Some people lament Canada’s supposed multicultural society, thinking that we lack culture. I don’t think this is true. Canadian culture is a new thing—Canada is a new country after all. Its culture is a new type of culture.

Culture used to be defined by a shared history, a shared identity, and shared set of values or beliefs. But I think that modern culture is changing, and not only in Canada. I think that the future of Canadian culture is still about values and beliefs, or, more specifically, about a shared attitude. (Thank Iain M. Banks.)

An attitude of of working and living together in a free and just society. A goal to work towards, not one that can be achieved. (They say that all fall short of the glory of God. Perfection may be unattainable. But we can always move forwards.)

I hope we will continue to move away from the concrete ideas of culture. For example, we are together because we are the same. Same thoughts, same history, same lifestyle. Culture used to be defined by the fact that everyone watched I Love Lucy. Culture was about loving the monarch. Culture was about how we are us, and they being them.

Instead, I would like to move towards a more abstract idea of culture. We want freedom, equality, justice. We are together because we are working for a better world that meets everyone’s need. Rather than a great systems that serves the needs of a bunch of the people who are exactly the same, a vibrant culture where people of different musical tastes, food tastes, and so on can live together in free exchange of ideas, products, and services. It’s not about wanting the same thing, like certain types of families, relationships, or cell phones. It about freedom, human dignity, and self-determinism.

Some people think that the golden rule means that you should treat others in the manner that you want to be treated. This is not so. The golden rule, I think, is more about treating others respectfully, the way you would want to be treated respectfully. What’s the difference? One is more concrete. One is about treating everyone the same. The other, however, is abstract. It’s about treating each other as the other wants to be treated. Just as you want to be treated the way you want. This means that you take off your shoes at my house, even if you wouldn’t at yours. It means being responsive to the other person, rather than assuming they want to be treated exactly like you. It was a good start two and half thousand years ago, but it’s lacking in sophistication now.

There is so much difference within a single culture like we had in the old days. I think that embracing those differences, rather than having one mainstream, one common experience would allow us to achieve our own happiness together. And there is no reason not to include culture so-called cultures in to this view of multiculturalism. And we can all achieve our own happiness.

Just not the same happiness.