Have we a multicultural society? We can't have one if we only tolerate others' values and practices.
Culture and Respect
Multiculturalism's imperative to respect diverse cultures carries a corollary that is too often overlooked. The corollary is that where there is a duty to respect others' cultural values and practices, there is a reciprocal right to have one's own cultural values and practices respected.
This reciprocity is the essence of a multicultural society. Without it all that happens is that different groups' cultural values and practices are more tolerated than respected by others. And where there is only tolerance of others' values and practices, there is no genuine multiculturalism.
The reason the reciprocity of respect for cultural values and practices is overlooked is because the imperative to respect others' values and practices is usually invoked to protect those of minorities and cohesive immigrant groups. That is, the imperative is used to get members of a dominant culture to tolerate the values and practices of marginal cultural groups within its sphere of influence. But while tolerance is admirable, it isn't respect; respect must be mutual.
When there is only tolerance of cultural values and practices, those having the tolerated values and practices are objectified and even "ghettoized." As a consequence, they become resentful of those who only tolerate their culture. There then is too much defiance and a tendency to flaunt the tolerated differences. None of this benefits anyone.
Multiculturalism requires mutual respect, but the trouble is that respect requires education; it requires being informed about the object of respect. Tolerance is relatively easy, because you can pretty much ignore the values and practices of others you just have to live with. Respect is harder because you have to learn a little about others' values and practices. You have to know enough about those values and practices to understand why they are prized, and so why it is important to respect them.
For example, it isn't enough to wish people happy holidays rather than a happy Christmas or Kwanzaa. It isn't enough to rely on generic terms. No one celebrates generic holidays unless they are shallow enough to care only about time off. So you have to know a little about both Kwanzaa and Christmas. Learning a little about what you need to respect is an obligation whether you're a member of a dominant culture or of the most marginal. Without reciprocal respect, we cannot achieve multiculturalism. If we stop at tolerance, we achieve only diversity.
