Nobody is born racist, bigoted, sexist or intolerant of other people. It is a behaviour that is learned slowly over time, from parents, peers and the people around you every day.
I grew up in a rural Anglophone community in Quebec. About 99 per cent of the people who lived in my little town were white and Christian, and racist and bigoted jokes and comments were commonplace. It all comes down to humans fearing, demonizing or otherwise not understanding something that is different from them. I’m sure the very first caveman who decided to build a hut instead of living in a dank cave probably had his skull bashed in with a rock for being unlike the other loincloth-wearing Neanderthals.
After I moved to the multicultural big city of Montreal, my small-minded attitudes and stereotypes pretty much disappeared as I got to know a variety of people from different cultures with different beliefs, religions, sexual orientations and attitudes. I quickly learned that you find nice people of every type, and jerks in every group. People are just people, and the more you are exposed to different sorts of folks, the less likely you are to be prejudiced.
So, considering the major multicultural nature of Squamish, I was really upset to hear of the level of racism and intolerance aimed at a Don Ross Middle School student. I wasn’t surprised, though, as my own children (one at Mamquam Elementary and one at Don Ross) have both told me about kids using racist language on the school bus and expressing intolerant attitudes in the hallways.
But with such a vibrant and varied community, where are these kids getting these attitudes and ideas? Why, at home, of course. There may not be overt racism coming from their parents, however maybe they heard off-colour jokes they were not supposed to, or perhaps they’re allowed to watch movies that are over their young heads still… or maybe their parents or guardians do indeed have intolerant attitudes. Maybe it’s from listening to Donald Trump during his election campaign. Who knows? But, the reality is that racism, bigotry and intolerance are on the rise in Canada, or at least becoming (like in the U.S.) more out in the open. And that, dear readers, is not the Canada I cherish. My country is accepting, open and very tolerant. It is a safehaven for those fleeing persecution and war. It is a place where we are all polite and get along. So, let’s nip this in the bud. Listen to what you say in front of your kids and be aware of what they are absorbing on a daily basis.
Let’s work hard to make sure the next generation and all future generations can finally do away with hatred and intolerance.
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