Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard greets a newly-arrived Syrian refugees at Montreal’s Pierre Elliot Trudeau international airport, on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Syrian Refugees: Special Treatment
Not all refugees arriving in Canada have received the same welcome as the Syrians refugees who arrived beginning on Friday. If I could roll back history, newcomers would be spared lining up to receive their Social Insurance Number (called SIN) and their Health Insurance card. These are essential documents, but usually they are not readily available. One has to stand in line.
Our first group of Syrian refugees have been treated like VIPs (Very Important Persons). But all immigrants to Canada are very important persons. However, at the moment, there are individuals who would close the door to their country on Muslims as if all Muslims were terrorists.
Supplying official documents
I’m not involved personally in the welcoming process, but it would be my opinion that while welcoming refugees, Canada must be prudent, which is necessary. Civil servants (employees of the government), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have been working long hours. They therefore know who has arrived. Canada cannot presume that its refugees are dangerous, but it has to make sure its refugees and immigrants are peace-loving and law-abiding individuals. Four weeks ago, Paris was attacked.
Moreover, Canada must reassure its Muslim community. Many Muslins have been in Canada for a long time and are excellent citizens. They are above suspicion. Given such facts, we cannot and should not close our doors on Syrian refugees, but we have to be reasonably careful. That is the normal procedure.
Details
I should point out that many refugees are privately-sponsored. In this respect, Canada’s Armenian community has been very generous and have inspired other Canadians. Moreover, we have a younger government. Our recently-elected Prime Minister has a great deal of energy and he is making Canadians feel optimistic. Our refugees are arriving during a period of enthusiasm. I believe those who were greeted by Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard were addressed in Arabic. Dr Couillard spent four years in Saudi Arabia. He may not be fluent anymore but he knows Arabic.
Besides, there is a peace-making tradition dating back to Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, if not earlier. We are also a multicultural society living in a harsh climate. Margaret Atwood wrote a lovely book of poems, the Journals of Susanna Moodie (1970), in which she describes the bitter disappointment of immigrants recruited in Britain. They were told that they would be part of the upper classes in their new country, but found themselves walking in the mud.
Political cartoon from the 1880s: “In forty years I have lost, through the operation of no natural law, more than Three Million of my Sons and Daughters, and they, the Young and the Strong, leaving behind the Old and Infirm to weep and to die. Where is this to end?
My father’s great-grandmother came to Canada during the potato famine that devastated Ireland in the late 19th century. Many of Canada’s Irish immigrants arrived in Montreal. They were suffering from various contagious diseases but were nevertheless allowed off the boats and treated. They needed care and the population of Montreal rose to the challenge. These immigrants have become good Canadians.
Stop selling weapons to terrorists
To return to our Syrian refugees, another factor should be examined. Who is selling weapons to warring factions in the Middle East? The people who attacked Paris used Kalashnikovs. Where did they get these weapons and the bullets that killed 130 innocent people? Extremists are not easily discouraged. Selling weapons to any of them does not seem judicious. On the contrary, it seems somewhat reckless.
I realize that the War Industry is particularly lucrative. It transforms the rich into billionaires, but nations that make weapons and sell them to terrorist organizations may be complicit in genocides and may force a large number of people to leave their country. Is this an acceptable way of making a profit?
Ted Cruz on Guns
Presidential hopeful Ted Cruz says Americans need their guns.
“ Ted Cruz offered an impassioned defense of gun rights in the wake of the San Bernardino terrorist attack on Friday, telling a crowd at an Iowa gun range, you don’t stop bad guys by taking away our guns, you stop bad guys by using our guns.” (my bold characters)
(Ted Cruz)
“The Second Amendment is about something very fundamental” Cruz said. “It’s about the God-given right of every single one of us to protect our home, our families and our lives.” (my bold characters)
(Ted Cruz)
The 2nd amendment, quoted below, fell into obsolescence when militias were formed.
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
One cannot shoot if one does not have a gun. There is a sense in which the National Rifle Association played a role in the San Bernardino massacre.
Who is selling weapons to Isis and Syrian rebels?
There can be no doubt that big nations are empowering Isis. So, “[w]here is this to end?” (See the image above.)
It begins with an attack; it is followed by a counter-attack (retaliation) and it may continue indefinitely, if weapons are available.
With kindest regards to everyone. ♥
See: Disasters of War
Francisco Goya
Goyescas: Intermezzo
© Micheline Walker
14 December 2015
revised: 15 December 2015
WordPress
My grandmother was from Vancouver Island. She was born there just before it became part of Canada. My father was posted to Canada while serving in RAF during WW2, so I have always had an interest in the country and its history.
I am so pleased it is returning to its much more liberal roots with the election of Justin Trudeau and feel a certain amount of pride though my family connections, despite the fact I have never visited. I hope that I will be able to visit at some point.
The way Canada is welcoming Syrian refugees should serve as an example to the entire Western world, but I’m afraid it won’t.
Well done Canada, you deserve our respect.
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Thank you Bryan. I hope we keep Canada ‘good.’ Two planes filled with refugees arrive in Canada every day this week.:-)
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Well said, Micheline
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There is money to be made from wars. There are nations supporting Isis. It would not otherwise survive. It’s very sad and it has to stop. Cheers
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Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
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I thank you for reblogging my post. If there is money to be made, people can’t resist the temptation. Who is behind Isil making money at a cost that is totally unacceptable. Best wishes.
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I agree with you that governments and the big crony corporate leaders who own said governments have made billions of dollars creating wars either from sheer stupidity or greed. I respectfully disagree with your take on the 2nd Amendment. The founding fathers of the US were very much aware of the problem of dictatorship. As we have seen in many parts of the world disarming citizens gives corrupt and evil governments an alarming amount of power to commit genocide. Legal gun ownership is hardly responsible for terrorism or gang violence. In US states where gun ownership is high, the incidence of violent crime are much, much lower. Sadly crime stats are very clear that the cities where gun control is strongest are also the cities where violent crime rates are highest.
But talking about Ted Cruz and terrorism is talking apples and oranges. One is about protecting a citizens right to defend himself (if only someone had taken out the Paris terrorists) and one is about the cause of unrest and terrorism. The average American who lawfully owns a gun is not the enemy. A US government run amok and destabilizing the world through covert arms and drug deals is by far a more serious and disgusting problem. To know that US and European politicians armed ISIS to behead Christians is beyond disturbing. While I feel for the refugees I also understand that throughout history and in most countries today national sovereignty is an important thing. Americans respond to Trump’s rhetoric because they see lawlessness on the borders and governments all over the world stoking the flames of this lawlessness. I think we should have compassion for all the people living in fear because our governments have gone MAD.
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Thank you Adrienne, your comments are precious. I will reread your comments on the 2nd amendment. I can be very wrong, so there has to be a dialogue. Individuals and countries are two different entities. I was thinking of the genocide of North American Indians and the killing of siblings by gun. The police is killing civilians who kill the police. The police knows that civilians carry weapons. They are afraid. The death toll is enormous.
That too leads to lawlessness. They live in a troubled society. Who’s who?
Here in Canada, we have gun control legislation. Sharpshooting is a hobby. But the people walking the streets of our cities do not bear arms.
I would like to know who is providing weapons to Isil. For that matter, I would like to know who is providing them with all their supplies. I believe they are being helped. If there is a dollar to me made, that is motivation. It seems that money rules everywhere.
I hope you are well and getting ready for Christmas and the New Year. Thank you for writing.
Micheline
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I’m certainly not perfect in my understanding of the world either, but I did read an interesting book on American guns. More Guns, Less Crime by John Lott.
Statistics can be very misleading. In the US most violent crimes happen in pockets of impoverished cities where the guns are for the most part gotten illegally. Black on black crime is a huge under-addressed problem here, sadly. I think the powers that be love keeping us all fighting among ourselves while they rape and pillage.
The glamorization of gun culture in our media is just the latest in a long history of young men needing to prove their manhood through violence. Even the Native American boys attained manhood through being warriors (they also loved European weaponry when they could get it). The world is too complex for me!
I would argue that the destruction of the family in America is more responsible for gun violence than actual guns.
I see the destruction of the primitive Native American culture as just one of many in the long history of humanity. What’s not often discussed is that many, many Indians assimilated by their own choice into the more modern culture. I asked a Sioux friend of mine about this recently. He works in the lucrative technology field and would never want to go back to his primitive roots.
Micheline, I bet if we met we could peacefully discuss these topics for hours. I get the sense that you are a kindred spirit in many ways. 🙂
I think we both know who funds ISIS (it’s not a pretty picture, is it?) But what can we do? I wish I knew.
Many blessings to you, my friend. And merry Christmas!
Adrienne
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Anyone who wants peace is a kindred spirit. So we are kindred spirits and yes I believe I know who is providing weapons and supplies to ISIS. It’s an ugly picture. Amerindians were called warriors because they fought other tribes who were depriving them of land. It’s another terrible story.
I’ll be thinking of you during the holidays. You are a friend.
Merry Christmas,
Micheline
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A very nice post. Well done Canada, nice to see there are governements that still have reason and compassion.
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I am impressed with what our new government is doing. After years of inertia, we are doing something to makes this world a better place. We are reaching out to those whom life has betrayed. We are remembering our vocation. Thank you bobobrussels
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The only way to prevent these human tragedies is to stop selling weapons!!!
Once and forever…
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Claudine,
You are absolutely right. I appreciate your encouragement. Your comments led to my writing this post. I thank you making suggestions. Best regards.
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