{"id":461,"date":"2019-10-13T00:48:32","date_gmt":"2019-10-13T03:48:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/?p=461"},"modified":"2019-10-13T08:22:13","modified_gmt":"2019-10-13T11:22:13","slug":"canadian-collective-self-flagellation-never-ending-virtue-signalling-or-genuine-masochism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/2019\/10\/13\/canadian-collective-self-flagellation-never-ending-virtue-signalling-or-genuine-masochism\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadian collective self-flagellation: Never ending virtue signalling or genuine masochism?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the\narticle below (with videos) \u201cCanada is ‘awash in systemic racism,’ says\nGreen Leader Elizabeth May<\/em>\u201d, the CBC journalist (Mr. David Thurston) asks Ms.\nMay & Mr. Singh the following questions: Are we racists, as a country? In\nother terms, do we have systemic racism?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/elizabeth-may-green-party-racism-1.5318023<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both Ms. May & Mr. Singh replied: yes, we are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms. May\ntalked about her \u201cwhite privilege\u201d and how \u201cCanada is awash in systemic racism\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for Mr. Singh,\nhe talked about how our Government is racist (i.e., mainly toward First Nations\ndue to water issues and cut in funding, etc.). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the crying\nissues pointed at, it is a bit ironic how both politicians replied yes to the\nquestion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, May,\nwho has American origins, is the leader of a growing national political party. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Singh, who wears\na turban, is the leader of yet another respectable national political party. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bambi feels\nlike sarcastically saying: How racist Canada is. YAK ?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps Bambi\nshould invite them both, at the end of their campaign, on a vacation trip to\nthe Middle East. Upon their return from their touring trip, we will ask them if\nthey still think if Canada \u201cis awash with systemic racism\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Bambi\u2019s opinion as an old immigrant who lived in three different provinces, in their over-zealous virtue signalling or genuine guilt feeling, Canadians of today tend to forget the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Immigrants\nalso have a responsibility\/duty in their adjustment to a country, not just the host\nsociety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As\nCanadians, we tend to over-question ourselves and our values (because we are\neager to welcome and accommodate newcomers; in and by itself, this tells us how\nmuch Canadians are NOT racist).   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stated differently,\nimmigrants are supposed to play an ACTIVE role in their OWN adaptation to\nsociety. They also should take responsibility of their actions or cognitive\nprocesses in order to integrate into the new society. They are not babies\ncompletely dependent on their parents. So, let\u2019s not treat them as such.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For\ninstance, they must learn to let go of cultural or societal traditions that are\nsometimes incompatible with our Canadian ways of living. In some cases, some new\nCanadians may have to learn to be tolerant like their adoptive country, leaving\nbehind hate or racism toward certain groups (e.g., LGBTQ or people of other\nfaith, etc.). In yet more extreme cases, they have to say good-bye to shocking cultural\nhabits like female incisions, forced marriage, and\u2026 honour killing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be done by embracing the Canadian beautiful values of freedom, tolerance, equality of men and women, equality of all under the law, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Similarly,\ndespite the tragic abusive past \u2639, Indigenous\nCanadians also must take charge of their own lives (decisions, choices, etc.). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not everything\nis the fault of the *racist* \u201cprivileged white man\u201d.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, why\nare we now so obsessed with the colour of our skins? Since when? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bambi does\nnot recall having observed such an obsession in her first 20 years in Canada. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related to\nthis, she does not know the colour of her own skin, mind you. In those national\nsurveys on diversity and inclusion or whatever they are called, she skips those\nquestions ?.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In research surveys, she often does not know in which box to put a tick: Caucasian? Other? Sometimes, there is a long list where she could click on Mediterranean or Middle-Eastern or whatever else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To come back\nto the First Nations, to use the words of Mr. Blanchet, \u201cno Nation should put its\nfate in the hands of another one\u201d. First Nations and Inuit can avoid doing this\nwhilst being proud Canadians. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loving our\ncountry (= being proud of whom we are collectively) is what would unite us all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bambi will\nalso add that perhaps it can sometimes help not to put our fate too much into the\nhands of some of our own leaders. Bambi sees a similarity with Lebanon where some\ncommunity\/political leaders can become entitled or corrupt (while others may be\ndecent).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank goodness\nCanada has been engaged in a process of mutual human discovery and healing. May\npeace prevails in everyone\u2019s hearts\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

May decent\nshelters, clean water, and better psychosocial and economic conditions become\nthe norm from now on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

May all\nCanada\u2019s children live in dignity and achieve their full potential! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

May citizens\ntake the right decisions for themselves, find and be able to keep jobs, whether\nthey live on reserves or outside, in metropoles or smaller towns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of the outcomes on October 21st<\/sup>, Bambi hopes that Canadians will stop this weird habit of collective self-flagellation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why don\u2019t we\nbegin to learn to jointly reconnect with our pride as a nation for a change? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This reconnection could take place whilst working on concrete solutions to the critical issues raised by Mr. Singh. It can also co-occur with all our efforts of remembering the tragic past in order to avoid repeating it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All this can\nbe part of the healing process of mutual and self-forgiveness as well as a renewed\nunified Canadian pride. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This\nlearning process will likely be more inspiring than self-flagellation for all\nof us: First Nations, older Canadians, newcomers, and all those dreaming of immigrating\nto our beautiful Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To conclude, here is a song tribute to Canada from the heart of Lebanon by Fairouz. It is called \u201cmy little house in Canada\u201d (Bambi\u2019s dad shared it with her recently).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n