My Reflection on “Immigration: The Hate Stops Here”

Canada is a country well-known for its constitutional recognition of multiculturism. In his article Immigration: The Hate Stops Here, Michael Ignatieff draws our attention by pointing out the fact that multicultural Canada might be good in principle but not in reality. 

For Ignatieff, it is more like showing indifference to each-other’s values rather than sharing it which constraints them to become good citizens together. Throughout his essay he tries to shed light on the fact that diaspora groups are playing dangerous roles by perpetuating hatred and supporting violent activities in their home countries by taking advantage of multiculturism (Ignatieff:301).

Ignateiff wrote this article right after the incidence of nine-eleven when the whole world was seemingly divided into two parts- ‘us’ vs ‘them’. He carefully articulates his words by not taking any side. He thinks diaspora nationalism is more threatening because it is easier to hate from a distance as they don’t need to live with the consequences or punishments (Ignatieff:302-303).

In my view, Ignatieff overstates the role of immigrants and tries to paint all the immigrants with the same brush. He also uses some vague examples to support his arguments. For example, he says that in 1840’s the Irish brought their hatreds along with them in Canada on the emigrant ships (Ignatieff: 302). Yet, he does not explain how they brought it here and what the indicator was to prove their hatredness. 

He says, “My point is only to ask us to rethink our myths of immigration, particularly that innocent one that portrays us as a refuge from hatred. It is clear that this never entirely true: many immigrant groups that make their lives here have not been extinguishing, but rather fanning , the hatreds they brought with them” (Ignatieff: 303). I think, if he would have used some statistical data to prove which groups are financing and how many people are becoming the victims of the violence that they support; his arguments would have been more effective. 

After all, Ignatieff oversimplifies particular experiences to generalize behavior of immigrant groups in Canada.