From: aruprech-AT-ccs.carleton.ca (Alvina Ruprecht)
Subject: Re: Neil Bisoondath
Date: Sat, 15 Jun 96 9:39:41 EDT


Dear Shauna...
You are right.   His controversial book is entitled Selling Illusions, he
critisized Canadian mutliculturalism (different from the American concept
of multiculturalism). This is an institutionalized practice which
encourages people to keep up their original cultural
practices....languages etc. this has given rise in Canada to hyphenated
identities...Italian-Canadian, French-Canadian, Jamaican-Canadian
etc. and encouraged the notions of "ethnic" writers...at the periphery
whereas the centre is occupied by those who are not hyphenated..that is
to say, those of Anglo-British origin....Neil feels that this has produced
cultural ghettos which go
against the creation of a Canadian identity...He does not want to be a
Trinidadian-Canadian...he feels he is CANADIAN. These opinions are what has
provoked much criticism from the specific communities...
This is it in a nutshell...I must say however that the arguements he makes
are sometimes rather confused...
Alvina Ruprecht
Carleton U. Ottawa Canada


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