Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Divided loyalties -- Sociology prof warns multiculturalism 'creates nations within a nation'
Calgary Sun ^ | 2006-06-18 | Licia Corbella

Posted on 06/18/2006 4:37:33 AM PDT by Clive

Dr. Mahfooz Kanwar recently attended Calgary's largest mosque for a funeral.

At one point in the proceedings, a man Kanwar has known for more than three decades led the prayers.

"He was saying in Urdu (the official language of Pakistan): 'Oh, God, protect us from the infidels, who pollute us with their vile ways,'" recalls Kanwar, a professor of sociology at Mount Royal College in Calgary.

"I stood up and grabbed him by the lapels, which was shocking even to me because I have never done anything like that in my life and I said: 'How dare you attack my country.' And then I addressed the crowd and said: 'I have known this man for more than 30 years and he has been on welfare for almost all of those years.' "

Kanwar chuckles at the memory.

"Then I said to this semi-literate man, 'you should thank me and those you call infidels.'

"He asked me why and I said: 'Because the taxes I pay are putting food on your table as are the taxes of the so-called "infidels.' "

Most Canadians and many Muslims would applaud Dr. Kanwar's righteous outburst. But guess which of the two men is no longer welcome at the Sarcee Tr. S.W. mosque?

Not the intolerant, hate-spewing semi-literate. No, it's Dr. Kanwar who's persona non grata.

That, says Kanwar, is just one of numerous instances he has experienced as a result of the culture of ignorance and intolerance that permeates so many mosques in Canada and throughout the world.

In light of the arrests two weeks ago of 17 young Muslim Canadian men who are alleged to have planned terrorist attacks against their fellow Canadians that included attacking Parliament, seizing the CBC and beheading the prime minister, Kanwar says it's vitally important for Canadians to start making more demands of those who immigrate to this country.

Kanwar says we now know one of the 17 accused was allowed to spew hatred and calls to violent jihad at a Toronto-area mosque and he was never once told by the leadership there to stop.

Six of the young men who listened to him are also charged in the plot.

Kanwar is pretty certain, if he spoke up at that mosque, however, with his message that Canada's culture is better than the culture found in any Islamic-based country, he'd be kicked out.

"The policy of official multiculturalism is a disaster," says Kanwar, who ironically once headed a government-funded multicultural organization in Calgary in the early '70s.

Every year, Kanwar's organization would host a large food and crafts festival in the basement of the Jubilee Auditorium.

"There were 52 tables, each with two flags on them -- Polish and Canadian, Ukrainian and Canadian etc. When the Alberta minister in charge of funding the festival showed up, I asked him, 'why is there not even one table here with a single flag -- why is there no Canadian table?'"

Kanwar has been questioning the government-funded official multicultural model ever since -- most recently through his 2002 book: Journey to Success, which is used as a sociology textbook at Mount Royal College and other post-secondary institutions.

"Multiculturalism creates nations within a nation and divides the loyalty of people," says the 65-year-old Pakastani-born Kanwar, who immigrated to Canada in 1966.

"It allows people to marginalize themselves. It endangers us all as these recent arrests show."

Because of Kanwar's open and published opposition to Ontario's proposal last year to consider allowing sharia law for arbitration purposes in that province, Kanwar says he has been issued with fatwahs -- not the death-threat versions made famous by the one issued against Salman Rushdie for writing the novel The Satanic Verses -- but more like a shunning.

Kanwar, a devout Muslim, says he has essentially been excommunicated by Calgary's mosques because he is too tolerant of others.

Homa Arjomand, who lives in Toronto and headed Canada's successful campaign of the International Campaign Against Sharia Court in Canada (www.nosharia.com), says like Kanwar, she too once embraced the idea of multiculturalism.

Arjomand, who calls herself a "victim" of sharia law -- a strict set of rules based on Islam's holy book, the Qur'an, that subjugates women, as well as allows for the chopping off of hands for theft etc. -- says part of the reason she decided to immigrate to Canada was because she had heard about official multiculturalism.

"I thought how wonderful, but not anymore," she declares.

"I came here for Canadian values, not sharia values. I fled Iran on horseback because the values there threatened my very life. If people want to live under sharia or the way they lived back home, let them go back," she said.

Kanwar agrees. He says the time has come for the Canadian government to tell new immigrants "once you're in Canada we expect you to be totally devoted to Canada -- no divided loyalties."

"This country," added Kanwar, "is a democracy and democracy is founded on Christian principles.

"Canada is -- like it or not, take it or leave it -- a country founded on Christian principles where the vast majority of citizens are Christians," said Kanwar.

"Yes, there's separation of church and state but even that was a principle founded by Christians and Christianity.

"If Muslims, or anyone else, doesn't like living in a land filled with Christians or in a democracy they should get the hell out."


TOPICS: Canada; Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: alberta; dixiechicks; multiculturalism

1 posted on 06/18/2006 4:37:35 AM PDT by Clive
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Alberta's Child; albertabound; AntiKev; backhoe; Byron_the_Aussie; Cannoneer No. 4; ...

-


2 posted on 06/18/2006 4:37:58 AM PDT by Clive
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clive; GMMAC; Pikamax; Former Proud Canadian; Great Dane; Alberta's Child; headsonpikes; Ryle; ...

Canada ping!

Please FReepmail me to get on or off this Canada ping list.

3 posted on 06/18/2006 4:46:47 AM PDT by fanfan (I wouldn't be so angry with them if they didn't want to kill me!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Clive

A rare truth. This is an excellent article that all should read and head.


4 posted on 06/18/2006 4:47:09 AM PDT by ChessExpert (MSM: America's one party press)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clive
Amazing.
So, there maybe hope for Canada after all, eh?
I wouldn't be surprised if this kanwar chappie turns out to be apostate from izlam or from some unpopular sect such as the Ahmediya. Such enlightened thoughts spoken aloud is all too are in mainstream muzlim society.
5 posted on 06/18/2006 4:47:32 AM PDT by voletti (Awareness and Equanimity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clive
"no divided loyalties"

What about Quebec?

6 posted on 06/18/2006 4:51:31 AM PDT by Paladin2 (If the political indictment's from Fitz, the jury always acquits.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clive
In light of the arrests two weeks ago of 17 young Muslim Canadian men who are alleged to have planned terrorist attacks against their fellow Canadians that included attacking Parliament, seizing the CBC and beheading the prime minister

Some are coming in through Canada, surely; but the majority of these terrorists are taking advantage of the laxity of our Southern border enforcement. They utilize the convenient network of mosques that has been established here since Ted Kennedy and the State Department vouched for them.

7 posted on 06/18/2006 4:53:43 AM PDT by NewRomeTacitus (respect the boomstick)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Clive
"Kanwar says we now know one of the 17 accused was allowed to spew hatred and calls to violent jihad at a Toronto-area mosque and he was never once told by the leadership there to stop."
_________________________________

Maybe because the leadership agrees?
8 posted on 06/18/2006 4:54:41 AM PDT by wmfights (Lead, Follow, or Get Out Of The WAY!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: voletti
"So, there maybe hope for Canada after all, eh?"

I know Ayn Rand meant it in a somewhat different way .. but then .. was it really?

What I mean is ... her title .. "Atlas shrugged" ... has a more far reaching impact than just business and socialism.

It seems to me ... the whole world is acutely aware of invaders from another country taking over their own.

I think it was Cherac who said, following the attack on the US in September, 2001 ... "We're all Americans today", or something like that.

Atlas is, indeed .. shrugging .. not so much because of inability, but more of a way to awaken the load he carries.

I think he'd like to straighten up and walk proud.

9 posted on 06/18/2006 5:12:13 AM PDT by knarf (A place where anyone can learn anything ... especially that which promotes clear thinking.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Paladin2
"no divided loyalties"
What about Quebec?


''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Another perfect example of the point the author is trying to make. We may be asking the same question about southern California if the new amnesty bill passes.
10 posted on 06/18/2006 5:28:30 AM PDT by photodawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Clive

Kanwar has already had fatwas issued against him for his views. I wonder how long before he is tried under a "hate crime" law for denouncing Islamofascist intolerance. The Islamofascist theocrats and the rabid secularists can go after him at the same time for the same "crime", that way. I hope Canada is moving away from self-destructive relativism but it will be a long struggle.


11 posted on 06/18/2006 6:34:18 AM PDT by Wilhelm Tell (True or False? This is not a tag line.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clive
This is a good article which states the obvious.

Unfortunately, for pandering politicians and Liberals, the "obvious" isn't so obvious.

12 posted on 06/18/2006 6:59:28 AM PDT by Gritty (Invoke multicultural "sensitivity" and the wimp state will give you everything you want-Mk Steyn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gritty

"Divided loyalties -- Sociology prof warns multiculturalism 'creates nations within a nation'"

Paging Captain Obvious.


13 posted on 06/18/2006 7:00:56 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Democrats - The reason we need term limits)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Clive

I believe the term at least one sociologist has applied to it is "adversarial assimilation."

But it isn't "assimilation" at all.

Be afraid. Be VERY AFRAID. They're EVERYWHERE and many of them -- no all -- HATE US.


14 posted on 06/18/2006 7:12:36 AM PDT by Dick Bachert
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clive

See. There -are- moderate Muslims. Hopefully others will listen to this guy's message.


15 posted on 06/18/2006 8:14:20 AM PDT by Alexander Rubin (Octavius - You make my heart glad building thus, as if Rome is to be eternal.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clive

I find it interesting (and depressing) that there is not ONE!!! Islamic cleric condemning all the violence perpetrated in stunning numbers around the world by adherents to Islam. If Muslims are so interested in peace, then why is it every time we read something about Imams, they are railing against the west and inciting violence?


16 posted on 06/18/2006 12:49:30 PM PDT by driftless ( For life-long happiness, learn how to play the accordion.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clive
Kanwar has been questioning the government-funded official multicultural model ever since >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Well if you don't no Maciavelli when you see him, I will let you in on a little secret.

For 40 years the liberal socialists from Lester B. Pearson and Trudeau onwards, and their SMUG civil servants, have assiduously followed one true principle, focused on the Canadian People:

DIVIDE AND CONQUER

This liberal socialist policy, disguised as bleeding heart multi-culturalism has almost sounded the death of Canadian Unity and Patriotism. God Bless Canada has become a disparaging remark, for example. Canda will be what it will be, the government has no place in it with its monied multicultural programs, or language programs for that matter.

God Bless the True North Strong and Free, and if anyone attempts to divide and Conquer the Canadian Nation based on multiculturalism , they should be called on it, loudly and vociferously.

Thank you Dr. Kanwar.

You hit the nail right on its Politically Correct head.

17 posted on 06/18/2006 1:31:23 PM PDT by Candor7 (Into Liberal flatulance goes the best hope of the West, and who wants to be a smart feller?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EQAndyBuzz

18 posted on 06/18/2006 1:33:30 PM PDT by dfwgator (Florida Gators - 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Champions)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson