Multiculturalism Triumphs Amidst War: Debunking the British Hard Right's Claims
- Om Dattani
- Nov 6, 2023
- 2 min read
The haunting notes of Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem, recently filled a British synagogue, a rare occurrence that left me mesmerized. Not everyone in the congregation seemed to know all the lyrics, reflecting the diverse responses to these troubled times.
Secular Jewish friends, who once gave little thought to their Jewish identity, have found themselves reevaluating their connection, momentarily bridging profound differences over the current Israeli government's decisions and actions. In times of crisis, the divisions tend to blur. Terrorists who targeted teenagers at a peace event and idealists living near Gaza for cross-border peace projects didn't care about political views or beliefs.
Similarly, the fire raining down on Gaza doesn't discriminate between Palestinian civilians with varying perspectives. In war, one's stance may not matter; the consequences ripple through our increasingly interconnected world.
War's presence in our lives has intensified due to social media's unfiltered immediacy, and increased travel, work, and study abroad, which connect many to the headlines. Moreover, the emotional impact of war permeates diaspora communities, where individuals fear reprisals at home.
The British hard right seizes on pro-Palestinian rallies and divisive rhetoric to decry multiculturalism. They question whether society truly benefits from diverse cultural traditions within legal boundaries. But this kind of ghoulishness only deepens the divide.
The argument that multiculturalism leads to civil war and incompatibility between different cultures gains traction among some hard-right figures. However, this mirrors the viewpoint of extremists. What happened in Israel invokes the trauma of the September 11 attacks (9/11), as these acts aim to destabilize and confuse broader society. We must resist the emotional reaction sought by those who commit such acts.
Britain, despite its imperfections, is a place where diversity flourishes. It's a nation where a Hindu prime minister can participate in Jewish prayers during a time of mourning, a Muslim mayor can dine in a kosher restaurant one day and visit a charity working in Gaza's hospitals the next, and the wife of the Scottish first minister can express her fears for her parents' lives while advocating for peace.
These examples embody multiculturalism's essence: fostering understanding, neighborly relations, and the ability to hold conflicting thoughts simultaneously. A politics based on division and hatred ultimately leads to fragmentation. Britain's strength lies in its flexibility and fluidity, qualities it will need in the days to come.
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