Multiculturalism is a word that means different things in different mouths, and that is as true when people are saying they are in favour as when they say they are opposed.

It can be used to mean a society in which people from different backgrounds and cultures mix with each other while holding on to all kinds of differences bases in their different origins - differences in dress, language, food, music.

And it can be used to mean a society in which people from different backgrounds and cultures live in such a way that they avoid contact with each other.

The confusion arises when people throw the word around without defining what they mean by it. Sometimes this is intentional, not always.