Canadian multiculturalism is indeed quite different than in the U.S., in my own observations. They tend to be more top-down. For example, they think nothing of forcing ethnic diversity in television content. Sometimes I even notice this kind of thing in the "For Better or Worse" cartoon - minor characters of various races. I wonder if this multiracial representation really fosters multicultural understanding.
I think we tend to take the bottom-up or market forces approach, with the exception of affirmative action policies, which have been controversial anyway and still don't ensure true multiculturalism (mutual understanding, awareness, and acceptance and all that good stuff). Whereas in the US television content, especially commercials, you see more Asians and Hispanics because they have become a target consumer group.
Although I agree with the implication that the narrowminded-ness of fundamentalists prevents them from truly understanding and accepting other cultures, or on the flip side being assimilated into the mainstream. I'm not sure it's a question of percentages however, because a minority can still yield political influence.
Anyway, it's a good start, and you might want to bake it some more. :)
(no subject)
I think we tend to take the bottom-up or market forces approach, with the exception of affirmative action policies, which have been controversial anyway and still don't ensure true multiculturalism (mutual understanding, awareness, and acceptance and all that good stuff). Whereas in the US television content, especially commercials, you see more Asians and Hispanics because they have become a target consumer group.
Although I agree with the implication that the narrowminded-ness of fundamentalists prevents them from truly understanding and accepting other cultures, or on the flip side being assimilated into the mainstream. I'm not sure it's a question of percentages however, because a minority can still yield political influence.
Anyway, it's a good start, and you might want to bake it some more. :)