Multiculturalism strikes again...

[Gib]

I know, im intolerant. In fact, I will admit that. Im proud of Canada and our freedoms, culture and traditions, so stories like this piss me off:

Matthew Coutts, National Post
Published: Friday, May 22, 2009

When the landlady of my Toronto apartment building said an outraged neighbour had filed a complaint about me over an apparently inappropriate hallway interaction with his wife, my mind raced through the countless conversations I've had with fellow tenants, none of which seemed a possible source of offence.

It turns out, it wasn't a salacious transaction that had caused the complaint, but rather a neighbourly and -- to me -- entirely forgettable greeting, little more than a brief "good morning" as I passed my neighbours on the way to work.

Still, it was enough of an affront for the man -- once a doctor somewhere in the Middle East, my landlady clarified -- to feel I had broken a cultural taboo. The incident started an awkward feud which has involved warnings not to repeat my indiscretion and one face-to-face shouting match, which included allusions to my impending death.

I expect the battle will wage on, as we appear to be stuck at an impasse.

His Muslim upbringing has ingrained in him a sense of entitlement to demand I not speak directly to his wife; and my prairie upbringing has ingrained in me a duty to strive for polite cohesion with my neighbours.

My landlady, who has handled the complaint with tittering trepidation, hasn't helped dispel the friction. She has told me to adhere to the demands because the man "could be dangerous," directing me to literally turn my back to the couple as they pass, never make eye contact and never hold the elevator for them, no matter what.

Life among neighbours has become increasingly complicated by multiculturalism, in this case making even the most affable salutation or good Samaritan gesture a practice in walking on eggshells. But in trying to adapt to a patchwork of often conflicting cultures, has civility become the casualty of accommodation?

I grew up in Manitoba, where it was an affront to your neighbour not to be cordial. If you didn't greet them by name you could be talked about in hushed voices and risked being labelled standoffish. Community amongst neighbours was not something to consider, it was a way of life. Call it prairie law.

Since moving to Toronto, I have lived in condos where asking your neighbour for the proverbial cup of sugar is greeted by skeptical, confused faces and closed doors.

But the majority have been open to the time-passing chats that break down barriers.

My midtown apartment building is home mostly to young professionals and is the definition of nondescript. I frequently hold doors for people carrying packages and say "you're welcome" if they show gratitude. I have run errands for unfamiliar neighbours because I was heading out into the rain anyway and there was no point in us both getting wet. I chat like a fool while waiting in the laundry room.

Of course, denying me the right to greet a woman in our shared hallway fails to measure up to reported conflicts that have caused a culture clash, such as Canada's reaction to a recent Afghan law allowing some husbands to withhold food until their wives agree to sex, or the case of a Toronto-area father and son accused of killing a daughter who refused to wear a hijab at school.

I discussed my situation with the head of a prominent Muslim women's rights organization, who was understandably more concerned with the living conditions of the woman in question. She described the segregation of sexes as one of the worst examples of fundamentalist Islamic misinterpretation and dismissed the idea that my greeting could be construed as an offence.

Keep smiling, keep saying hello, she advised. The successful cohesion of cultures requires concessions from both sides. Offence or not, I have continued to greet those I share a building with, although the couple next door continue living in reclusion.

The alternative to this is to live amongst strangers in an icy standoff, fearful that the slightest attempt at community might be viewed as an affront. The alternative is to abandon prairie law, turn your back and close your eyes. And that sounds terrible.

mcoutts@nationalpost.com

http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=1618828

[the-vanilla-gorilla]

good read!



TVG

[waderow]

wonder how they would like a little :lick

sorry, I am intolerant, and perhaps am becoming racist as more and more, stories like this are surfacing.

I tried to be open minded my whole life, but I look at it this way. They hate me, so I hate them back.

(and yes, they do hate us)

[8heyzeus4]

That was indeed a well written editorial.

On that note, talk about some BULLSHIT! What a day and age we live in when people can come to a free country (for whatever reason) and mock our traditions and values. That guy should go muff diving next time he sees her.

[dku]

Some cultures need to enter the 21st century.

[cdnsoldier]

Some cultures need to enter the 21st century.

Unfortunately 90% of the people coming nto Canada are from countries still stuck in the 15th. century.

[macka]

We should make them take a course on Canadian culture and our traditions. It would definitely make a difference where racial charges are levied against people over trivial little things.

[BritishColumbian]

We should make them take a course on Canadian culture and our traditions. It would definitely make a difference where racial charges are levied against people over trivial little things.

I really like this idea^^^ and I have to say this article is very well written, I couldnt imagine living in the same building as people like this, I am sure I would take it to another level by being overly friendly to the missus,lol.

[#8]

That was well written and very unbiased.

(I must spread more reps around before giving to GIB again)

Multiculturalism does not work. I hate Trudeau, I hope hes burning in hell.

[Bowlcut]

"You guys are all racists and ethnocentric. These cultures are no worse than ours because as Canadians we believe in equality -actually no- we cling to egalitarianism." Bowlcut impersonating Jay Layton.

* How could a person say that with a straight face I dunno, but I need to smack my head against the door for trying to impersonate a leftie.
Nobody wants to admit it but the anglo-saxon classical liberal society that honors individualism was one of the greatest experiments known on the face of the earth. Too bad the Marxists ruined it.

[macka]

BC, its Jack Layton, know your enemy

[Bowlcut]

BC, its Jack Layton, know your enemy

Tabernac I thought I wrote Jack. Wacko Jacko should be his name, and he was actually a former Liberal when he went to university in Montreal.

Regardless of his politics, his molester stash should be a reason not to trust him.

[guym]

If I move to Saudi Arabia, I'm sure I get to impose MY values on them, right? It MUST work both ways?! :rolleyes:

BTW in Holland, potential newcomers are shown a video with women in swimsuits, a gay couple holding hands, people having a beer etc...and are told : If this bothers you, perhaps our country isn't the place for you.

[Bowlcut]

If I move to Saudi Arabia, I'm sure I get to impose MY values on them, right? It MUST work both ways?! :rolleyes:

BTW in Holland, potential newcomers are shown a video with women in swimsuits, a gay couple holding hands, people having a beer etc...and are told : If this bothers you, perhaps our country isn't the place for you.

Same should happen here. I saw an amazing sight the other day while buying meat. There was a guy who had been here for about 5 years and couldn't read the letter the government sent him telling him that his wife no longer qualified for welfare and needed the butcher to translate from English.
What most people don't realize is that lots of immigrants in Montreal get social assistance while working for cash under the table so the can still receive benefits.

[waderow]

Same should happen here. I saw an amazing sight the other day while buying meat. There was a guy who had been here for about 5 years and couldn't read the letter the government sent him telling him that his wife no longer qualified for welfare and needed the butcher to translate from English.
What most people don't realize is that lots of immigrants in Montreal get social assistance while working for cash under the table so the can still receive benefits.

many immigrants have multiple identities and pull multiple welfare. they get rich as a matter of fact

[8heyzeus4]

many immigrants have multiple identities and pull multiple welfare. they get rich as a matter of fact

Reading that makes me puke in my mouth, and if I dont swallow it I'll end up spitting it all over my desk which just so happens to have my paycheck with over $800 in income tax deductions sitting right on top. Its not like some of those tax dollars arent paying for these people to get rich off welfare, because there is no way the Canadian government would ever let that happen. (repeatedly jamming penicl in my neck to emphasise sarcasim)

[guest]

and it builds.

[SmallieBigs]

Even though this does take place I'm sure, there are many "Canadians" who take advantage of our social services just as bad... And what I fear is that people begin to generalize certain races because of some/(even many) bad apples... Racism disgusts me

[macka]

In Thunder Bay a former Indian band chiefs wife was convicted of welfare fraud to the tune of 90G but I bet they let a bunch go to solidify a conviction. There is another in court right now up here for a lady with 4 kids, why is it the obese slobs who choose to milk the system?

[SmallieBigs]

Same reason they're obese slobs.... laziness, apathy.... for many anyways...

[waderow]

Even though this does take place I'm sure, there are many "Canadians" who take advantage of our social services just as bad... And what I fear is that people begin to generalize certain races because of some/(even many) bad apples... Racism disgusts me

the most tolerant of races is the white race, and that makes us the weakest. we punish ourselves daily, and get "disgusted" with ourselves as often as we can, and then visible minorities make no such resolutions. they hate us, they do business amongst themselves, they live amongst themselves in their "communities" and they try to change this country, and any country they immigrate to , to suit their culture.

whites who do not love their race and culture disgust me

[macka]

the most tolerant of races is the white race, and that makes us the weakest. we punish ourselves daily, and get "disgusted" with ourselves as often as we can, and then visible minorities make no such resolutions. they hate us, they do business amongst themselves, they live amongst themselves in their "communities" and they try to change this country, and any country they immigrate to , to suit their culture.

whites who do not love their race and culture disgust me

this is true, you can slam any white person and the brush it off, but pick on any other race, and you go to kangaroo court and if its a bad enough slam, you go to the slam.

[Ritch]

the most tolerant of races is the white race, and that makes us the weakest. we punish ourselves daily, and get "disgusted" with ourselves as often as we can, and then visible minorities make no such resolutions. they hate us, they do business amongst themselves, they live amongst themselves in their "communities" and they try to change this country, and any country they immigrate to , to suit their culture.

whites who do not love their race and culture disgust me

Wow, smart post.

[SmallieBigs]

the most tolerant of races is the white race, and that makes us the weakest. we punish ourselves daily, and get "disgusted" with ourselves as often as we can, and then visible minorities make no such resolutions. they hate us, they do business amongst themselves, they live amongst themselves in their "communities" and they try to change this country, and any country they immigrate to , to suit their culture.

whites who do not love their race and culture disgust me

I never said anything about not loving my culture, as for my race... well, it's just the colour of my skin there asshat! I have a cousin who recently married outside our "race", do i care? only that they're happy.

I agree partially with the 1st part of what you said, but i don't beat myself or our (white) race up about things in general, but i've worked with/known/ plenty of completely racist white people, and i can't stand it as i have many friends of different races/cultures.

Also, I agree that there's definately a double standard with this whole reverse racism thing (it's not really reverse... but u know what i mean). I can't stand that shit either, pisses me off to no end.

Am I disgusted by many white peoples treatment of other races and cultures? Damn right! Am I disgusted by people of other races and cultures that in turn are not accepting, or are intollerant of others? Damn right! It's not just about me feelin' bad for bein' "the man".

I don't think it's fair to label all immigrants, or even immigrants from certain parts of the world... because I'm sure there are plenty of productive members of society that come over as well. Yes the social service abuse pisses me off, but it also pisses me off that canadians that were born here abuse it....

w/e... end rant

p.s Waderow... not saying you are one, but the way that post was constructed, it looks like it came straight outta some white-supremacy recruitment handbook or something...

I do enjoy many of your posts, and agree with many other things you have spoken about, but any hint of racism really pisses me off, no matter who it comes from... If I've taken what you've said wrong, I apologize... if not, then I guess we just disagree a bit on this

[Van Zan]

Wow, smart post.

x2

[Born2Juice4Ever]

many immigrants have multiple identities and pull multiple welfare. they get rich as a matter of fact


You just touched a nerve here.....people that have done that, and continue to do that, piss me off to no end!!!!!!!!!1



B2J

[Van Zan]

You just touched a nerve here.....people that have done that, and continue to do that, piss me off to no end!!!!!!!!!1



B2J

Yeah I notice lots of latino in that category :D

[Born2Juice4Ever]

Yeah I notice lots of latino in that category :D


I would not joke about that at all. The Latino community works hard and long....all in the midst of working towards a better day, for themselves and their children.

I arrived here in the late 80s, my parents were transfered with IBM back then, but my parents wanted a better life for the 5 of us, that in the end was not going to be achieved down south.
The Latino community owns stores, restaurants, gas stations... and work hard. I myself am a business owner, and have people under my payroll--yes 99% of my employees are Canadians. I am a provider in some senses.
And yes, there are those Latinos who abuse the system for the own benefits, and not so much for the good.

Over the last 20 years I have noticed tremendous changes to our topography...some of those changes have been for the better, while many others have been for the worst.
Multiculturalism is a fantastic concept, but like EVERY concept out there, there are its positives and its negatives.
I can't personally point fingers to one particular race or culture, as it is an all around combination of many that compelle the bad and the good.
Part of our evolution and transformation has been due to the many cultural changes. We are all part of the ecosystem fellas.
It is unfortunate however, that we are very able to pin point with exactitude "the bad apples" of the bunch.--



Dang meeting at 10Am downtown....bbl fellas.



B2J

[SmallieBigs]

^well said...

[Socially_Inept]

im pretty surprised by some of the comments i read above. one of the reasons i love living in canada is because of the multiculturalism, sure its not the easiest way to live but it brings a lot to the table. every race and culture has their assholes. really though, in the end, someone choosing to enforce biases and isolate themselves from other groups is doing more harm to themselves then anyone else.

[SmallieBigs]

im pretty surprised by some of the comments i read above. one of the reasons i love living in canada is because of the multiculturalism, sure its not the easiest way to live but it brings a lot to the table. every race and culture has their assholes. really though, in the end, someone choosing to enforce biases and isolate themselves from other groups is doing more harm to themselves then anyone else.

ya... that ^^^^