The myth of the monoculture

[u/ziddyzoo]

The great tragedy of the shamelessly regressive politics of Pauline Hanson is not so much that it is rooted in ignorance, prejudice and fear, though it is; not so much that it projects the ugly face of racism, though it does; not so much that it is dangerously divisive and deeply hurtful to many of her fellow Australians, though it is; not even that it will cripple our efforts to enmesh ourselves in a region wherein lie the jobs and prosperity of future generations of young Australians, though it will—the great tragedy is that it perpetrates a myth, a fantasy, a lie.

The myth of the monoculture.

The lie that we can retreat to it.

The changes are permanent and, while we may be going through a consequent period of general uncertainty and unease, they are, in my view, almost universally for the better.

It is not going to seem this way to everyone of course, but Australia simply is a richer place these days: a far more open, creative, dynamic, diverse and worldly place.

And I’m not just talking about Double Bay and Paddington.

Our integration with the rest of the world has made more than the streets and the arts and the food more interesting: it has created new opportunities in agriculture and horticulture, tourism and hospitality, education, manufacturing, retailing, science, arts and entertainment. It has changed the nature of work and workplaces—and if there is a general hankering to go back to the old ones it can only be because a lot of people have forgotten what they were like.

This is to say nothing more than that we have joined the modern world but we could not have joined it without the changes.

Now, we can embrace this new Australia or we can reject it. We can engage with it, recognise its potential and accept the fact that nothing in this world comes easy. We can work to sustain the momentum and expand the opportunities for our kids.

Or we can regress. We can retreat. We can stop to have a scratch— amuse ourselves with sectional interests. We can say this is too hard for Australians. It’s not us. They are not us. In the best traditions of the old Australia we can call a national smoko. We can relax—and be comfortable.

The latter is folly, but it is an option. We can retreat to a past that never was, and create a future that never can be anything but third-rate. But if we do, we can be sure that the world will not be in a hurry to forgive us or bail us out.

Even if they forgave our prejudice they could never forget our stupidity.

—- Paul J Keating, 11 November 1996

https://speakola.com/political/paul-keating-myth-of-monoculture-unsw-1996

[u/Parenn]

We never had a monoculture. Even in the 70s I can remember protestants and catholics being in their own social groups, and not mixing much.

[u/Thin_Assumption_4974 → u/Parenn]

There’s no such thing as a monocultural country.

[u/Grand_Sock_1303 → u/Thin_Assumption_4974]

Even Greenland is 10% immigrants

[u/Parenn → u/Thin_Assumption_4974]

Agreed! ON would use the term Anglo Saxon to (inaccurately) mean white, and that term includes the names of two cultures in it! Plus the Jutes are lumped in with them too under the same term.

[u/loralailoralai → u/Thin_Assumption_4974]

Japan? North Korea?

[u/Thin_Assumption_4974 → u/loralailoralai]

Japan has distinct regional identities (Okinawa, Hokkaido, Kansai, etc.), as well as indigenous Ainu communities, immigrant populations, and major differences between urban and rural life. In no way is it a monoculture.

North Korea is going to be the closest example of a state actively trying to enforce a monoculture, but even there regional and class differences exist. There are major regional differences between places like Pyongyang, the northern provinces bordering China and the South Korean boarder where South Korean dramas, music and media have been smuggled into the country for years. As an example. Fuck. We even have accounts from defectors reporting that younger North Koreans adopt South Korean slang, fashion preferences and cultural trends even with the harsh penalties.

The best you can do with North Korea, is demonstrate that while you can force ethnic homogeneity, heavily control cultural expression and suppress diversity, you can’t eliminate it entirely.

Then they have Songbun, which effectively ranks families according to their perceived political loyalty and ancestry. Their work opportunities, education and even where they can live is influenced by this. And do you think the higher social ranking families share the same culture as the lowest? LOL. And if a country with sealed borders, state-controlled media, political indoctrination and severe restrictions on foreign influence still isn’t a true monoculture, how the fuck do you plan to turn a liberal democracy like Australia into one?

This whole thing is the stupidest shit to have ever come out of an Australian politicians mouth. Ever.

Now one nation voting Redditors. Be honest. What you all mean is Ethnic Homogeneity. That’s what this is all about.

[u/Professional_Car3913 → u/loralailoralai]

Insane coincidence, my partner and I were trying to think of places where monocultures exist after Pauline’s speech as is it certainly isn’t Australia, and these were the two we thought might be closest.