Multiculturalism 2.0
By: Jeff McLaren
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An opinion piece on multiculturalism and how to deal with marginalized voices in Kingston
The commemoration of people and events in a multicultural society needs to be open to diverse but factual perspectives because multiculturalism means more than acknowledging and celebrating different cultures. It means listening to their concerns too.
One good reason for our multicultural policy is that it provides for the greatest range of options for the greatest number of people to choose their values, beliefs, life plans, and conceptions of the good life. Another good reason is that it provides for the greatest range of considerations when we decide the public goods and services most needed and desired.
However, the greatest benefit of these good reasons is not realized with only one dominant voice. Reducing everyone to our broadest commonality does not help address particular problems. When a narrative excludes others it is a form of censorship and colonialism directed at the marginalized. The state’s necessary neutrality toward values such as religion, life plans, and conceptions of the good life needs to be extended to our stories and history. The state needs to find a working neutrality towards our commemoration policies.
One way the state can be neutral is by making room for the voices of minority groups when there is an event, thing, or person worth commemorating. When the state gives a single official narrative it is not being neutral – it is creating the dominant narrative. But, by leaving room for other perspectives and by providing the freedom to express marginalized, but factual, versions we all learn to see things with better accuracy. Recognizing a multitude of perspectives and life experiences better fulfills the spirit of multiculturalism.
This is particularly important in Canada and especially in Kingston now that we are debating Sir John A. MacDonald’s legacy. Part of the dominant narrative is that he was the first Prime Minister, was a Father of Confederation, united this country with its first transcontinental railroad, and prevented American expansion north of the 49th parallel. This is one factual perspective. MacDonald has had a profound influence on all Canadian lives then and now. But this perspective and this influence is not the only one. His actions also had a deep influence on many First Nations peoples and on the Chinese who helped build Canada’s first transcontinental railway. These groups’ life experiences were formed, in part, by the events of the past and the actions of MacDonald in a different way than the majority. Fairness in multiculturalism requires the freedom and the opportunity to voice the perspective of groups who experience history differently.
To officially share a different perspective at a commemoration and to prevent trolls and whimsical points of view, we should include criteria that the effect on a group is contextually timely, has seriously affected a group, is objectively demonstrable, and substantially differs from any existing official narratives. With these criteria it would seem to me that at least the First Nations and the Chinese have the right to additional official comment on MacDonald’s commemorations. Groups that came after MacDonald’s time perhaps do not have such a strong claim.
Listening to all concerned voices is absolutely vital for truth and reconciliation. Authentic recognition of marginalized groups promotes the peaceful co-habitation of this land. Like a successful marriage needs authentic recognition, communication, and some adjustments so too does the union of our all our peoples. We cannot choose with whom to co-habit this land. Therefore we must accommodate each other in order to live, grow, and prosper successfully and equitably together.
Decolonizing the dominant narrative in order to hear and then address the real problems of marginalized groups is necessary for social equity and social justice. The principles of equality, dignity, and human rights all suggest that devaluing or ignoring the concerns of some people because they are not in the privileged group should be offensive. Failing to treat the concerns of the marginalized is a type of discrimination based on race or ethnic group. As such, marginalization is discrimination. A better multiculturalism in line with equality, dignity, and human rights is an answer that can overcome this discrimination.
A first step to a more just multicultural society is to have the dominant and privileged groups just hear the message of the marginalized. We in the privileged group should not dominate the debate because marginalize groups often have much more pressing concerns than what the privileged groups may even know about.
Telling the truth is important in order to be truly multicultural. To be more welcoming and to reconcile differences we must hear the facts from the point of view of the marginalized. This is a more advanced form of multiculturalism. I hope the City will continue to be at the forefront of multiculturalism by adjusting and clarifying our commemoration policy to recognize and add room for factual narratives from marginalized perspectives.
Added on: Sept 20, 2017
By: Jeff McLaren
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