Monday, February 7, 2011

Cameron's definition of multiculturalism

The Prime Minister made a very strange reference http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/speeches-and-transcripts/2011/02/pms-speech-at-munich-security-conference-60293 to multiculturalism in a speech about security issues over the weekend.  He said it had failed.  To many people multiculturalism means a society that tolerates several (or more) cultures, and is a useful way of describing our society in the 2010's as opposed to what it was like in the 1950's.  To say 'multiculturalism has failed' may have been intended to herald a more focused attempt to deal with Islamist extremism in the UK.  But for many, and not just muslims, it will be taken to mean that the government will no longer tolerate several or more cultures, but only one.  Apart from removing grants from muslim organisations that aren't monocultural enough, what new policy is Mr Cameron offering?    Reading the comments in 'The Guardian' this morning it is clear his speech has signalled the acceptability of turning fear and prejudice into politics, and perhaps (God help us) into laws.  I do hope and pray that Mr Cameron really does know where he is going with this issue, and this was just a bad speech.

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