The Biggest Mistake Of Our Time: Multiculturalism

During a lengthy conversation with a patient, we delved into topics ranging from basic philosophy to politics. At one point, he posed the question, "What is the biggest mistake of our modern society?" For me, the answer was straightforward: "Multiculturalism."

"Why do you think so?" he asked.

I explained that multiculturalism is built on the assumption that all people are fundamentally the same. It operates on the theory that everyone shares our values, desires, and way of life. We, like you and I, enjoy discussing and enhancing our lives. We seek happiness through material possessions, aesthetics, and shared experiences. Our homes are adorned to bring joy, and we strive for happiness not just in this life but also with an eye on the next.

Multiculturalism, however, assumes universal similarities. Some mistakenly believe that our affluence came at the expense of others, leading them to advocate for open borders to offer a shot at a better life for the less fortunate. The issue arises when some of those admitted harbor resentment. They don't share our values or aspirations. Some are willing to sacrifice lives, even their own or their children's, to reach what they perceive as a better afterlife.

This disparity in values leads to conflicts, with some in our society expressing disdain. Colleges sometimes perpetuate the idea that all people are alike, contributing to unrest such as the post-October 7 riots in support of Palestine and Hamas. People raised in certain regions may be indoctrinated to despise those outside their faith, even advocating violence in the name of their beliefs -- because they are NOT like us. In fact, they despise us. And here we are letting them freely come into our country without any checks on who they are and why they want to come here. 

The point is, there are people who don't share our values, who don't hold life in the same regard. Recognizing these differences is crucial for fostering understanding and addressing the challenges that arise in a diverse society.

He responded, "I hear you. This issue isn't just about multiculturalism; it's also about opening our borders without proper screening. This results in people entering our country without assimilating. When you don't assimilate, you technically aren't adopting the American way of life and values. Back in the 1920s, our borders were closed to allow those who entered during the late 19th and early 20th centuries time to assimilate. That, in my view, is the solution we need now."

Interestingly, this is what Trump said he wants to do if he gets elected. I believe it was Sean Hannity who said to him that many on the media are saying Trump wants to be a dictator. And he asked, "Will, if elected, you become a dictator." 

My patient shared, "Hannity said,  "You’re not going to be a dictator, are you?"'

Trump responded with humor, "No, no, no, other than day one. We’re closing the border and we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I’m not a dictator."

My patient added, "He said this jokingly, and, of course, now you see the media taking this out of context because they don't understand humor. It's reminiscent of when Trump jokingly asked at a debate, 'Russia, where are the 40,000 emails that Hillary lost?' The media misinterpreted this, turning it into the Russian Collusion scandal that persisted throughout Trump's presidency, ultimately proving to be untrue -- but we knew it was untrue all along.

"So," he said, "I agree with you that multiculteralism is our greatest blunder. I hope we can recover from it before it destroys us. I don't know the solution, but I think sealing our border for a while would be a great idea." 

"Agreed!" I said.