RACE AND ETHNICITY IN TODAYS SOCIETY - Essay Example

In fact, the diversity of race and ethnicity has been appreciated on many levels and is seen as an achievement for most of the advanced countries rather than a liability. This reflects in John F. Kennedy’s observation of the way Alexis de Tocqueville perceived the US as “a society of immigrants, each of whom had begun life anew, on an equal footing. This was the secret of America: a nation of people with the fresh memory of old traditions who dared to explore new frontiers .” (Kennedy cited in “Race & Ethnicity”).

In the present age when the world has transformed into a global village, and where the merits of cultural fusion and teamwork across cultures, races, and ethnicities far outweigh the complications brought about by such interaction, there is dire need to discourage the cultivation of the concepts of race and ethnicity as standards on the basis of which people can be categorized into groups. This paper discusses, analyzes, and offers commentary on two papers on the topics of race and ethnicity; one by Ramos and the other by Villarreal.

In addition, this paper discusses the significance of race and ethnicity and its social relevance in the contemporary age. . Ramos laid these explanations for the social relevance of the concept of race in the Canadian society which include; there is still racial and ethnic inequity in Canada, the concept of race and ethnicity has been institutionalized as a result of the government’s policies, and both concepts have become increasingly visible because of immigration and demographic shifts.

Ramos has supported his claims with good examples. For instance, he proves that government’s policies have played a role in the institutionalization of race and ethnicity by including the two concepts in the Constitution, and adopting the points-based system for immigration. Likewise, the author highlights how the adoption of immigration policies since 1967 has made race and ethnicity very important elements in the Canadian society. The old immigration system was such that it maintained the dominance of the English and the Europeans.

In fact, this is one of the most important reasons for the social relevance of race and ethnicity not only in Canada today, but a host of other countries including Australia, the UK, and the US. Many countries like Canada have made changes to their immigration policies in favor of culturally and racially diverse immigrants from all over the world. From this standpoint, social relevance of race and ethnicity in Canada today can be considered both a cause and effect of the attempts of the government to suppress the significance of race and ethnicity in all systems.

For instance, Canada’s immigration policy was purposely modified to diversify the population racially. Had this step not been taken, Canada might have been a land hosting predominantly White population. In that case, it would have been considered racially oppressive and