An Excellent Letter...I got this in an email...

[aviator57]

"Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out.
Canadians fought along side men whose parents had come straight over from
Germany , Italy, France, Japan , 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."

I am wondering where all Canadians came from !? I suppose they came from all Europe countries an Asia countries!

 

[mmouse]

I found the exact same letter on craigslist, even including the "letter to editor" bit - which editor huh? I think some right wing organization like white power releases these now again with the hope they'll become viral.

It's reassuring that most people can see through this shite.

 

[tboy]

Again, I'm just citing Dreamblade as an example and I'm glad he didn't take offence because none is intended.

This statement "All I can tell you is I am a proud Canadian, but also a proud Pole." sums it up: "but I am also..." I don't see how one could be both. For eg: if Canada declared war on poland, who would you fight for?

Yes, I agree it is good to know and remember where you came from but also to remember why you are here. What bugged me to no end about a Portugese Father of one of my childhood friends was the way he spoke that Portugal was so much better than Canada, so much this, so much that, how wonderful it was there, etc. I simply looked him straight in the eye and said: I saw pictures of the house you lived in, it had a dirt floor. I also saw pictures of how the kids were dressed, and I tell you, you have a HELL of a lot better life here than you ever would there. If it's so great go the FUCK back.....

To me, sayng you're Portugese first is a slap in the face to Canada. Saying you're both Canadian and XXXX is like being married but having a little something something on the side. (I disagree with that too lol).

 

[toriamn]

That letter is just racism masked with half-truths, and things our entire culture regardless of religion deems unimportant.

 

[Never Compromised]

Unfortunately, the only point of the letter is to incite hatred.

IMHO the mods should delete this thread.

 

[aviator57]

Unfortunately, the only point of the letter is to incite hatred.

IMHO the mods should delete this thread.

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU! MODS PLEASE DELETE THIS THREAD!

 

[kkelso]

Nice to see the must vaunted Canadian spirit of tolerance and free speech alive and well...

 

[tboy]

Unfortunately, the only point of the letter is to incite hatred.

IMHO the mods should delete this thread.

BS, there's a lot to be learned by that letter. There are some strong valid points in it in regards to how everyone should embrace the melting pot we call our society and try to get along with everyone else and points out there are many who don't do that and just bring the same shit from back home, with them here.

The only bad thing about deleting this thread is to halt open and honest discussion of topics such as this. As stated, we have freedom of speech here and thankfully terb allows us to practice that freedom.

 

[landscaper]

0k someone posts a letter that does infact have some points that should be discussed. The poster and the author of the letter( who ever that is) are imediatly labeled rascists and the discussion sshould be stopped by big brother and hidden from view.

Now just curious what exactly does that say about the posters .


The fact of the matter is

Yes the chinese were charged a head tax to emmigrate , that was the system for most countries back then .

Yes Japanese Canadians did in fact have properties confiscated and were placed in camps for the duration of WW2, everybody was doing it for " security reasons". Were there security issues yes was the system used the right one , today no it was not 65 years ago it seemed to be.

The large numbers of post second world war immigrants from western europe were for the most part skilled craftsmen who wanted nothing more than to ply their trade in a place where they could wwork and raise a family. Work they did and raise families they did. Did some of them change their names to integrate yes, did some of them have theior names changed at halifax because the immigration official could not spell it and put down something that sounded close yes. That wave if immigrants built the country from the roads and streets to the houses that our parents lived in.

The current group of immigrants /refugee claiments are basically unskilled and to a large degree illiterate in either of the official languages. Is that a problem yes it is , is it fixable absolutly, we need immigration because our workforce is basically dieing off, there is a concept that of I am to good to do that type of job. Somebody needs to do that type of job, anybody who is willing to work is welcome I have had people working for me who spoke no english we got by somehow because they wanted to and I was willing to try and help them along for purely selfish reasons, I had a labourer, yes after time most of them moved on, two are competitors now more power to them. The immigrant who lands on shore says refugee give me my medical and dental plans can please stay away, similarly if you just want the passport as a safety net incause the dictator where you really live gets fiesty and you need a ride out of a bad place please go away.

Here endeth the rant

 

[Hurricane Hank]

Touchy subject, but I'm with tboy on a lot of points here. I can't stand when immigrants tell me how much better they had it back in whereverland. Go the fuck home. It's cheaper for us if you do. Whenever I call people out like this, they are mortified. Good.
Our immigration laws, and the ease with which one can enter this country is a joke. How many times do we hear about people being deported for violent crimes, only to return and continue the cycle?
On the other hand I admire the fact that we have diversity. Just don't jam it down my throat. I enjoy learning about different cultures. It's educational. What I don't understand is how we bend over for sooooo many different cultures. For example: I had an ex girlfriend who worked at a casino. She HAD to work Christmas day, unless it was her regular day off. She had an Indian friend (Punjabi I believe) who was allowed to take(pardon my spelling) Dwali (festival of lights?) off for religous reasons. The government run casino allowed you religious days off, but not Christmas. That's messed up.
Flame away.

 

[tboy]

HH: Fesitval of lights, isn't that where they shine those big coloured spotlights on the falls? lol......

Gilligan: I saw a very good documentary of the japanese internment camps and the way they were treated during and after WWII and the main reason (as per interviews with the policy makers at the time) was that the reason the japanese were singled out was the way in which they dragged the US into the war. They attacked unprovoked and without any formal declaration of war. This equates to a sucker punch.

That doesn't make it right, but that was the reason purported as to why.

This doc also detailed the exploits of a japanese guy who enlisted and fought to be taken. He was highly decorated, wounded many times, was promoted, and served with honor. When asked he said "I am american and wanted to defend my country".......which IS my point I'm trying to make.....

 

[mmmburritos]

Not such an excellent letter....

The letter in the OP makes me shake my head. Canada is, as the anthem states "Glorious and Free". Which by my estimation means that everyone can live how they choose and honour whatever traditions and beliefs they choose, as long as they do it peacefully and respect other people's wish to do the same.

I have witnessed over the last few years that there is a large amount of intolerance by members of our so called society towards people from cultures other than our own and it makes me sick. The reality is that the vast majority of the people on this planet are good decent people who share the same values of family, peace, and fairness. Now, some of these people come from horrible places where these ideals are very difficult to achieve and that the reality of their lives prior to coming to Canada is often something most of us will have difficulty understanding. Integrating into Canadian society (society does not mean culture) is difficult for some. You try coming from a place where survival is the only rule (i.e. Somalia) and make a go of it here.

Typically, every generation has it's "immigrant problem" in my parent's day it was people coming from Europe. It took a generation or two but now the children of these immigrants identify themselves as Canadians and the people who like to talk about this kind "we were here first" crap don't even recognize them as immigrants anymore, how many times to you hear people complaining about those Italians, or the Polish ruining Canada?

With that said, are there bad people of all races, cultures, and religious... oh yeah there are. But where they came from and what god they serve (even though some of them will attempt to use their religion as the reason for their hate) has nothing to do with the person you are, or can become.

This "Excellent Letter" in the original post is nothing but racist crap and does not belong in our society. It only serves to inflame hatred and does so by pushing historical references that are merely perversions of reality. If you're looking for someone to blame for all of life's problems stop blaming cultures and start blaming individuals.

 

[mmmburritos]

For example: I had an ex girlfriend who worked at a casino. She HAD to work Christmas day, unless it was her regular day off. She had an Indian friend (Punjabi I believe) who was allowed to take(pardon my spelling) Dwali (festival of lights?) off for religous reasons. The government run casino allowed you religious days off, but not Christmas. That's messed up.
Flame away.

She had to work Christmas day because the place is busy... Full of all us Christians who have the day off. It's not messed up, it's business. The casino is not busy on Dwali and only a handful of people are going to want it off. Now if they let everyone who wanted to take Christmas off, then they'd have to close. Which means no money for the casino.....

 

[Rylan]

Could we just accept the fact that Canada has became a "Utopia" where different races and cultures unite and live together in harmony? Does it matter that we aren't how US beer companies portray Canadian to be?

It is not so much having issue with the "utopia" of different races and cultures as it is some races and cultures are not really mixing. More like taking over. That is where a line needs to be drawn.

Bring you religions, races, cultures, ideals, etc. Bring them and blend them, but don't bring them and say this is it, Canada can take a back step and give me my "right" to "my" {Insert religious or cultural need/want here}.

The X-mas tree is a great example. It is something that has been apart of our lives as Canadians for years. Why should we have to remove it from our stores etc. Why should we change Merry Christmas to Happy Holidays? How is it so offense? And compare that to what you fled from? I mean can we say people are just getting a little picky now?

 

[aviator57]

BS, there's a lot to be learned by that letter. There are some strong valid points in it in regards to how everyone should embrace the melting pot we call our society and try to get along with everyone else and points out there are many who don't do that and just bring the same shit from back home, with them here.

The only bad thing about deleting this thread is to halt open and honest discussion of topics such as this. As stated, we have freedom of speech here and thankfully terb allows us to practice that freedom.

"Freedom of speech..." About what? About the fact all of us are immigrants (except the native Indians)? Let's talk about grand-grand-grand-grand parents - where came from?

 

[landscaper]

Current immigrants are incredibly highly skilled, in historical perspective. Many in the post-war wave (and earlier) have failed to pass the points test due to lack of skills and schooling. Let's at least get the basic economic sociology straight.

There is indeed a difference between anarchitect , dentist or surgeon who emmigrates to get a better life and follow their proffession.

Most people who emmigrated in the post war period were in fact representative of the schooling and literacy of the period. As far as skills go properly using a shovel or a pick is indeed a skill, the worl needs ditch diggers as much now as ever. The brick layers, machinists , mechanics all the skilled trades. These were the people who emmigrated from western europe and basically built the country. A large part of the current wave of emmigrants have no marketable skills can not be bothered to learn either of the languages and require that the taxpayers provide for them, those are the emmigrants that we are better off without. If someone who has no skills and flees Somalia( example only) and gets here, goes through processing and gets a refugee o work permit. If the first thing that happens is he finds work and gets going on earning a liveing and starting a life here ...exceptional I have work for him/her. If that person imediatly starts collecting welfare and demands their entitlements I would rather entitle them back onto a plane.

 

[Never Compromised]

The current group of immigrants /refugee claiments are basically unskilled and to a large degree illiterate in either of the official languages.

Here endeth the rant

There is a huge difference between immigrants and refugee's. By and large immigrants are highly skilled and educated. I guess you have forgotten that the reason that parts of the GTA have a large population of immigrants from Hong Kong is that the Canadian government let in many that wanted to move their money away from the communists. But they had to bring their money with them and set up a business.

My problem with the letter is that it is factually incorrect and is being used to promote hatred.

 

[aviator57]

There is a huge difference between immigrants and refugee's. By and large immigrants are highly skilled and educated. I guess you have forgotten that the reason that parts of the GTA have a large population of immigrants from Hong Kong is that the Canadian government let in many that wanted to move their money away from the communists. But they had to bring their money with them and set up a business.

My problem with the letter is that it is factually incorrect and is being used to promote hatred.

THIS IS FOR MODERATOR!

 

[tboy]

"Freedom of speech..." About what? About the fact all of us are immigrants (except the native Indians)? Let's talk about grand-grand-grand-grand parents - where came from?

Freedom of speech to discuss whatever we want to in a polite and respectful manner. Considering the other threads on this topic this one has been extremely polite.....

 

[dreamblade]

Again, I'm just citing Dreamblade as an example and I'm glad he didn't take offence because none is intended.

This statement "All I can tell you is I am a proud Canadian, but also a proud Pole." sums it up: "but I am also..." I don't see how one could be both. For eg: if Canada declared war on poland, who would you fight for?

Yes, I agree it is good to know and remember where you came from but also to remember why you are here. What bugged me to no end about a Portugese Father of one of my childhood friends was the way he spoke that Portugal was so much better than Canada, so much this, so much that, how wonderful it was there, etc. I simply looked him straight in the eye and said: I saw pictures of the house you lived in, it had a dirt floor. I also saw pictures of how the kids were dressed, and I tell you, you have a HELL of a lot better life here than you ever would there. If it's so great go the FUCK back.....

To me, sayng you're Portugese first is a slap in the face to Canada. Saying you're both Canadian and XXXX is like being married but having a little something something on the side. (I disagree with that too lol).

I don't take offense because you're arguing coherently from your POV. You have a different outlook, but it's respectable, even if I don't completely agree with it.

My loyalties are pretty clear. If Canada and Poland went to war, I'd side with Canada most likely. Although knowing myself, I'd look at who's side is the unjust one. Were I German in '39, I'd have sided with the Allies.

With your friend's Portuguese father, I've dealt with the same within my own community. I told them the same thing you did.

BTW, I also believe in ethical non-monogamy as a sustainable form of relationship, so I have no problem loving both Countries