Should Harper’s cabinet be more diverse.

[DasFX]

What I am suggesting is that perhaps by giving groups greater political representation

Giving more political representation? How do we give representation? You can't force people to run, you can force people to vote for the coloured guy. Minorities should and already have the same abilitity to seek political representation.

You can give a province more representation by allocating more seats to it, but I would not accept having a parliament that ensured 5 Indians, 6 Chinese, 4 Arabs and 2 Latinos or whatever were always there. Is just doesn't work that way.

 

[thulin]

Re: Should Harper?s cabinet be more diverse.

DasFX & Jay
I´m with you guys... I´ll buy you both a beer. :wink:

 

[Dunkin]

What I am suggesting is that perhaps by giving groups greater political representation there might be less likelihood of a member of that group blowing me up as I ride the subway.

So you think having more minorities in the government would prevent terrorist attacks or minority crime? I don't even know where to start on that one.

 

[sanch]

I see surrendering to extreme demands by minority groups to recognize undemocratic or exploitive practices as unproductive in the long run. And the idea of a form of cultural relativism that recognizes very dysfunctional practices as being integral to a group’s identity simply caters to extremes.

However if groups are not included in mainstream politics they will develop their own politics and these can be threatening as we have seen. Would it not be more intelligent for the future of Canada to develop policies that would ensure some representation for all groups? Or at least a process that they recognize to be representative. It seems suicidal to not move in this direction.

DasFx a quota system is a bad idea. And diversity is hardly contrary to conservativism. Look at Bush’s cabinet. Granted you cannot force people to run for office. But a country can work on reducing or eliminating any barriers that might prevent them from running. In the case where all that is being done is the latter a community can still see the MP is working for them no matter what color or gender that MP is.

 

[DasFX]

Or should Canada even be worried about multiculturalism?

The answer is no. Why have an official policy on it? What is multiculturalism? How is Canada more multicultural than others? Having alot of coloured folk doesn't make us multicultural. Were we not multicultural already? Maritime, Quebec, Ontario, Albertan and BC cultures are all different, to me that is multicultural.

 

[DasFX]

However if groups are not included in mainstream politics they will develop their own politics and these can be threatening as we have seen. Would it not be more intelligent for the future of Canada to develop policies that would ensure some representation for all groups? Or at least a process that they recognize to be representative. It seems suicidal to not move in this direction.

If you aren't in the mainstream, then you are an outlier. Why would we want to adopt or promote representation for these outlier groups. So if there is an islamic extremist group in Canada, we should give them seats in parliament to hear about their views so they won't blow up the TTC?

We have representation for all groups already.

 

[DasFX]

Granted you cannot force people to run for office. But a country can work on reducing or eliminating any barriers that might prevent them from running.

Fine I agree with eliminating barriers, but really what current barriers exist? Should we eliminate the requirement of fluency in either English or French?

 

[I think not]

What is multiculturalism?

I wish someone would answer that question, there appears to be a confusion about it.

 

[the caracal kid]

Or should Canada even be worried about multiculturalism?

The answer is no. Why have an official policy on it? What is multiculturalism? How is Canada more multicultural than others? Having alot of coloured folk doesn't make us multicultural. Were we not multicultural already? Maritime, Quebec, Ontario, Albertan and BC cultures are all different, to me that is multicultural.

I think you misunderstand the concept of multiculturalism.

It is about many cultures intermingling and sharing, not a bunch of monocultural regions all being part of the country.

I would also challenge your proposal that the provinces themselves define a culture. Vancouver is different from Prince George, Quebec may have a more universal culture based around language, the only culture of Alberta is the lack of culture.

 

[DasFX]

It is about many cultures intermingling and sharing, not a bunch of monocultural regions all being part of the country.

You should point this out to the many ethnic groups in the nation. Take a tour of the ethnic ghettos of Toronto. Like a world trip, only cheaper!

 

[Dunkin]

the only culture of Alberta is the lack of culture.

We just have too much money here. I know it makes the rest of Canada a little jealous. Call us culturaless if it makes you feel better.

 

[the caracal kid]

RE: Should Harper’s cabin

I call alberta cultureless based on experience.

there is nothing about alberta to be jealous of.

Calgary culture: chicks flashing their chests after a hocky game! Some cultural highlife going on there. Never confuse a city's population size with its greatness.

 

[DasFX]

Re: RE: Should Harper’s cabin

Calgary culture: chicks flashing their chests after a hocky game! Some cultural highlife going on there.

Oh so New Orleans had no culture either cause you could see the same thing every night on Bourbon street (no hockey game required).

 

[DasFX]

Re: RE: Should Harper’s cabin

I call alberta cultureless based on experience.

Care you elaborate on your experience? A little stereotypical to paint the entire province of 3 million people (many, many from other regions of Canada) as cultureless.

 

[the caracal kid]

RE: Should Harper’s cabin

is there a tad more happening in Orleans though?

Calgary (and all of alberta) is a deadland aside from the beer and hockey. A town of close to 1 million where the downtown shuts down at 5:30, for example!

 

[Jay]

What is multiculturalism?

I wish someone would answer that question, there appears to be a confusion about it.

It's a government job creation program designed for Liberals and designed to give special rights to certain people.

Being an American, you probably wouldn't be able to understand the lunacy that goes on here.

 

[I think not]

Re: RE: Should Harper’s cabin

is there a tad more happening in Orleans though?

Calgary (and all of alberta) is a deadland aside from the beer and hockey. A town of close to 1 million where the downtown shuts down at 5:30, for example!

If it's a financial district it would shut down, is it?

 

[DasFX]

Re: RE: Should Harper’s cabin

is there a tad more happening in Orleans though?

Calgary (and all of alberta) is a deadland aside from the beer and hockey. A town of close to 1 million where the downtown shuts down at 5:30, for example!

Fine, I agree, not much goes on after business hours, but I wouldn't say the province is devoid of culture.

Hockey is national sport and part of our culture. Part of France's culture is wine, so why can't beer be a part of our culture?

Perhaps the culture is simply not to your liking, rather than being non-existent.

 

[the caracal kid]

RE: Should Harper’s cabin

it has hotels, shops, bars, etc but aside from the bars, the place boards itself up. There is no "life" to the city (aside from when specific cultural groups hold something). The towns seem to all suffer from a lack of vibrance. People go to alberta to cash in on the oil work, which leads to people that tend to "work and go home" (even in the non-oily locations)

 

[DasFX]

Re: RE: Should Harper’s cabin

it has hotels, shops, bars, etc but aside from the bars, the place boards itself up. There is no "life" to the city (aside from when specific cultural groups hold something). The towns seem to all suffer from a lack of vibrance. People go to alberta to cash in on the oil work, which leads to people that tend to "work and go home" (even in the non-oily locations)

That may be true, but I rarely hear any complaints from Albertans. Everyone I know loves living there, especially Calgary.