About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Monday, December 27, 2010

X is for Xenophobia

There was an intriguing article in our local Vancouver Sun on December 26th written by Ethan Baron. It is entitled "Xenophobes beware, more immigrants are coming!" Well, I had no idea what a "xenophobe" was so I just had to continue reading.

Xenophobia: an unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange. (from Wikipedia)

Gee, if you're a xenophobe, I suggest you would be more comfortable NOT living in Canada right now. That is, unless you'd like to move to the BC Stikine region, which according to the 2008/09 Stats Canada report, had only one foreign invader. Or you could move to the Central Coast, which had only three. However, be prepared to live amongst the First Nations who make up the majority of the population in those two areas. Hmm...

Baron's article is really tongue-in-cheek and goes on to describe how many of which races and cultures have immigrated to Canada since 1997, and particularly in 2009. I especially enjoyed the last part of his opinion piece:

I know, I know, you racist and xenophobes have it tough, sitting powerless while these different-looking, funny-talking foreigners pour into B.C. by the tens of thousands every year.
But take comfort, you have a champion in Ottawa! Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government on Thursday announced they're cutting $53 million from a $393-million annual budget for helping immigrants integrate into Canadian society and the economy.
That'll teach 'em.

Right! Now Canada will become not only a bilingual country in which French is spoken in only 2 of the 10 provinces and 3 territories but also a country in which neighbours can't communicate with each other because of simple language barriers. I wonder how that will help our society and economy. Thanks Mr. Harper. But more importantly, thanks Mr. Pierre Trudeau, who turned Canada into a multi-cultural country and then before he died said, "Oops!"

11 comments:

Kay L. Davies said...

Oh, Leslie, don't even GET me on the subject of the present government in Ottawa. Talk about xenophobes. Oops, to quote the late great Pierre.
But I'll stop, and I'll wish you the very best for the coming year.
-- K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

mrsnesbitt said...

I wonder how many people read this today leslie and identify in some way with it? My great grandad was german and came here to England when Hitler was kicking off. He was an honest man, a clockmaker - he had the windows of his shop broken and had to move on with his family. He came to England for a better life and worked for his family.How many of us move countries for a better future for our families?That is my humble opinion.
Thanks so much
Denise
ABC Team

Roger Owen Green said...

Leslie- You didn't know the word xenophobia? I'm SO disappointed. Maybe 'cause it's the word I used LAST round! Ah, well. A good take, regardless!

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

photowannabe said...

Well written post Leslie. Its sad how "we" can think we are perfect and everyone else is different.
I posted that word today too. Thanks for the thought provoking post.

Sylvia K said...

Great post for the X Day, Leslie! And, yes, like the others, don't get me started on the subject! But I do wish you a very Happy New Year and a great year ahead!

Sylvia

Gigi Ann said...

My Great-great-grandparents came from Germany. However, all these years later I am an American. My husband's Great-great-great- grandparents came from Sweden. But, he too is an American. Now something to think about: If it weren't for our Grandparents moving to America, we never would have met. hee, hee.

One of the words I used today was Xenophobic, also.

Rune Eide said...

An interesting take on the subject. When I visited Vancouver some years ago, I accidentally bought some souvenirs from a lady that proved to be Norwegian, from my home town and who knew one of my colleagues back home very well ...

Wanda said...

You did an excellent job on this post that touches a lot of emotions.

Jay at The Depp Effect said...

I think the problem is that when immigration in large numbers is forced upon an unwilling population, it causes xenophobia!

We have enormous problems here because of unchecked immigration (thanks partly to the European Union) for decades and insufficient resources - or even simple space, since we are a very small island. Over the years I have observed more and more intolerance in my countrymen, and also between groups of different ethnic origins, both of whom have migrated here. We have official notices translated into so many different languages now that hardly anyone can read anything anymore! LOL!

Tumblewords: said...

Sure a hot topic in the US. There are people who refuse to like anyone. :) Timely post. Happy New Year!

nancygrayce said...

All I want to say is

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!