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Perhaps it is fitting the term ‘global village’ was coined by a Canadian. After all, Canada is quintessentially multicultural – we invented that term, too, eh. People from all over the globe live alongside one another harmoniously. Its citizens proudly support immigration and perceive Canada to be one of the most highly regarded countries on the planet, at least according to a 2007 GlobeScan survey. Indeed, Canadians believe racism is marginal in Canada.

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Yet, is there more to this scenic Bruno Côté landscape than meets the eye? While most Canadians deny having racist views, data from the Ethnic Diversity Survey 2002 would seem to suggest that many would prefer to maintain a ‘distance’ from minority groups in certain social settings. To be sure, ethnic boundaries are a reality of Canadian social life, from Chinese Markham and Sikh Surrey to Jewish Westmount and Italian Woodbridge.

It is strange how the sentiments of many Canadians about their country and people can remain so optimistic when segregation and low levels of employment among immigrants persist throughout Canada. Take, for instance, the attitudes of Muslim Canadians, a group that has come to the fore of the public imagination in recent years. A recent Environics poll of Muslim attitudes in Canada suggests Canadian Muslims are generally content with their decision to immigrate to Canada, with about eight out of ten respondents saying Muslims are treated better in Canada than in other Western countries. Only five percent of Muslims who completed the survey would say ‘most Canadians’ are hostile towards them. This sentiment would appear to be unique among Western democracies. According to data from a 2006 Pew Global Attitudes study, Muslims living in Great Britain, Spain, Germany and France are much more likely to interpret hostility towards members of their faith.

Muslim Canadians also demonstrated a strong attachment to their adopted homeland with ninety-four percent of respondents describing themselves as ‘proud to be Canadian’ – one percent more than the national average. Interestingly, fifty-seven percent of Muslim Canadians believe ‘most Muslims’ want to adopt Canadian customs, while thirteen percent believe Muslims want to adopt Canadian customs in addition to remaining a distinct community. Thus, seven out of ten Canadian Muslims believe their fellow Muslims would like to integrate themselves into the ‘Canadian way of life’, whether remaining a distinct community or not.

Perhaps this positive perception of Canada is reflective of another reality of Canadian life – people here interact with each other. Rather than being isolated, Canadians are closer to each other than ever before. Toronto Star columnist Haroon Siddiqui writes: ‘Canadians know each other far more than ever before – sampling each other’s cuisine and culture, especially music; dating and marrying across racial and religious lines; and being actively involved in interfaith activities that have reached unprecedented levels.’

To be sure, the bonds people form with each other are what reduce prejudice and increase understanding. But strong social cohesion will not come about simply by its citizens sharing a set of values (indeed, in a country as diverse as Canada this would be an impossibility); rather, there must be engagement between the diverse communities.

To improve social conditions between diverse communities, American political scientist Robert Putnam recommends official language acquisition, federal support for areas with immigrants, and local civic and religious organizations that reach out to immigrant communities. All this looks like it was a page torn out of Canadian multiculturalism – we’ve been doing it for decades.

Canada’s multiculturalism policy has created the tools and institutions needed to help foster interaction between different peoples and forge an ethos that teaches people to work with one another. In this regard, Canada is a model for the world. To be sure, there is a racial divide in Canada, and the multiculturalism policy needs to address this. But, in the grand scheme, and relative to other countries, multiculturalism in Canada brings people closer together.

In the end, though, it is only through engagement with ‘the other’ that we will form the necessary social bonds to diminish prejudice. And this plays out in civil society, where we participate together in the daily life of society, through yoga classes, after-school sports clubs, religious associations, what-have-you. It is here where we learn about each other, in the collective attempt to create a society of cooperative and collaborative humans, affirmed and strengthened by our differences. Truly, the global village – where people of all different ethnic, religious, philosophical, sexual identities work and play together – is a place where prejudice has no place. {w}

i am spartacus: anthology I - 2009

 

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