Plurism and Multiculturalism: Week 9 Blog

This weeks reading was all about the importance of plurism and multiculuralism. It focused on two different type and analysed these with case studies. These were cultural moisaic, as seen in Canada and the melting point as in the United States of America. The Canadian model is about blending all individual cultures together, ie the fragments of a mosaic. Whilst the melting point is whilst individuals who have their own beliefs who are brought to together by common "American" ideals, which is the melting point that allows for intergration between individual cultures.

Australia, a multicultural nation?

Taken from: http://saveoursbs.org/archives/1770


Living in Australia we are used to this idea of multicularism. As a planner it is essential that we allow for diversity. Therefore it is our role to allow for diverse multi cultural neighbourhoods to be able to develop. Multicularlism is a key to new urbanist ( post modernist) community and is enriching to community life which what is said in the text. To really understand the importance of multiculturalism and how much it adds to a community, one must go somewhere where their is no multiculturalism. Going to India myself, I found this out. Walking the streets here, we were the only non-indians, many people had never even seen anyone with our coloured skin or hair. Infact we were walking via the river , and a family saw us and got really excited! you wanna know why?We had made their lives, we were the first "white" people they had ever seen! They started touching our hair, not to be rude but because they were so intrigued by us. Especially due to in their culture many individuals try to bleach their skin to be lighter. Coming from Australia I remember thinking how bizaar this was and relised how culturally accepting we are ( most of the time) without even relising it. And how ( most people) we are very open here to other cultures which is exciting for us as individuals and a nation to get a better understanding of the world we live in. As a to be planner, I will look to enrich my work with this key theme of multicularism. What are your thoughts on multiculturalism in Australia? Do you agree that we are more culturally accepting then we relise? Tell me your thoughts!

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