We Are Home
Posted on: November 19, 2015
- In: Everyday Life | Faith | Social Justice
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Today I heard on the radio that a local woman (who happens to be Muslim) received a hateful letter in her mailbox that said Canada was no place for immigrants and told her to “go home.”
I’d like to point out just how mistaken that writer is.
I’m not an immigrant myself, just the daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter of immigrants. My husband is the grandson of immigrants. Some of my friends are immigrants; others are first- or second-generation Canadians. If we looked back far enough—not all that far, in many cases—most of us in the Americas are either immigrants or the descendants of immigrants.
Clearly, Canada is a place for immigrants, whether they come to join family already in the country, to pursue a better life, to support family members in their country of origin, or to flee persecution of whatever kind as refugees.
As for going “home,” whether people were born here or chose to make a new life here, this is their home. That’s why our national anthem talks about “our home and native land.”
I’m saddened but not surprised to conclude that the letter writer, upset by the attacks in Paris or perhaps by the plan to bring 25 000 Syrian refugees to Canada, meant that those who were not white and Christian were not welcome in this city, in this country. I can’t disagree strongly enough. No one can point to a person and say that he or she “looks Canadian” or “acts like a Canadian.” Canadians come in a wide range of skin tones, ethnicities and faiths.
If the writer happens to believe that immigrants have nothing to offer our society, again, I beg to differ. A quick look at the surnames on the staff list of any school, university, law firm, medical practice, hospital, or construction company or the new federal government cabinet would support my opinion. From small businesses to major corporations to non-profit organizations, immigrants contribute to our society and help our economy grow.
Canada is a country known for its diversity and its tolerance. I pray that the ignorance and intolerance displayed by this letter writer and by those who recently attacked Muslim and Hindu places of worship would be pushed aside by Canadians’ offers of help and support for the refugees set to arrive here before the end of the year and for the other immigrants who choose to settle here, for we are all children of God.
A Catholic Convert in Ottawa 