I’ve just noticed that my last blog post also was posted on a Monday, perhaps I shall aim for a weekly post. Not too ambitious but also won’t mean I’ll prolong posts too, I’ll try and make it a routine. At one stage this week I even thought, ‘why do you have a blog, you don’t have enough to say,’ however, I had a very mentally stimulating conversation tonight with a special person who reminded me of why I set this blog up in the first place... [You know who you are. This one’s for you!]
During a superb dinner with the greatest company a very interesting dialogue commenced regarding people and social habits within communities. (All the more relevant in diverse environments such as London.) So, question of the day. Mosaic vs. Melting pot? What on Earth is this plonker talking about this time with I hear you question!? Well let me elaborate my loyal literary lovers. (See what I just did there?! Alliteration. Okay, I’ll try and be less of a loser now).
Let me define the two terms I just utilised:
*Mosaic – A picture created with clusters of small colourful cubic pieces of tiles/glass etc.
*Melting pot – Somewhere that colours are able to mix with each other, bubbling and boiling with no boundaries.
Now, apply these two concepts to people, cultural diversity being represented through colours, thus bringing life to the aforementioned metaphor. In the case of the former, a mosaic, people within a community would be living alongside one another, however choosing to remain within their social/cultural boundaries (i.e. colours) and contrast it with the theory of a melting pot where people freely mix without considering the heritage of individuals, living with one another, conducting interracial relationships and truly accepting one another.
As with everything, each of the above comes with both advantages and drawbacks. Let’s discuss. On the one hand, under a preliminary examination the latter, the melting pot theory, may seem to be perfect, perhaps some may even refer to it as a utopian society. Surely, we should all be for a place where no one judges another person by the colour of their skin and their beliefs…? Should we not all be attempting to integrate with one another, after all, we have so much to learn from one another, particularly from others with backgrounds different from our own…? Just because someone is different, it doesn’t mean that person is bad/wrong/harmful…? It definitely would solve some of the big issues we have right, no more ‘politically correct,’ terminology, no more racism and looking down at others with an air of superiority, plus genetically, mixed-race offspring are better off and less susceptible to disease etc right…?
But hold on, what about culture, what about heritage, what about roots? If we’re all pro-mixing, (especially with the internationalisation of the world) won’t we all be the same after a few generations…? Won’t we lose our ancestry and all those customs and traditions that take a multitude of centuries to embed within people…? All the beautiful aspects of each country, religion and even social class, lost and never to be resurrected, simply left behind as a fading memory? I think you’ll agree, a painful thought. In order not to lose our beautiful differences, surely, we should reside within our own assigned borders (not physically! – more of a mental approach, making a conscious decision to learn your own language, visit your country every so often, participating in festivals, following religions etc.) Obviously, being separated from those similar to yourselves makes it a fair deal harder not to lose touch with your background, especially if you are brought up in a diverse environment, ultimately, with others you seek common ground.
I do think that we have much to learn from one another. Other perceptions and outlooks can broaden our minds and improve many things. But I do appreciate our differences too. I love that I went to a school where we were so diverse, that we only had one White kid in the class, and even he wasn’t British. I love that despite that, we were able to mingle and make all sorts of racial, stereotypical jokes and insult one another, and not with a malicious, bitter or vicious intent, but for the sheer humour! However, as I’ve grown up, I’ve noticed that people either consciously or subconsciously (not sure which is worse to be honest!) tend to opt for their own ‘type.’ I've realised that I can no longer make such comments without others perceiving me as disrespectful. In college, there were visually obvious delegated hanging out places, differentiating the Asians, the Blacks and the albeit few, Whites. At Uni, the international kids also tend to make a pact. Why is there this sudden need for lack of a better word, belonging, it sure wasn’t around when we were younger?!
Think about it. I sure will be. I can’t help but think there will be a follow up post to this...
On a lighter note, please do post your comments, suggestions and feedback my way. I would really appreciate it. I need to know if you fell asleep half way, want more jokes, thought it was too long/too short or if you simply adored it and can’t wait for the next one.
Night night.
-K
