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?

More often than not, youth is compared to some niceness. That, however, is a falsehood, fabulized out of benevolence by those who have already lost their youth. Actually, only when in his youth is one aware of how unfortunate he has been: in that what he read and what he heard has purposely misled him into believing this world is the Garden of Eden, and that mankind is such a perfect creature; as he bumps into reality, he tumbles, gets scraped, and bleeds. Therefore, I would rather compare youth to a path, rough and tenebrous, alongside which there lurk all kinds of conspiracies; the youngster has to depend on himself to discover all these, and then decides whether to fight or to evade.

But there will come a day, when he finally gets accustomed to all wickedness in our world, and won’t so much as distinguish good from evil; through the continuation of the fables he heard in his early years, he goes on to beguile his offspring. Yes, till then, he reaches the end of that path, catches the sunlight, and kisses his youth goodbye, once and for good…

God, please hear the prayer of a humble Chinese…

Negligible though I am, I won’t give up my hope, for there are millions of “negligible” men in this country, whose efforts will never prove futile. I believe, in a few decades or longer, Chinese people will live in a better world, where there are neither luxury vehicles nor impoverished beggars, where life will be fairer, need will be rarer, and greed will not pay. Our freedom will no longer be taken away by any evil regime. No one will depress us, deprive us, or deceive us. And we will learn to be more open and more reasonable to all different ideas. We will not be blinded by the irrational pride and hatred which only belong to the history marked by nationality. We will forgive the crimes a few Japanese had committed in the last century. We will regard Taiwanese and Tibetans as a separate nation, if independence is really better for them. We will not launch any wars or conflicts because all nations are our brothers and sisters, even though we don’t live in the same country…