Today in a speech in Munich David Cameron tells us that "state multiculturalism" has failed. Not surprisingly, with his emphasis on Islamic extremism, Muslim groups have expressed considerable dismay at the speech. And well they might. It is not that multiculturalism has failed. We have failed multiculturalism.
However, let us be clear - this failure lies firmly with the establishment and not with the people. Spend any time in central London and you will see multiculturalism alive and well with all ethnicities and religions living and working side by side without any "help" from the state. No, it is state meddling and media hysteria that has created the great discomfort in white middle-England communities.
One of the most divisive issues is, of course, religion. However, once again, on the streets few problems exist, with Muslims, Christians and Hindus co-existing in many places without problems. It is the state-sponsored marginalisation of Christianity that causes anger. There is a perception, not entirely unjustified, of discrimination by the authorities against Christianity. Examples such as nurse Caroline Petrie, a Christian, who faced disciplinary action for offering to pray for an elderly patient, even though the patient made no complaint. This sort of example angers people because there is a certainty that if Ms Petrie had been of any other religion, no action would have been taken. Ironically, most non-Christian religious people are fully accepting of the Christian heritage of this country and are often perplexed when councils meddle with Christian norms claiming minority communities will be offended.
The multiculturalism of the streets works because there is tacit acceptance of universal values. Having said this, it is clear there are serious threats to these universal values in some communities, and it is this that the state should focus upon. Rather than petty attacks on Christians, the state should tackle human rights abuses in whatever community they occur.
As far as religion is concerned, it is respect that is key. But this has to include equal respect for all religions and this includes Christianity. However, this respect cannot and must not be allowed to override our hard-won universal values. In the UK and around the world, the UK government should be clear and direct that, for example, discrimination against women, or barbaric punishments such as amputations or stoning, are wrong in all circumstances. And if, like me, you are a Christian, let us not kid ourselves that abuses against human rights only occur in non-Christian countries. So-called fundamentalist Christians in the US screaming that 'God hates fags' are as much an offence against God and human rights as the Taliban.
So, if multiculturalism is to succeed the state needs to change direction and apply some street common sense. No more marginalisation of Christianity, no more blind-eyes to human rights abuses. Multiculturalism will thrive when the state robustly upholds what all reasonable people instinctively accept - "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal".
