Bittersweet Candy Bowl Forums

This was started as a result of a comment on "Real Life Pictures" thread, which made me want to start a separate thread for this. What do you consider Canada as being more: Mosaic or Melting Pot? (culturally)

Canada has quite the immigration rate, and even though we have laws limiting the number per year, civil war abroad, university applications, family immigration etc. causes the number of immigrants to Canada to increase. In our (rather embarrassing) history, we have had many immigrants come for our free land, fair enough polices, and relative new status. However, the sacrifice of culture is not questionable when looking at our past; aboriginal residential schools, racism throughout society and politics, and also Ukrainians, Japanese, Germans, (and I think Jews too, History class is a bit fuzzy in my head) being labeled as "enemy aliens" and interned in camps throughout Canada.

Clearly, in the past, we have assimilated the numerous cultures that make up Canada as a whole, and have therefore been a 'melting pot.' The question is: are we still loosing the cultures that come in? Definitely not for the same reason. We do have many 'encouragements' to keep our 'native' cultures, religions, and beliefs (or at least not to feel pressured towards any specific one). In fact, the government gives incentives (in Toronto at least) to small businesses that support a foreign culture (I can't find the article right now, if i find it I will post it). I do not agree with this, but that is a different topic. Point being, despite the government's efforts to keep up cultural diversity in Canada (which, I would like to point out, only really started as a result of Trudeau), as a people we are all assimilated through society. Through multiple forms of media, social customs, and time, people loss much of their past. They may still celebrate their traditions, but in a carefree manner. Future/ younger generations tend not to continue these traditions (as much, and it's importance degrades with time). Also, we have and are being heavily influenced by American culture. We are all being affected by the same winds, going into the same trends, having the same priorities and worries as a country because of all the influences that America has on the whole country.

If it's not clear enough, I believe that Canada is ultimately a melting pot, with glimmers of cultures emerging in the forms of protective laws, right amendments, and constant immigration only to be smoothly and quietly covered by the generation gaps and boiled in between.



In the poll, there is no in between option because you need to make a choice, and not stay on the fence like a lot of people like to do. It is not public.

This post has been edited by The Swimmer: 07 December 2011 - 03:36 AM

This is basically an issue any time you have people of one culture who emigrate to a place with a different culture.

We can take pride in cultural diversity, however we cannot import a culture wholesale. For example, honour killings, female genital mutilation, and sharia law have no place in Canada. From that point of view, immigrants must be made aware that they are now living in a different country, with different laws and rules. On the other hand, cultural assimilation can certainly be taken too far, such as when the Canadian government sent aboriginal children to residential schools.

ugh, Sharia Law being "evil". Ugh.

The hell's the difference?

The difference is, as wel learned in high school, in the states you are americanfirst and foremost, you're culture is a background thing
Here in Canada you are encourages to celebrate and exhibit your culture however you see fit, regardless what Canadian traditions might be
The first is the melting pot, the second a mosaic
And there's good and bad sides to both.

Celebrate diversity! THE CANADIAN WAY!

I think there's only one right answer here, so I don't think there will be too much discussion.

Jerk, on 07 December 2011 - 01:26 AM, said:

He's saying Canadians are gay.

@Ace Yeah, we got it.

Not necessarily gay, more like America's pussy little brother.

I'm sorry, what?
Aren't you smaller and on the bottom?

Americans are more patriotic though, I'll give them that

This post has been edited by Tabris: 07 December 2011 - 03:21 AM

That's because Canada never does anything anyone would ever be proud of.

I would say we lean far more towards the melting pot idea. When the whole flood of immigration was started it wasn't done in such away that we would blend into one distinct culture and a lot of groups do end up setting themselves up so they can practice their own culture. An example would be how in Toronto (and probably other places) we have a greek area, a chinese area, a korean area, etc.

Their isn't as much intermingling and the groups seem to keep to their own on their own little districts.

Edit: Wait... that whole thing I am wrote is all for the mosaic, isn't it? Well looks like I need to change my vote.

This post has been edited by Nik: 07 December 2011 - 03:43 AM

Jerk, on 06 December 2011 - 06:54 PM, said:

Aw. I wanted to make a reference to south park first.

Take solace that it was at least the first reply to an otherwise boring topic.

^very subtle Canada is boringsville joke^

That picture makers a very good point.

Are you saying my state is an anus?

This post has been edited by Rex: 07 December 2011 - 11:58 AM

He's saying Canadians can at least be happy with their crappy country if they pretend it's forcibly sodomizing their superior.

Jerk, on 07 December 2011 - 03:32 PM, said:

Jerk you are assuming Canadians have the capacity to be happy

Jerk secretly wishes he were Canadian so he could do the sodomizing. Then again, his anus is pretty well fucked already, so it might not make much difference either way.

Nik said:

That has always been true. People from other cultures feel more comfortable with others who share the same culture, so they tend to congregate in certain communities. That said, it's fair to debate whether we (and they) are making sufficient effort to integrate them into Canadian society at large.

The "melting pot" effect was much more pronounced in early waves of immigration. Canadian officials tended to favour those of similar culture, i.e. immigrants from western Europe, particularly the British Isles. For example, a head tax was imposed on Chinese immigrants.

DIRTY POOL, SIR.

I honestly don't know what I would do if I were Canadian (besides freeze to death). I don't do much as a Texan that I couldn't do as a Canadian. I mean, I don't even have the accent unless I'm speaking to someone who does have it. It's more like Canada's some kind of gigantic suburb where Quebec plays the part of Louisiana. You have rednecks and everything up there. What more is there to say? Some people get sucked into that culture and people who don't make their own expatriate communities. It's not a matter of one or the other, which is why the topic is dumb.

Canada is basically as i like to put it, a mutt of all cultures and i like that, i like the fact were multi cultural it gives us a deeper under standing of more countries, sept the only culture that bugs me is the whole Québeçois crap.

wacko, on 06 December 2011 - 06:59 PM, said:

Everything I was about to type can pretty much be summed up on wacko's post

I find it kind of funny when I see people from the middle-east shopping in their traditional clothing (including the wife/mother in full black covering her face) and the kids and teenagers with them are dressed in regular north american clothing. (so yeah, melting pot, even though a first wave of immigrants that still retain everything from their culture would make one believe it's a mosaic).

I am proud of my country's stance on "come on over with your shit, we don't mind"

This post has been edited by ChewySmokey: 08 December 2011 - 12:25 AM

Yeah, I feel the same way. I even was a part of a "chinese school" on Saturdays for a while. They set up a place where people did culturally chinese things and took chinese classes for highschool credit. I never did any of the academic stuff, but I learned how to do the chinese yoyo and dragon dance. A guy with a big sphere (called the "pearl") runs around and a long snake like dragon model is supported on sticks by 20 people or so, who run around in knots.

It was a lot of fun. Basically I went because my friends were there. Even though I was the only non-chinese guy there they totally accepted me, it was great.

edit: also, the food is good.

This post has been edited by Starwatcher: 08 December 2011 - 03:37 AM

Starwatcher said:

But is it authentic?

Probably not! There's that melting pot again =p

Americans are so jelly. I ride my polar bear to school and I can make a habitable igloo with a cup of snow and a stick. Plus, if I happen to injure myself, I get treated for free.

My favorite part of every discussion on this entire forum is that eventually it boils down to "Americans are dumb and stupid and get raped everyone else is awesome." We were talking about Canada here, let's keep it on Canada haha.

I have to admit I am in fact, jelly. As a teenager I would mock Canada like any other American; the usual insult being lyrics from South Park's "Blame Canada". But as I got older it dawned on me that Canada's got the better standard of living, with their healthcare system and other neat stuff. Especially given the fact that Canada's citizens, like every other modern western country, consistently live longer healthier lives than Americans do it just doesn't seem fair.

Each time one of my friends or associates mentions something political in the states they don't agree with, they immediately follow up with "If X gets elected, I'm moving to Canada!" like it's some sort of exile. These days I respond, "Meh, were it that easy I'd have already done it."

First and foremost, i think Canada is a mosaic because of a couple things.
One, is that people are tolerant here, and have learned and can see that diversity is a good thing. While i can say that this isn't always true and there are some racists out there, I do have to say that most people like to see all the different kinds of people around.
While my friends (as I'm graduating high school this year) can still be racist, it's only in jokes, and they don't really think that way. (BTW i'm asian )
I can make black jokes to a black guy, and he can make asian jokes back, and the white people stand around being awkward, because they can't really say anything, but I'm sure we wouldn't care if they did.

Another thing that i love about this country is that most people ENCOURAGE others to celebrate their heritage, ethnicity and cultures. There is a down side to this, and that is I am not really sure myself what Canadian culture is. As far as I'm concerned it's maple syrup, pancakes, waffles, french toast, poutines and toques. <-- I'm sure my white friends would concur.

Since I haven't looked into American Culture and lifestyle at all, I can't be one to say what it's like over there, but I've heard it's pretty ignorant, though once again, I can't really say anything about it. I would much rather live in Canada simply because of health care, and because I'm already here.