melting pot) is ethnocentric.