Contending Loyalties Synonyms for loyalty commitment allegiance faithfulness

Contending Loyalties • Synonyms for loyalty – commitment, allegiance, faithfulness, devotion When faced with a choice, loyalties play a part in the decisions you make •

Decisions � How do you make decisions between two contending loyalties? For Example: A close friend of yours has asked you to lie to another close friend. Whatever choice you make will jeopardize one of your friendships. OR You have committed to being in two or three places at once. How do you decide?

Nationalism and Loyalty � Sometimes you will have to reconcile contending senses of loyalty with your sense of nationalism � Ex. You are expected to respect the rights and freedoms of others as a Canadian citizen, but maybe some of the actions by others go against your religious beliefs

Your task: � With a partner or a group of 3, come up with 3 situations that might involve contending loyalties � For each situation, imagine 2 possible courses of action and identify which loyalties are contending � Be prepared to share your answers

What’s in a name? � Many places around the world that had been named by colonial powers are being renamed to reflect the nationalist loyalties of the people � Bombay – Mumbai � Frobisher Bay – Iqaluit � Gold Coast - Ghana

What’s in a name? People have also changed their names to reflect nationalist loyalties Cassius Clay � Mohammed Ali

Malcolm Little � Malcolm X � El Hajj Malik El Shabazz

E 5 - 776 � David � Kiviaq Ward

Millions of Women around the world!

Cultural Pluralism in Canada � Canadian law guarantees the same rights and freedoms to all citizens regardless of cultural, religious or ethnic differences � Diversity is celebrated � Multiculturalism is an official Canadian policy

Has pluralism gone too far? � Some argue that Canada’s focus on multiculturalism has weakened nationalism � Others believe that multiculturalism strengthens Canada � Can acceptance, tolerance, and diversity draw us together?

National Loyalty and Dual Citizenship � Read page 110 -111 � Answer questions 1 -2 for discussion

Reasonable Accommodation � How much should immigrants be expected to fit in to Canadian culture? � Legally, Canadian public institutions are required to adapt to religious and cultural practices of minorities as long as these do not violate other rights and freedoms

Sikhs � Males are required by religion to wear a turban and grow beards and hair

Kirpans � A Quebec school board was wrong to tell a 12 -year-old Sikh boy he could not wear his ceremonial dagger in the classroom, as his faith requires, Canada's top court ruled unanimously. � The total ban infringed on Gurbaj Singh's guarantees of religious freedom under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled 8 -0 on Thursday. � But the ruling re-establishes a lower court decision, which allows Sikhs to wear kirpans under certain conditions. The knife must be worn under the clothes and sewn into a sheath.

Hutterites, Mennonites, Doukhobors � Hutterites are exempt from having their photos taken for drivers licenses � Hutterites, Mennonites and Doukhabors moved to Canada from Europe where they faced religious persecution with the promise that they would enjoy religious freedom in Canada � This includes exemption from military service even in times of conscription

Different Points of View � Canadians are challenged to be “able to understand different points of view and see different ways to solve problems…This makes us resilient” � Canada’s multiculturalism policy divides Canadians. “If what [Canadians] have in common is our diversity, do we really have anything in common at all? ”

� Which of the previous two quotes do you agree most with? How do you think Canada’s policy on multiculturalism affects nationalism in the country? � How strongly do you think a person’s identity is tied to their name? How would you feel if you were forced to change your name? � Why do women take their husbands name? What effect does it have on their identity and loyalties? � What is your opinion on Canada’s policy of reasonable accommodations?

With a partner, come up with a slogan or symbol that celebrates Canada as a nation that draws its identity and strength from its diversity

Non-nationalist Loyalties � Regional � Global - and Religious loyalties Oxfam International Medecins Sans Frontieres Greenpeace World Wildlife Fund

Read p. 118 OR p. 120 � Write a letter to the editor of the paper. Identify the major issues in your letter and explain your opinion on the problem. What solutions do you propose? Do you think the Canadian government is responsible for taking more action?