Over the weekend, I listened to an acquaintance in Squamish as he shared his views on Canada, refugees and immigration. He’s the type of guy who tends to “like” things on Facebook that say “Wouldn’t you rather your government spend more money on homeless Canadian veterans, than on refugees?”
Of course, at a superficial level, that seems to make some sort of sense, until you understand that these viral memes are completely false, and although my acquaintance would not consider himself a bigot, or racist in any way, his views represent some dangerous and generalized thinking. It says that one type or class of people is better, or deserves more than another.
It also shows a distinct ignorance of where many refugees are coming from, and trying to escape. Syrian refugees, for example, are fleeing a war-torn hell where food, water and safety are scarce, and most towns have been reduced to rubble and smoking ruins. Yet, this acquaintance has said things such as “They should go back where they come from,” as he explained what he thinks should happen to refugees who don’t exhibit the correct “Canadian values.” To him, Canadian values include not being Muslim, or speaking a language other than English… or being different than white Canadians in any way.
But he says he’s not bigoted or racist in any way.
He is also upset that so many refugees and immigrants are fleeing the United States in fear and crossing the border illegally into Canada for safety. I told him it was because we have a long history of being a safe haven for the persecuted. Remember, slaves in the U.S. escaped to Canada for freedom way back when.
I bring all this up, because over the weekend I also watched neo-Nazis and white supremacists across the border blatantly and proudly displaying their ignorance, hatred and anger. Thanks in part to President Trump’s racist rhetoric and polarizing election campaign, these vile and repugnant white supremacists have gone from being on the fringe to, decidedly and unapologetically, mainstream.
That’s the reason why more than 70 years after the defeat of Hitler, an American citizen – Heather Heyer – was killed by a Nazi. You know the story by now of the events in Charlottesville.
After all the blood spilled and lives lost in the Second World War, here we are in 2017 still fighting the same battle against bigots. It boggles the mind and darkens the soul.
And, unfortunately, Canada is not immune to what’s happening. White supremacists and bigoted thinking are already here. My acquaintance is a perfect example. And, I know more people who think the same way. But, I won’t permit it anymore, and neither should you.
I called out my friend this weekend, and told him what I thought of his views. And I will continue to do so, because my Canada is open and welcoming. We know and strive to be bette role models for the world.
So, speak up. Protest. Challenge bigoted and racist thinking. Do it for your own sake. Do it for your country’s honour. Do it for Heather Heyer, so her death at the hands of Nazis won’t have been in vain.
