Selling Illusions: The Cult of Multiculturalism in CanadaSince he immigrated to Canada two decades ago, Neil Bissoondath has consistently refused the role of the ethnic, and sought to avoid the burden of hyphenation -- a burden that would label him as an East Indian-Trinidadian-Canadian living in Quebec. Bissoondath argues that the policy of multiculturalism, with its emphasis on the former or ancestral homeland and its insistence that There is more important than Here, discourages the full loyalty of Canada's citizens. Through the 1971 Multiculturalism Act, Canada has sought to order its population into a cultural mosaic of diversity and tolerance. Seeking to preserve the heritage of Canada's many peoples, the policy nevertheless creates unease on many levels, transforming people into political tools and turning historical distinctions into stereotyped commodities. It encourages exoticism, highlighting the differences that divide Canadians rather than the similarities that unite them. Selling Illusions is Neil Bissoondath's personal exploration of a politically motivated public policy with profound private ramifications -- a policy flawed from its inception but implemented with all the political zeal of a true believer. |
Contents
Glimpses Beneath the Surface | 1 |
Getting Here | 8 |
Beginnings | 28 |
Copyright | |
7 other sections not shown
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Selling Illusions: The Cult of Multiculturalism in Canada Neil Bissoondath No preview available - 2002 |
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accepted attitude belief belonging British Callwood Canadian centre Chinese Christian citizenship context cultural define descent Dionne Brand English ethnic groups exoticism fear federal feel freedom French Fulford Globe and Mail heritage homeland human Ibid idea ignorance immigrants Indian individual insisted intellectual judge June Callwood land language Legion Lise Bissonnette lives ment Michael Ignatieff Michael Valpy Miki Montreal Gazette multiculturalism Muslim Naipaul Neil Bissoondath never newcomers novel novelist offered old Canada one's Ontario past political Quebec Québécois question race racial racism RCMP Reform Party religion religious René Lévesque resentment Robert Fulford role Roy Miki Salman Rushdie seek seems sense share Sikh simply skin social society stereotype story thing tion Toronto traditional Trinidad Trinidadian Trudeau turbans Ukrainian University V. S. Naipaul values vision woman women words writers of colour young