GnuDoyng

The real question we need to ask ourselves is why we should value diversity. There is nothing good in itself about diversity. It is important because it allows us to compare and contrast different values, beliefs and lifestyles, make judgments upon them, and decide which are better and which worse. It’s important, in other words, because it allows us to engage in political dialogue and debate that can, paradoxically, help create more universal values and beliefs. But it is precisely such dialogue and debate, and making of such judgments, that multiculturalism attempts to suppress in the name of ‘tolerance’ and ‘respect’. The very thing that is valuable about diversity – the clashes and conflicts that it brings about – is what multiculturalists most fear. Rather than cut ourselves off, each in our own multicultural ghettos, it would be far better to help build a dynamic common culture to which we all contribute and from which we all partake.

Why should we value diversity? A very good question you have raised, which certainly needs a deep meditation. Unfortunately, according to some researches conducted by sociologists, this diversity, which has featured our world ever since it was created, won’t last long. I presume all of us here have well realized the approaching crisis, so I’m not going to quote any statistics.

With all due respect, I am not a little astonished by the remark “there is nothing good in itself about diversity.” In my humblest opinion, you are rather utilitarian in defining what is good and what not. Indeed, even if the minor cultural group is assimilated into a larger one, the human security of its people is by no means threatened (unlike the cases in the biological diversity), the only loss being the decadence of its unique linguistic, cultural, racial, as well as all other intangible heritage. Cultural death might not seem violent to some people, nevertheless, with countless cultures fading and withering, we could have lost forever what would have greatly enriched our knowledge of linguistics, ethnology, anthropology, etc., and thus we mankind could never ever thoroughly understand ourselves. If you still suppose “there is nothing good in itself about diversity,” then you are ignoring the whole universe, the entire humanity, and more exactly, ignoring yourself.

I quite agree with the point that culture “is important because it allows us to compare and contrast different values, beliefs and lifestyles.” But according to the theory of cultural relativism (the beliefs and activities should only be interpreted in terms of their own culture), however, I don’t think the comparison and contrast can help us “make judgments,” “decide which are better and which worse,” and let alone “help create more universal values and beliefs.” Well, I’ve heard many a doctrinaire preach that some cultures are essentially superior to others. Sarcastically, all of them, including you, fail to offer any “universal” criterion for judging a “good” culture (neither am I expecting that). So bear in mind, we are different: no better, no worse, just different!

“The very thing that is valuable about diversity – the clashes and conflicts that it brings about – is what multiculturalists most fear.” I wonder how you came to such an ungrounded conclusion. Why should anyone of us possibly fear the cultural integration? Quite the contrary, we warmly welcome it, because such fusion promotes friendliness and mutual understanding amongst people from different cultural communities. What we hate and attempt to suppress is the inequality in cultural assimilation, so please don’t get confused with that.

Lastly, I don’t know if it is proper to call us multiculturalists. We are merely ordinary people who make efforts to save the dying and fight against those cultural hegemonists. If we really deserve such a formal title, then, how about labeling yourself a social Darwinist?

Hello all my friends, I gotta apologize for my very very long overdue reply to your comments… Well, that was because of a silly mistake: I had no idea that in Blogsome, a comment must be approved by the admin before it appears on the page. Sorry sorry sorry… I have canceled the option so from now on, your comments will be instantly shown after submission. Feel free to leave in my blog what you wanna share with me and let me know who you are, thanks!

Though much has been depicted and debated, it would be quite a fresh experience to read a Japanese scholar’s point of view about Foochowese, which also provides a very concise and neutral elucidation for its decline in everyday use:

しかし、閩東語（福州語）については、福州が福建省の省都であるにもかかわらず、福建省全体への影響力があるわけではなく、福建省内には閩南語や客家語などの強い言語もあることから、相対的に通じにくい閩東語の地位は低くなって忘れられがちだ。生活言語も中国語化されてしまい、福州に住んでいながら閩東語が話せない子どもが増えているのだという。福州市は閩東語の発展に積極的ではなく、街には「普通話（中国語）で話しましょう」というスローガンが見られ、市内バスの自動アナウンスも中国語のみで、閩東語は使われていない。

Thanks to my Taiwanese friend Taokara’s help (as I don’t read or write Japanese), the most important part of that article has now been translated for your convenience:

When it comes to Min Dong (Foochowese), however, things are somewhat different. Despite being the capital of Fukien, Foochow has no equivalent influence over the whole province. In respect that Min Nan and Hakka is more influential whereas Min Dong is relatively difficult to understand and thus could be easily forgotten (not sure if this sentence is correctly translated), Min Dong only has a humble status, and is undergoing the process of Mandarinization. The number of children residing in Foochow that cannot speak Min Dong is perhaps on the increase. Moreover, Foochow citizens take little action in the revival of Min Dong. In the streets there are posters reading “Let’s speak Mandarin!”; in the downtown buses only Mandarin is broadcast, Min Dong excluded.

By the way, you might find this term “Mandarinization” confusing. I’ll clarify it with an example: the pure Foochowese word for “airplane” is “Buŏi-sùng” (飛船), but nowadays the loanword from Mandarin “Hĭ-gĭ” (飛機) is the most widely used. Of course, the death of our mother tongue won’t occur all of a sudden, but will go through a long stage of Mandarinization, by which Mandarin will erode Foochowese in every aspect, be it pronunciation, glossary, or syntax.