Commenting on "multiculturalism"

is apparently not allowed - unless you wish to say how wonderful it is.

Our state newspaper has online pages where you can sometimes comment on stories but there are some topics which are very definitely "off limits". There are the obvious things such as sexist or racist comments that are likely to be offensive. Comments that are defamatory or deemed to be harassment will also be filtered out.

That's fine with me. I don't spend much time there either. It is not often I comment even if I do happen to look. What I do find unnerving however is the apparent inability of the "moderators" to take on anything which might be remotely seen as critical of "multiculturalism".  This is apparently absolutely off limits.

We are supposed to be the "most successful multicultural country" on the planet. What this means I am not sure. I am not even sure what it means to be "multicultural".

I have absolutely no difficulty with people from other countries bringing in the variety of food we now enjoy or bringing in their festivals for everyone to see and perhaps participate in. Such things can only enrich our lives.

I do have a problem when people come here and don't learn the language. I am concerned for them because it reduces their capacity to participate fully in society. It also reduces their capacity to earn and thus their capacity for things like home ownership. Those things can make them resentful. 

Is it wrong to have a problem with that? If I migrated to France or Italy, Japan, Peru or Saudi Arabia then I would expect to try and learn the language even at my age. I would perhaps manage French of a sort, Italian of a sort, or Spanish of a sort. I would struggle greatly with Japanese or Arabic. I would still try.

I also have a problem when people come here and try to tell me my way of life is wrong and that I have to adapt to theirs. I have a problem when they want to introduce their own laws into this country rather than abide by the laws we have here. Recently the husband of a Muslim friend was "concerned" for me because I was not wearing a head covering. I am not Muslim. I do not wear the hijab his wife wears. He should not be "concerned". This came from a man who is actually very moderate in most things but it is indicative of a problem with "multiculturalism" that he even felt he could say this. 

I know people who believe they have the right to bring in Sharia law into what is seen as their community - and others who support them and say they have a "right" to this under our multicultural system.  It seems that questioning this is racist and anti-Muslim. Really? 

There is already a legal system in this country. It is generally regarded as a fair and just system. Yes, it has some flaws. All legal systems have flaws but ours does try to treat all citizens as equals. When you migrated here then you should have accepted that.

"Multiculturalism" should not allow people to go back "home" to fight for the country you were born and then return. It should not allow you to bring in your prejudices and your arguments with other migrants and then expect everyone else to abide by your views on those things.

"Home" is either here or there. It's a tough decision to have to make but it is one which needs to be made. The rest of us should be permitted to question policies which do not encourage that.