I received the following email recently and, while I agree with some of it's content I must point out that there are major omission, and that is how WE the founding families treated these new Canadians, and the aboriginals....
We, and I include myself, used many derogatory terms in reference to these immigrants..... words like Honkie (what idiot thought that one up?), Kraut (Germans introduced us to October Fest and sauerkraut) Nips (Japanese introduced us to the world of affordable quality electronic products), Wop ( the Italians introduced us to the world of masonry), Pork Chop (another stupid slight used for the Portuguese).
We Canadian's were quick to insult and attack these new immigrants back in the 1900's. These people came here, and yes many assimilated into our lifestyle, but our unwillingness to accept them meant they formed their own communities. They built their own churches. Today we ANGLO- and FRANCO-Canadians take pride in naming their communities Chinatown, Little Italy, Little Portugal and the list goes on and on...
Oh yes! Let's not forget that our government turned a shipload of Jewish immigrants away who where fleeing the Nazi's.
Today Brampton is referred to as Bramladesh while Scarborough is nicknamed Scarberia .... we have not evolved.
These 1900's new Canadians lived in squalor. Relegated to low cost homes below the tracks. Today they own those homes and rent them out to new Canadians while they have purchased large plots of land in upscale areas...
Ahhhh the "Canadian dream"... and today they belong to the Polish Club, Italian Club, Croation Club, German Club and so on and so on...... even Quebecers refer to themselves as French-Canadian... a distinction they are proud of and indentifies them as different from the rest of Canada.
To today's new Canadian, I understand your need to adhere to religious beliefs. But keep them within your own circle and, if they are cultural icons rather than religious, then do not try to impose them on Canadians.
Please, tell me if I am wrong when I ask you.... how would my religious beliefs and customs be accepted in your homeland?
We both know the answer.... "They are not" ...but then it is a redundant question since the land you left is not open to free thinkers .... people emigrate FROM them, rather than TO them....
Congratulations to our fellow Canadians in Quebec who had the courage and conviction to exhibit their common sense in officially banning the hijab for certain transactions where identity is mandatory.... It's a start. It's a privilege to be allowed to immigrate and to live in this country..... not a right. When this hit the e-news a few weeks ago, there was overwhelming support by the readers who AGREED withQuebec 's action. The letter below says it all... keep it going.
A Letter to the Editor (excellent letter)
So many letter writers have explained how this land is made up of immigrants. Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people why today's Canadian is not willing to accept the new kind of immigrant any longer.
Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to Canada , people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line inHalifax and be documented. Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning English a primary rule in their new Canadian households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home. They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children a new and better life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture.
Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labour laws to protect them. All they had were the skills, craftsmanship and desire they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity.
Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out. Canadians fought along side men whose parents had come straight over fromGermany, Italy, France,Japan, China,Czechoslovakia, Russia,Sweden, Poland and so many other places. None of these first generation Canadians ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Canadians fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan . They were defending the Freedom as one people. When we liberated France , no one in those villages was looking for the Ukrainian-Canadian or the German-Canadian or the Irish-Canadian. The people of France saw only Canadians.
And we carried one flag that represented our country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be a Canadian. They stirred the melting pot into one red and white bowl.
And here we are in 2011 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges, only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules -- one that includes a Canadian passport and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not what being a Canadian is all about. Canadians have been very open-hearted and open-minded regarding immigrants, whether they were fleeing poverty, dictatorship, persecution, or whatever else makes us think of those aforementioned immigrants who truly did ADOPT our country, and our flag and our morals and our customs, and left their wars, hatred, and divisions behind. I believe that the immigrants who landed in Canada in the early 1900s deserve better than that for the toil, hard work and sacrifice those legally searching for a better life. I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags, fighting foreign battles on our soil, making Canadians change to suit their religions and cultures, and wanting to change our countries fabric by claiming discrimination when we do not give in to their demands.
Its about time we get real and stand up for our forefathers rights, we are CANADIAN Lest we forget it I am a Native of this Country & proud of it!
And for the record Canada DID NOT have a flag until 1965. During WWII and throughout my school years we flew the Union Jack or the Canadian Red Ensign which had been approved for use by an order of parliament in 1945.
Union Jack
Canadian Red Ensign
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