Shocking stain of racism in Canada

[Sent to the Globe and Mail but, as usual, not published]

The letter on Syrian refugees by Sarah Johnson represents a shockingly strong stain of racism in Canada. No longer able to nudge-nudge wink-wink about aboriginals, Chinese, Jews or Italians, it is acceptable to assume that all Syrian refugees are ne-er-do-wells, lazy bums, or terrorists. From where does this idea come, when history shows that immigrants usually work hard, strive to educate their children, if not themselves, and quickly become important members of our society? Why can we imply this about muslims and not others? Who will be next?

Even if these people were right, that all refugees will end up in slums in Europe, would it be fair to dump this problem on Europe? Furthermore, now that we can strip citizenship from these second-class citizens (like myself) racists should applaud the options we don’t have with native born children who go off the rails.

Banning the Niqab at Canadian Citizenship Ceremonies

[submitted to the Globe & Mail as a letter, but not published]

If the Niqab was banned at citizenship ceremonies it would punish the supposedly oppressed woman (were the nuns I grew up with all oppressed women without personal agency in their severe costumes?) and not her supposed oppressor, her husband. That would only increase the marginalization of the oppressed, and increase the power of the oppressor. In effect it would reward the oppressor in order to punish the oppressed.

But, heh, I am glad the Conservatives have finally started to care for oppressed female minorities, even in this warped way. If only they had so much concern for the fate of aboriginal women in our society and the barbaric cultural practices, such as residential schools, that helped rip apart the fabric of aboriginal society.