The essence of multiculturalism Multiculturalism is a stage of historical awakening in which the peoples of the world are coming to recognize that all the cultures and civilizations of the human family, of the present as of the past, have their intrinsic value and beauty. From the sands of Mesopotamia which was one of the cradles of human civilization to the spiritual empire of India which probed into the mysteries of human consciousness, from the Chinese sense of harmony with the world and the imposing majesty of the pyramids to the once vibrant richness of Mayan and Aztec civilizations, there is a magnificent range of thoughts and accomplishments, of insights and frameworks which have breathed life and feeling in a wide spectrum of human cultures. Through these expressions, the human spirit forged many particular ways of recognizing and reckoning the world, giving meaning to human existence, and achieving an impressive variety of material and moral ends. There is glory in the myriad expressions of art and music, in poetry and philosophy, in myth and creativity. Even as every biological species must be protected from extinction, every language and tradition which has evolved over the centuries and millennia, deserves to be nurtured and respected. Each one of them needs to be studied and understood, preserved and respected, for the further enrichment of one and all. Multiculturalism may thus be looked upon as a call to recognize the variety and splendor in humanity’s heritage. This is the positive side of multiculturalism.
The roots of multicultural awareness in the modern world The genesis of multiculturalism in its modern manifestations, however, has a negative dimension to it. In a sense, multiculturalism may also be looked upon as a reflection of and a reaction to the gradual removal (or attempts thereto), after more than four centuries, of the dominance of Western nations in the affairs of the world. Aside from erasing some ancient cultures, in every region of the world where Western Man made his appearance since the close of the fifteenth century, he exploited the natural resources, subjugated the peoples, introduced his new-found technology, and (consciously or unwittingly) initiated them into his world views. His victims were angered by his subjugation, hated him for his exploitation, benefited in some ways from his technology, and didn’t know whether to thank or condemn him for the world views he ushered in.
These latter impacts have created emotional frustrations and psychological humiliations which are now finding expression in a hundred different ways.
[Anyone of consequence in the non-Western world who led the oppressed peoples in regaining their dignity and nationhood had read the works of Western thinkers and taken inspiration from their thoughts and ideals. Moreover, the major languages and modes of modern Europe soon became the primary media of communication among the leaders in the non-Western World.]
When Western Man intruded into their lands, the peoples of Asia, Africa, and the New World were not without language or culture. They had over the centuries created art and music, propounded philosophy and poetry, contrived crafts and inventions which, though not as well known beyond their own borders, were no less mature and significant than their coeval European counterparts. These cultures had also evolved their science and technology. Not simply the ancient Greeks, but Egyptians and Babylonians, Chinese, Hindus, and Mayans, Arabs, Africans, and Aztecs, all had inquired in the nature of things, and in times past they all had formulated their own theories about life and the material world.
If the freedom movements in the colonies of Asia and Africa were provoked by the physical violations of Western Man into the rest of the world, the demand for multiculturalism is a rebellion against his intellectual and cultural arrogance.
Spurts of Thought 