By Glen Turner – Special to the Sydenham Current
I’ve been following the stories about the Syrian refugee crisis.
And, frankly, I’m a little… no, I’m a LOT confused.
I’ve always thought of Canada and the USA as being countries of diversity. Places that welcomed immigrants, and extended aid and assistance to those fleeing to our shores to escape the horrors of war, uprisings and civil war, just to name a few reasons for emigrating.
Lately, though, we’re seeing the usual conservative backlash to new potential Canadian and American citizens.
“We’re just bringing in more terrorists” – “Why can’t we just help our own people?” – and, of course, the Donald Trump type of “ban all Muslims” rhetoric.
I don’t get it.
My family history is one of immigrants (UK), and everyone else here, except for First Nations people, are ALL descendants of immigrants, those who came here for their own reasons, and ADDED to this part of the world, with their eagerness to live, thrive, raise their families and prosper. Most of them HAVE prospered.
Now, though, the backlash is extensive, and in my opinion, quite disappointing. And, it’s been that way for a while.
I knew a Lebanese family here, recent immigrants who bought a business, sent their kids to local schools, HIRED LOCALS to work for and with them.
Then came 9/11.
They then had to endure incredibly harsh and negative treatment from citizens HERE, on many occasions. I actually witnessed, at their business, two local men (both supposed “Christians”) tell them that they didn’t belong here, and telling them that they should “go back where you belong!”
I was astounded.
And, because of the treatment they received at the hands of people here, they finally gave up. They moved back to Lebanon. Our loss, for sure.
As the Dad told me one day – “We’re Lebanese CHRISTIANS, for God’s sake! What more do we have to do to prove ourselves here?” And they’re gone.
Thanks to some very closed minds, including those of our former Conservative government (they cut $53 million from services for medical care to immigrants in 2010 and 2012, later overturned by Judge Anne McTavish), we have become just like Donald Trump’s stand. So incredibly closed-minded.
I’m thinking – if “Most gun owners will be responsible citizens… only a small minority are criminals”. I’m saying “Most immigrants will be responsible citizens… only a small minority are extremists.”
Kudos to our new government for getting us back on track to being a welcoming place.
It’s long overdue.
