multiculturalism in sports

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Brenna Nolan Hon 301 In the Face Off Circle: Canadian and American Perceptions of Arabs in the NHL On June 26, 2009, the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec erupted with boos as the Toronto Maple Leafs announced their draft pick. With the seventh pick in the 2009 NHL draft, the team selected Nazem Kadri 12 . The following minutes were composed of a unique scene to American viewers as Kadri celebrated with his family including his grandmother who was dressed in the full hijab. Many viewers from the U.S. assumed boos filling the stadium were a response to the player and the culture, for in the U.S. it is not unheard of to see negative responses to traditional Muslim garbs. Further, it is a rare scene to have a Muslim Arab as a high profile athlete in America. However, the boos in Canada had nothing to do with Islam or ‘Arabness’, but rather, everything to do with an old-school, traditional hockey rivalry 14 . It did not matter who the Leafs announced as their pick, Montreal fans would express their hatred for the team, not the individual. Kadri’s religion or ethnicity simply did not impact the Canadian fans.

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Honors 301 Final Paper: A look at multiculturalism across different sports, specifically the NHL

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Brenna Nolan

Hon 301

In the Face Off Circle: Canadian and American Perceptions of Arabs in the NHLOn June 26, 2009, the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec erupted with boos as the Toronto Maple Leafs announced their draft pick. With the seventh pick in the 2009 NHL draft, the team selected Nazem Kadri12. The following minutes were composed of a unique scene to American viewers as Kadri celebrated with his family including his grandmother who was dressed in the full hijab. Many viewers from the U.S. assumed boos filling the stadium were a response to the player and the culture, for in the U.S. it is not unheard of to see negative responses to traditional Muslim garbs. Further, it is a rare scene to have a Muslim Arab as a high profile athlete in America. However, the boos in Canada had nothing to do with Islam or Arabness, but rather, everything to do with an old-school, traditional hockey rivalry14. It did not matter who the Leafs announced as their pick, Montreal fans would express their hatred for the team, not the individual. Kadris religion or ethnicity simply did not impact the Canadian fans. There is a divide in perception in the two countries that compose the NHL that was evident on this draft day. Where Canada is hardly fazed by the image of an Arab hockey player hugging his completely covered grandmother, the United States immediately interprets negativity as a comment on his culture. By examining these contrasting reactions, it can be determined that the Canadian policy of multiculturalism as an official stance has transformed the way immigrants are integrated into Canadian culture. The United States less definitive position adds difficulty to its immigrants as they try to find acceptance in their new country. This trend is exemplified by the response to ethnic athletes in the National Hockey League dependent on their team cities. In Toronto, Nazem Kadri has transformed into the face of hockey for Arab youth. He receives constant attention as a pioneer for the increasing participation of immigrants in hockey. In contrast, Detroit hardly acknowledges the Arabness of its Arab American player Justin Abdelkader. This paper suggests the roles of Kadri and Abdelkader in the NHL can be attributed to a combination of multiculturalism policies along with the importance of hockey in both Canada and the United States.Cultural Offsides: Politicizing Sports through DiversitySports possess a large role in both Canadian and American society. For this reason, the responses by professional sports leagues to ethnic and religious differences tend to be dissected to project a larger, more meaningful position. Unfortunately for the United States, its prominent sports do not have a history of positive reactions to diversity that challenges the status quo. An athlete is allowed to have his faith and occasionally preach to its importance; but once an athlete makes it a dominating part of his identity, it is likely to affect the players treatment by both the league and fans. For instance, the National Football League (NFL) struggles mightily to correctly handle situations where an athlete makes his religion a dominating aspect of his personality. One can look at Tim Tebow, a talented quarterback whose Christian beliefs often overshadowed his play. Teams chose not to sign Tebow because they did not want the media attention that was associated with him because of his outspoken religious personality. One of the most negative beliefs of the NFL comes from its top executives who consistently articulate opinions like boisterous displays of faith have no place in football, 7. It does not limit discriminatory attitudes towards outspoken Christians, but also practicing Muslims who receive as much judgment and even more condemnation. Touchdown celebrations are always noticed during NFL games, often comical or dance-themed. However, in 2014 when Muslim safety Husain Abdullah performed a touchdown celebration with a quick prayer on his knees, he received an unsportsmanlike penalty from the referee, costing his team fifteen yards for his public display of religion. While Tebows Christian kneeling celebration was playfully mocked by many, Abdullahs celebration was harshly criticized. Just be happy he didnt pull out a blade and take the refs head off in front of all those people was just one of the severely negative comments made by infuriated spectators6. It only took one prayer of gratitude by a celebrating devout athlete to start a political attack on his religion. The NFL is not alone, as the National Basketball Association (NBA) also deals with its fair share of religious difficulties, once banning a Muslim athlete who refused to stand during the national anthem because of his Islamic beliefs. American sports leagues continue to argue about the line between faithful devotion and career professionalism,7. Is it fair to penalize players for respecting their faith? Should sports leagues have the power to control the messages its players send? There are certainly existing contradictions in American sports where commissioners preach inclusiveness and openness only to consequently punish those players who exceed what the league and fans consider an acceptable amount of religious or cultural expression. While the NFL and NBA of the United States struggle, the Canadian-centered National Hockey League (NHL) is one of the most proactive sports organizations in handling situations of discrimination. It is ironic that the least diverse league, one that is 95% white athletes has the most effective racial and religious tolerance policies. In the 2012-13 season, only 69 of the 717 players were minorities10. Yet, the NHL mindset is to create a typical workplace where harassment is not allowed. Being in public limelight should not affect the level of respect an individual receives because of his race or religion. Trash talking, referred to as chirping in hockey, is as big a part of the game as scoring. When players are mic-ed up during games in the NFL, racial slurs can be heard more commonly than one would anticipate. In the NHL, any racial slur or racially derogatory comments heard earn the guilty player an unsportsmanlike penalty and potentially a five to ten game suspension. In 2012, Krys Barch asked P.K. Subban, the most widely-known African American hockey player, if he had slipped on a banana peel, a reference to black people being called apes or monkeys13. Barch was immediately accessed a penalty, a stark contrast to the NFL where the ethnically different athlete was the penalized victim for simply performing a Muslim prayer. The policies in place allow for equal, respectful play on the ice. But off the ice, there still remains a distinction between minority players in Canada and America. Player Profiles: Living the Canadian DreamSam Kadri is used to hearing about how he is living the Canadian dream. Playing in the NHL is typically cited as every young Canadian boys goal. Sam Kadri was no different, but when he emigrated with his family from Lebanon in 1968 at the age of four, he knew his family could not afford to sign him up for a hockey league14. Sam had six other siblings and parents who were working multiple jobs to provide for the family. Early on, Sam decided he would make sure his children had the opportunity to play hockey. Nazem was born in 1990 and skating two years later. Having a son grow up to be a top NHL player is the highest goal of any Canadian father. For Sam Kadri, the Lebanese immigrant, watching Nazem get drafted proved how immigrant Muslims and their Canadian-born children are seamlessly integrating into Canada and Canadian culture,12. Being a Muslim Arab-Canadian did not hinder his sons opportunity to reach the highest milestone for a Canadian male. Since the draft, Sam has watched his son become a household name in the hockey world, not only because of his ethnicity, but because of his talent. [Hes] broken down a barrier. Now its becoming normal for a Muslim to play hockey and play it well,1. Not only has Nazem created an atmosphere where religion is irrelevant to performance, but his value to the franchise and league could very well extend far beyond the reach of current NHL markets,12. It is important to analyze the cultural changes occurring in Canada extending Kadris reach. It no longer consists predominantly of European descendants. One-fifth of Canadians are foreign-born, with roughly half of the Toronto population being visible minorities8. Hockey can no longer rely on white youth to fill its minor leagues; the minorities comprise too large a portion of Canadian youth. It is often said that hockey has become a victim of complacency, pigeon-holed as an upper-middle class, white sport to a large degree. Now, with the emergence of an Arab superstar, the NHL can attract new participants. Kadri is already making an impact as statistics suggest an increase in the popularity of hockey amongst young Canadian Arabs. They have really taken to the game, because there is finally a player like them. Kadri recognizes this and has embraced it. He recently commented, Its one of the things I take pride inI take pride in being a role modelIm sure theres a lot of little kids out there who are pretty happy to watch me play,14. Put simply, a lot of Muslim kids are going to start playing hockey because they see someone like them be successful in that area. In hockey rinks around Canada, spectators hear kids wearing a jersey with Kadri on the back saying If he wasnt a famous hockey player, I dont think Id be playing hockey. He inspired me a lot,5. Interestingly, Justin Abdelkader of the Detroit Red Wings, another highly talented Arab American hockey player, is not inspiring young Arab youth in Detroit to join their local hockey team. In fact, without his surname as a hint, one would need to research Abdelkader to learn he is of Jordanian descent. A portion of this ignorance stems from his appearance. Where Kadri visually resembles what is typically associated with Arabness, Abdelkader has flowing blonde hair with blue eyes, looking more like his Swedish teammates than fellow Arab Nazem Kadri. The confusion stems from the stereotype that all Arabs are dark skinned, a common misperception in the United States. On Internet forums and fan websites, comments posted include He doesnt look Arab at all and He is the least Arabic looking person, 15. Similarly, Abdelkader does not attest to his Arabness in the same way as Kadri. While Kadri embraces his culture and promotes it as an essential identifier, Abdelkader brushes it off and tries to blend into the typical hockey culture, downplaying any distinguishing traits outside of hockey skill. Looking further, one cannot use the excuse of a lack of Arab presence in Abdelkaders demographic as Detroit is the largest Arab community in the United States. In addition, one cannot say children in America ignore the NHL when looking for role model athletes as African American NHL player Dustin Byfuglien receives letters every day from young African American children saying they started playing hockey because of his influence4. If the Arab population exists in Detroit and other children are connecting to athletes, there must be a deeper reasoning for Abdelkaders lack of connection with the Arab youth compared to Kadris position. Their contrasting reactions to their ethnicities trace to two distinct actualities: multicultural policies in Canada and the United States and the importance of hockey in each country. Head-to-Head Matchup: Contrasting Multiculturalism PoliciesIn 1971, Canada was the first country in the world to adopt multiculturalism as an official policy. In other words, Canada affirmed the value and dignity of all Canadian citizens regardless of racial or ethnic origins, language or religious affiliations, 3. In the United States, no such policy exists. While immigration has a significant presence in the country, immigrants are not given the same treatment as in Canada. This comparison is often referred to as the cultural mosaic versus the melting pot 11. Within Canada, immigrants do not face pressure to assimilate and give up their culture. Rather, the multicultural policy ensures all citizens can keep their identities, can take pride in their ancestry, and have a sense of belonging, 3. There is a feeling of security and self-confidence. The mosaic concept represents the co-existence of multiple ethnicities and religions in society. Not only does this policy exist in Canada, but the citizens embrace it as a defining factor of being Canadian. In fact, a 2006 survey revealed that behind only Canadas Charter of Rights and Freedom, multiculturalism ranked second when citizens were asked What makes you most proud to be Canadian? 8. They are convinced of the positive economic, political, and social benefits of immigration2. Once again, this creates an atmosphere of greater acceptance. The influx of different immigrants constantly changes the landscape of Canada, but the change is one welcomed by existing citizens. The United States melting pot mentality is a symbol of immigrants assimilation. The heterogeneous society becomes homogenous as immigrants are expected to melt to the actual American culture and society. Upon arrival, immigrants are expected to sacrifice their cultural identity in order to blend with the existing American culture 11. The value and dignity given to immigrants in Canada regardless of origin and language is not guaranteed in the United States. In fact, speaking English can be considered the most important part of assimilating in America. Multiculturalism is a culture; but it is not a culture that Americans are quite ready to embrace as their identifier8. Causing concern, the United States citizens support pluralism, but rarely advocate for immigration on the ground that it adds to the social fabric of the country. Rather, the common attitude tends to have an element of condescension. It appears that America typically views identity as a right, not a value, 2. An immigrant must learn to adapt to American culture before he can be accepted or acknowledged. Murtaza Hussain is a Toronto-based writer and analyst focused on Middle East politics. Born in Pakistan, Hussain moved to Canada with his family during his formative years. However, it was during a trip to Austria when he recognized how absent the otherness of minorities is in Canada. Hussains first experience of immigrant complaints came during his first cab ride. Hussain writes: The Turks they come here but they dont act Austrian, my interlocutor told me in a voice noticeably rising with indignation. They come, and more and more they stay here, but they still dont ever become like us. ... Is it the same in Canada? This to me sounded a bit like an accusation mixed with a question, but I had to say that my answer to this query was an honest no. 8Hussain points out that one does not hear such complaints in Canada because the immigrants are accepted so fluidly. Canadians have a set of values and beliefs which are able to accommodate a broad range of cultural expressions and do not demand any strict homogeneity. Hussains experience exemplifies what is expected of immigrants in nations without a defined multicultural policy. Where Canada has full awareness of the fluidity of its culture, elsewhere there is an expectation that immigrants will conform tobut not in any meaningful sense changethe supposedly static national culture of their new homes,8. The United States illustrates this mindset when it denies identity until immigrants conform to American cultural standards. Looking at the NHL again, Kadri resides in Toronto, Ontario where he never faces pressure to suppress his cultural identity. He has the freedom to speak of his faith and ethnicity in order to inspire those around him. Young immigrants in Canada look at Kadri and can visualize their own identity. He provides the confidence to embrace their individuality as they participate in Canadian society. In contrast, Justin Abdelkader in Detroit does not have the opportunity to project his heritage because his city expects him to adapt American values and traditions. Promoting his ancestral culture would actually lead to more negative reaction towards it. By ignoring his culture, Abdelkader opts to evade the media scrutiny by distancing himself from his ethnicity, better integrating himself into the American culture. If the United States adopted a policy similar to Canada and its citizens bought into the concept, Abdelkader and other diverse athletes would be more inclined to share their cultures without the threat of judgment and be an inspiring example for immigrated youth, similar to Kadris role in Toronto. MVP Performance: Hockeys Importance in IntegrationWhile contrasting multiculturalism policies explain one aspect of the different responses to ethnic athletes in Canada and the United States, it is not the whole story. While immigrants reception upon arrival is determined by such policies, this does not explain why a hockey player became the face of Arab success in one country, but not the other. To answer this predicament, one must examine the role the sport plays in assimilation. In Canada, hockey is a cultural staple. There are few things considered more sacred in the sports home country. In the same 2006 survey that revealed multiculturalism as the second most popular reason citizens are proud to be Canadian, hockey landed the third spot, proving just how essential it is to Canadian identity 8. As a result, aiding immigrants in assimilating must include a focus on hockey. Growth in the country is stemming from immigration from a lot of non-hockey-playing countries, mostly from the Mideast, Africa, East and South Asia. The result is first-generation, Canadian-born children taking to the sport as non-immigrated children do. They are used to link their parents with the Canadian cultural standard. The biggest avenue for connecting the two generations is the multiple language broadcasts of hockey games in Canada. Chak de phatte goal Joffrey Lupul! Toronto Maple Putay! is just a sample of what is heard on Hockey Night in Canadas Punjabi broadcast with commentators Harnarayan Singh and Bhola Chauhan10. Once Punjabi, an Indo-Aryan language originated in Pakistan and Indian, grew to the third most spoken language in Canada at 1.1 million speakers, Hockey Night in Canada decided it needed to reach this new audience. The result was a broadcast in the foreign language of a large amount of immigrants. The broadcast marries Canadas national pastime with the sounds of the Indian subcontinent, providing a glimpse of the changing face of ice hockey, 10. The complacency and stagnancy of hockey needs to be combatted in order to better bring and welcome newer Canadians into the country. Former NHL goalie now commentator Kevin Weekes stated, I dont think our sport truly reflects Canadian society, 1. With the new multi-language broadcasts, the Canadian cities are trying to reach the new Canadian landscape. The broadcasts are succeeding. Viewership of the online stream increased 45% in 2012, and then 229% during 2013 playoff games. With television numbers likely five times the size of the online numbers, it is clear that the Punjabi broadcast clearly reaches an audience craving hockey, but needing an alternative language in order to fully comprehend the game. Sometimes, the non-English language is used as a way to join two generations. Where the children of immigrants understand the game in English from their assimilation in the education system, their parents may require their native language to be intrigued. As a result, the broadcast allows someone whose first language is not English to connect with the sports and between generations, 10. Whether through weekly hockey games with fellow immigrants or a family gathering for a big game, hockey stimulates integration. The integration is most evident on the youth level where hockey is the uniting factor. Singh, the Punjabi broadcaster, used hockey as a way to make friends throughout school. His obsession with hockey stemmed from a desire to have something in common with other children at school, where he was the only minority student at the time. He stated, I wore hockey shirts because then I didnt have to answer What is that thing on your head? 10. It does not take immigrant parents long to realize how important participating in a hockey league is to making friends1. Singh cites his involvement as a child as a distinguishing factor for assimilating so fluidly with his peers, something not as easily accessible in other countries. The biggest role hockey plays in Canada is as unifier; not only for immigrants arriving, but for all citizens during troublesome times. It receives the connotation as the light in dark times. When a tragedy strikes the nation, Americans react dramatically and enthusiastically as a country. They look towards their leader, most appropriately the President. While it seems exaggerated, Canadians actually look towards the NHL as their guiding force. Its citizens define home as a hockey rink; it is their common bond across all diversity. On October 22, 2014, a shooting occurred on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. It was hours after when the NHL released its statement telling Canadians sports did not matter on this day and canceling the games that night. The NHL had the true responsibility of setting the tone going forward. Once it continued its games, it was understood that everything would be okay. Canadian writer Cathal Kelly perfectly captured the atmosphere of Canada in her piece following The Hill Shooting:We are as stiff as our reputationuntil you get us into a hockey arena. It doesnt have to be a grand place, any little rinkwill do, anywhere in the country. You walk through those doors and your natural Canadian inhibitions are shed. We are a country of many faiths, but just the one religion. Its a clich because its true. Everyone in this country understands that you dont have to play hockey or watch hockey or even like hockey, but you must respect hockeyWe are at our best together, and we are most often together at a rink. Its where we feel closest. 9The clich regarding hockey as a faith is not exclusive to native Canadians. In fact, the consideration of hockey as a religion turns the country into a single, unified nation despite its diversity. In broadcaster Singhs home, for every Sikh religious figure on the walls, there is an equivalent picture of Wayne Gretzky, The Great One, nearby10. NHL stars do not hold as high a position in the United States. In the United States, the NHL is considered an entertainment business, nothing more9. When the Boston bombings occurred in 2012, it was not the Boston Bruins of the NHL that united the city, but rather the Boston Red Sox of the MLB who became the symbol of city pride and strength. There lacks a need for hockey in America which hurts its role as an integrator for immigrants. When Punjabi grew to its current popularity, Canada adapted to ensure those citizens speaking the growing language would be connected to its pastime. The United States makes no such attempts to accommodate its newly arriving citizens. In Los Angeles, a city with one of the best NHL teams, there is an audience consisting of 30% Hispanic fans10. Yet, Los Angeles has made no effort to start a Spanish broadcast. It assumes those watching the game will adapt as necessary to enjoy it rather than changing the product itself to be more accessible. With such a mindset, hockey will never reach the level of popularity it sees in Canada as immigration continues to rise. Hockey secures itself as Canadas main toolbox in integrating its arriving immigrants and their first-generation children. Similarly, Nazem Kadri serves as the key tool for connecting individuals coming from Arab countries to the primary Canadian pastime. There is no such strategy to assimilate immigrants in the United States, adding more obstacles for those trying to gain acceptance in American culture. Goal Scored: A New Canadian Face to Inspire a CountryIt is no surprise to find that Nazem Kadris name translates to leader as he moves towards being the symbol of change. The young Lebanese-Canadian hockey star quickly altered the landscape of the National Hockey League in 2009, leading to an increased participation of Arab youth immigrants in Canada. While Kadri continues to inspire Arab kids to begin playing hockey, Justin Abdelkader does not embody the same position in Detroit. Despite being a Jordanian-American, Abdelkader distances himself from his ethnicity as a response to American culture. The core difference between Kadri and Abdelkader comes from two variances in Canada and the United States: multiculturalism policies and hockey importance. This paper shows how a sound, official multiculturalism policy that promotes coexistence rather than homogeneity allows for immigrant children to have better role models within the sports world, specifically hockey. Similarly, having a unifying pastime that can connect all generations, immigrated and non-immigrated citizens allows for a quicker assimilation and acceptance for individuals arriving from around the world. If the United States and Canada continue to differ in these two regards, Kadri and Abdelkader will continue to foster very different roles in the National Hockey League.

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