Cameron's Crusade

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Recommended: Diversity and assimilation

The context of today's society is one of increased pressure to bow to culturally diverse traditions and principles. Although this movement has had a positive effect in its admonishment of bigotry and racism, it has presented a conundrum regarding the best way to manage issues that stem from a clash of cultures. On February 5, 2011, British Prime Minister David Cameron gave a speech at the Munich Security Conference, drawing attention to failure of “state multi-culturalism.” His speech has prompted debate world-wide and inspired numerous articles both defending and denouncing the Prime Minister's views. "Cameron's Crusade," written by Daniel Hannan, a member of the European Parliament, makes a cogent argument in support of Cameron's speech. Hannan uses a strong, authoritative tone, which waxes sardonic when discussing those he terms as "multi-culturals," but assumes an agreement with the readership. He also provides examples of the dangers seen in a society overly-sensitive towards cultural disparity. Emphasis is kept, however, on the idea that the multi-cultural dilemma is one of integration, not immigration, to sidestep the inevitable accusation of racism. Finally, Hannan characterizes the opposing sides of the argument through a few key words, using their associations to implant a favorable opinion of his viewpoint in the mind of the reader.

Likely the first observation made when reading the article is how Hannan uses a very cutting, sarcastic style when discussing those he deems members of the “multi-culti apparatus.” With his opening statement, “the shocking thing is that anyone should have been shocked,” he sets the tone of the article right away and clearly identifies his position: that the Prime Minister's remarks were c...

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...dibility. More than this, he speaks as one who has “been there.” As Hannan wrote in a Telegraph News Blog on the 14th of June, 2010: “I’m working in your future and, believe me, you won’t like it.” There is the real sense that he writes not to provide a historical essay, but as a warning to those who have yet to go as far down the same road as his country. His use of rhetoric is not an exercise in academia, but rather a means to convey his impassioned view as forcefully as he can.

Works Cited

Bradley, Steven. “The Framing Effect: Influence Your Audience By Setting The Context.” Van SEO Design. Smashing Network, 7 June 2010. Web. 01 Mar. 2011.

Hannan, Daniel. “Cameron's Crusade.” Newsweek.com. Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2011. Web. 28 Feb. 2011.

---. “I Admit It: I Was Wrong to Have Supported Barack Obama.” Telegraph Blogs. The Telegraph, 14 June 2010. Web. 01 Mar. 2011.

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