I thought the majority of Canadians had moved past this. I thought that there were a few hold outs, who were mostly older people, set in their ways who couldn’t accept that we are all equal. Apparently I thought wrong.
In the last three months I have seen a disturbing amount of racism and prejudice from a number of different segments of society. Usually it’s perpetrated by white people (yes, I am white too) who think that it’s not fair that certain categories of people get advantages through employment equity or other such programs.
Now tell me something… was it really fair that there are groups of people who were systematically disadvantaged for generations, who haven’t had the same life opportunities as others because they or their parents were segregated. Is it really a surprise when they fail to meet their full potential.
What really killed me was the one guy who went as far as to say that he was entitled to be advantaged because of all the work his ancestors put into colonialism. Well excuse me, even if that was a valid argument (which it’s not) it certainly doesn’t entitle YOU to any benefit it society. If you want to enjoy the advantages of capitalism or be respected for who you are, do something worthy of respect and stop blaming other people for your short comings.
One last thing, I’ve also heard a lot of people slamming refugees. First thing is, for the most part these people don’t understand the difference between an immigrant and a refugee. A refugee is a person who is granted protection by the Canadian state because they face persecution in their home countries. Do you have any idea how hard it must be to leave your home knowing that you can never go back? In addition, regardless of whether you’re talking about immigrants or refugees the fact is that we, as Canadians, are not reproducing at a fast enough rate to support ourselves and so we NEED people to come to our country to help support us.
To finish it’s not funny when you use the word nigger, and the next time you think about saying that you feel oppressed by employment equity, take a look at the reality of the people who you are claiming to be disadvantaging you.
Oh and by the way, the employment equity act was passed by a predominantly white, male parliament. —Bigots not welcome here
This article appears in Aug 12-18, 2010.
Okay, so I hope your next post will talk about how the Black Teachers Assoc., Black Firefighters Assc., Black Business Initiative, etc should be disbanded. If you want to be equal then don’t set up groups that discriminate against whites who, for your information, dont’ have a White Teachers Assoc., White Firefighters Assc or White Business Initiative. Non-blacks have associations that provide services to all in the community but as I white guy I certainly can’t access services from the BBI.
Yes, past generations were trampled on but there comes a time when the newer generations have to make their own efforts to move ahead and not depend on segregated groups like those mentioned above.
And for the immigration/refugee issue – the only ones I think our government should be letting in are law-abiding. productive folks who are ready to accept the Canadian way of life and not try to force their old ways onto us, nor should they let in boatloads of people who try to enter illegally as currently occuring out west.
If you want out of your country so badly because of religious or war reasons, why would you bring the same drama over here? Get over it and you’ll likely be welcomed here in Canada and given opportunities you’d never have back in your homeland.
Having met and worked with several hundred refugees I think I can spot the phoney ones, such as the transgendered lady from Ireland who is attempting to claim refugee status intead of returning to Ireland or any of the many other countries in the EU and then applying to emigrate
What she is really afraid of is returning to Ireland or Britain where the economy has tanked, work prospects are grim and she would have to wait in a 3 year lineup just like all the other people in the EU.
She just wants to jump the queue and I hope the feds send her packing and to the back of the waiting list.
I have no objection to her becoming an immigrant and going through the normal channels like all other immigrants , what I do object to is her devaluing the true meaning of refugee.
When she has lived in a refugee camp for 15 of her first 17 years or fled a civil war or ethnic cleansing she can claim to be a refugee. Until then she is just gaming the system and Lee Cohen knows it. One trick young Roumanian men used was to claim to be a Jehovah’s Witness, the excuse usually came after being a stowaway on an Israeli owned ship. That excuse and stowaways on Zim ships ended after 9/11.
the only racit is the one who cries racism the loudest. let it be done and over with for fuck’s sake. no more, i beg of you. because soon, as you idiots keep it going, we will be just as bad as the states or anywhere else georgia like. get the fuck on with your lives, all of you.
Don’t confuse racism with compassion fatigue.
And don’t dismiss as bigots those of us who are sick and bloody tired of PC self-flagellation and refuse to play that game. Accusations of “thoughtcrime” are not the automatic argument-enders that they once were. Critical thinking and dissent are not the sole purview of the Left.
A professor once mentioned to my political science class that there is a difference between Canada and America. In America, everyone has the right to equality, on a level playing field. In Canada, our governments go the distance to try and make sure that those who are disadvantaged – whether by race, gender, disability, wealth etc – have the same opportunities as the advantaged. I would like to think that if I was disadvantaged, my government would step up and support me.
this is a tough subject and many of commentators on this site seem to be part of the white majority and, from their comments, don’t see the other side of the coin. they like to make cracks about the situation of black nova scotians like it’s not a very difficult reality faced by these people on a daily basis. but thanks for your post, it’s nice to see that someone can look beyond themselves and can at least imagine what it’s like to walk in another person’s shoes.
Reverse-discrimination has finally taken hold with many segments of society, from both young and old, and especially white-professional males.
Joeblow – a correction to your last para – Zim recently brought a Romanian stowaway into Canada.
Reverse discrimination? That makes no sense. Discrimination is discrimination, no matter who is giving/receiving. Same goes for racism, although the location of power alters the impact for different groups involved. Calling them reverse just shows how systemic they are. It also implies that these isms follow flow in one direction, and only between certain groups. Sadly it is much more complicated, and harder to deal with, than that…
IMO anyway. 🙂
I am Acadadian, can I claim that I am disadvantaged too?
My bad, I meant *Acadian*. I think I need to go back to school. Any programs out there?
You’re an Acadian with a stutter. Doubles your chances
>: )
I grew up on Acadia Dr.??? 🙂
martym is that a pic of you when you were a kid?
yes people were making fun of me on the love bitch thing and I was all feeling so old that i found a baby pic to cheer me up 🙂
That’s a very cute pic of you. 🙂
yea just after i broke out of that pow camp and ran into the ummm sahara dessert where i was raised by umm artic wolves and than drove over to england where i became the princess of canada and the rest is umm …. history 🙂
Your life sounds very eventful. I wish I could claim I was a Canadian princess too.
your phrasing leads me to believe you are accusing me of embellishing my story; well I’m shocked and dismayed young lady after pouring my heart out to the world; oh woe is me everyone hates me 🙁 🙂
I’m no longer young and innocent, therefore the jadedness and bitterness in my posts! And as you pour your heart out to the world I shall go take a shower and head to bed. Nighty night little princess.
so a donation to my rightful return of my crown jewels is probably not going to happen yes 🙂
I’ll tell you what smacks of racism; the boatload of Tamils being escorted ashore in Vancouver. 2 other countries have already told them to fuck off, but not good old soft touch Canada. It’s lovely that these bastards can leapfrog over legitimate immigrants just because they’re “allegedly” persecuted.
The ship should be turned around or given food, and water, fuel and a cheery fuck off moochers. If they get ashore, and you just know some left wing softie judge will grant them permission, then my taxes will be going to support them.
They’ll be in TO shortly to join their countrymen and support the Tigers and we’ll be harbouring a terrorist organisation.
Friday the 13th
Depending on how many teenagers are on board it could tip the balance of power at the TO. High School where one of my wife’s brothers teaches. The Tigers and the Yardies are currently in a shooting war for control of the school’s lucrative trade in , er, ah, “study aids”.
And, a small, but burgeoning number of Afghans are poised to teach Toronto’s vocal black community exactly what “culture of poverty and violence” really means.
Who needs CNN when you’ve got a pedagogue in the family?
If I use a synagogue, does that trump a pedagouge, or is a pedagouge a Priest hailing from Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch?
Basil, you’re crazy.
BeardedDonkey – I would agree, but if I’m crazy then my word isn’t worth shit. Usually it’s the people in the crisp white coats who tell me this stuff, they have a PH.D – unlike the Taliban who have an IED.
It’s Friday the 13th – about 30 minutes to quitting time and I have 24 of Mr. Keiths finest dancing in the fridge just waiting for me to uncap them and savour the contents. Steak on the BBQ, beer in the belly and barking at the moon about 9 p.m.
And as the 2 Ronnies would say “It’s goodnight from me and goodnight from him”.
That’s the only form of psychotherapy that’s worth a goodgoddamn Baz. I’m going to use this as a “teaching moment” and do the same.