Multiculturalism fights back

It is a shame the Deputy leader chose to make a commendable defence of Multiculturalism the day before his parties humiliating defeat at the polls. What should have been a front page, top story issue has been relegated to almost a foot note, because of the huge bye election defeat the Liberal Democrats suffered.

It’s a real shame because this was an issue in which the Deputy Prime Minister found his voice. A voice that was in many ways full square against the Prime Minister’s on this issue. Far from dismissing multiculturalism as a failed idea, he argued that it is a ‘laudable goal’. Adding,

‘For me, multiculturalism has to be seen as a process by which people respect and communicate with each other, rather than build walls between each other. Welcoming diversity but resisting division: that's the kind of multiculturalism of an open, confident society’.

In the Prime Minister’s speech a month ago in Berlin, he allowed the link to be made between multiculturalism and terrorism. Nick Clegg flatly rejected that argument stating that there  are,  ‘Much deeper  more complex forces at work’, including Islamaphobia within parts of the media, economic insecurity, and extremist views.

In short Clegg points to a number of factors that are at the root of extremism whether they come from Islamic extremist,  the BNP, or the EDL, none of which he argues  lie at the door of multiculturalism, which he clearer sees as an element that frankly makes our nations special.

Although Clegg’s timing couldn’t have been worse, it’s clear that this debate is far from over.

Generations of families Black and white probably from the four corners of the globe have embraced multiculturalism at a very human level, and as such as made our country a world beater when it comes to celebrating diversity. The challenges of extremism will always have to be faced, but in doing so let’s not reject what we do very well.

Simon Woolley