LETTER

———  Lost in translation, Mr. Amdur?

 

I immigrated to Canada thirty-six years ago. I hear biased beliefs around me from newcomers -- and even from people who consider themselves “de souche” on both sides, English and French .

We all have prejudices. It is intellectual laziness and lack of awareness that creates discordance in perceptions. This is a worldwide issue.  It's a lack of personal growth due to the lack of thought evolution, often perpetrated by leaders around the world and even by some who consider themselves intellectuals.  Owning valuable academic degrees does not indicate personal and intellectual growth; it only shows a motivation to do better in life. Most blindly follow political and intellectual leaders without question, because our system is set up to teach very little about questioning the foundation and source of these claims. 

I was shocked by Reuel Amdur's “Systemic Racism in Quebec” editorial because he doesn’t seem to know the motivation behind Bill 101.  The French language had long been suppressed in the English colony of Quebec. If he had read Quebec’s history (I doubt he ever did), he would have understood that without 101, Quebec's French language and its rich culture would have faded.



And his complaints about Bill 62 and Bill 21? Anything pertaining to a government's public services should and must reflect the country's values. That is a world wide pre-requisite. So why should it be different for Quebec?

People trying to rip off hijabs do not represent the majority. By making such a claim, Mr Amdur actually helps proliferate hatred towards a tolerant society, which he do not seem to grasp. Tolerance is acceptance and respect for differences, without necessarily agreeing to them. He is lucky to be in Canada because in other parts of the world, tolerance is unacceptable.

Yes, systemic racism exists even among family members, friends, neighbours, colleagues, couples ... it is not only in the mind of Quebecers but also in the minds of those who are born elsewhere and come to Canada boasting that they know it all; they watch Hollywood movies to base their knowledge and opinions about Canada, without having been exposed to the wide range of life experiences here. Mr Amdur, seriously?

Chantal Karkour

Aylmer