Knowing vs living
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As a South Californian, the image I have of the Deep South and the Red North is very clear. Intolerance, protectionism, xenophobia dominate my perception of these regions. Much of my readings, fictional, non fictional, bibliographical or historical, much of my film culture and general history and political knowledge have given me this perception of them. Sometimes, I forget that that is all I have of these regions: perception. No amount of research could make you fully understand the actual reasons for these preconceived notions than actually living in these areas. I think that this idea is similar to the one that inspired Badri Narayanan in his short essay. A Tamil city man going to a “redneck” white town is the perfect scenario that reveals many of these preconceived notion. But beyond this, this scenario also reveals to his students in Beauce a part of their ignorance, exemplified in this essay around their use of the word “tamoul”
I think an often unspoken aspect of immigration is how being introduced to the other teaches you more than anything else would about this other. Part of the concept of multiculturalism often unaccomplished by those in places that claim to be multicultural is the capacity for individuals to accept it as more than just a concept but an actual reality. In a country where pure multiculturalism has been established as something to aspire to, the ignorance of some in areas like St-George are a road block. Separate to policies on immigration, which are divisive even amongst those of similar political views, the simple fact that Badri Narayanan’s students were unable to explain the origin’s of what they considered to be a racial slur is symbolic of the lack of willingness of many to make an effort in understand the realities of multiculturalism.