I have gleaned from social media that after the Montreal Canadiens beat the Boston Bruins in double overtime, with the game winning goal coming from P.K. Subban, that he was called names based on the colour of his skin. I'll be honest here, I was actually quite surprised. Why was I surprised you might wonder? I was surprised because his skin colour had nothing to do with their win or the Bruins loss!
I believe that because these "low brow" Neanderthals just had nothing else to blame their defeat on, they picked the lowest hanging fruit possible in their anger. It's hard to say if these cretins are like this all the time or not, but a couple things of note are 1. we can often say things we don't mean when we are emotional. And also contradictory 2. We often show our true nature when under the same emotions.
That being said, let me tell you a story of a hate crime perpetrated on myself due to racism. I was best of friends with an native individual in elementary school, until our last year. We would sleep over at each others houses, spent lots of time together, and I even spent time with him on their reservation. We had a great time together, or so I thought, but that all changed in our final year. The thing is that I hadn't changed over the summer, and I thought our friendship would pick up where it left off, but apparently I was no longer "worthy" of being his friend. Apparently now my skin colour was vile and loathsome to him and his new "friends", and they made it known to me in no uncertain terms one day. I got off with just a few bumps and bruises, but what hurt the most was not knowing what I had done to deserve being treated like that. Trying to figure it out as a 13 year old was not easy, and it took me years to understand that it wasn't anything I had done, The change was all in my one time friend, who now hated me for nothing more than the colour of my skin.
Sure minority groups have been oppressed and targeted in the past, but as personally I found out, Racism is not limited to race, creed, religion, or colour. Racism is a learned behaviour, whether actively taught, or through observational learning, it is being passed on, and it needs to stop. If the colour of someone's skin, or where they come from bothers you, you are probably one of the aforementioned cretins (which goes for everyone).
Showing posts with label Aboriginals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aboriginals. Show all posts
Saturday, May 03, 2014
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Canada and First Nations relationship.
I've written before on the dysfunctional relationship between Canada's Native communities and the Federal Government, so hopefully I don't repeat myself too much. But I was reading an article in the Sun (http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/politics/archives/2012/06/20120609-101306.html) that seemed to have FN peoples contradicting themselves.
One statement said "On June 11 2008, Harper apologized for treatment... and more than a century of an assimilation policy that profoundly damaged Aboriginal communities across the country." This leads me to think two things, 1.) Aboriginals are possibly resistant to assimilation into the society in which the rest of us live, and 2.) they may think assimilation is an option.
No offense to First Nations people, but to get anywhere today, assimilation is inevitable. What this DOESN'T mean is that you have to give up learning about your culture and heritage, and practicing/celebrating it whenever you want to. It doesn't have to be one way or the other, but learning how to live and thrive in the main society you are in is both beneficial and helpful to that society. I cordially invite you to take your place within Canadian society.
The dysfunctional relationship that the First Nations have with the Federal Government in regards to financial "dependency", and how I believe this is actually hurting First Nations people rather than the intended purpose of helping them. Attiwapiskat is a prime example here, where buckets of money have been shoveled at a problem that continues to persist. Even when aided with "emergency" financial assistance, the leader said it wasn't enough and wanted $50,000/month more with no strings or accountability. http://www.torontosun.com/2012/05/10/attawapiskat-chief-wants-more-cash-from-ottawa
It's beneficial for everyone to learn how to stand on their own feet, and I think that we are failing our First Nations people by over funding them, and not giving them the opportunity to feel how empowering it is to succeed on their own.
UPDATE:
Dec 23, 2012.
After the "Idle No More" protests, I found this. "The time to eliminate the Indian Act is now."
Update:
Jan 6, 2013
To correct myself, it was pointed out to me that "Assimilation" was not actually what I meant in the above post, but it was "Integration". Because I'm not asking First Nations to give up their culture and heritage, on the contrary, but hoping they see a better way that the current dependent situation much find themselves in. It doesn't have to be "one way or the other", Canada is a great place with tons of opportunities for everyone.
One statement said "On June 11 2008, Harper apologized for treatment... and more than a century of an assimilation policy that profoundly damaged Aboriginal communities across the country." This leads me to think two things, 1.) Aboriginals are possibly resistant to assimilation into the society in which the rest of us live, and 2.) they may think assimilation is an option.
No offense to First Nations people, but to get anywhere today, assimilation is inevitable. What this DOESN'T mean is that you have to give up learning about your culture and heritage, and practicing/celebrating it whenever you want to. It doesn't have to be one way or the other, but learning how to live and thrive in the main society you are in is both beneficial and helpful to that society. I cordially invite you to take your place within Canadian society.
The dysfunctional relationship that the First Nations have with the Federal Government in regards to financial "dependency", and how I believe this is actually hurting First Nations people rather than the intended purpose of helping them. Attiwapiskat is a prime example here, where buckets of money have been shoveled at a problem that continues to persist. Even when aided with "emergency" financial assistance, the leader said it wasn't enough and wanted $50,000/month more with no strings or accountability. http://www.torontosun.com/2012/05/10/attawapiskat-chief-wants-more-cash-from-ottawa
It's beneficial for everyone to learn how to stand on their own feet, and I think that we are failing our First Nations people by over funding them, and not giving them the opportunity to feel how empowering it is to succeed on their own.
UPDATE:
Dec 23, 2012.
After the "Idle No More" protests, I found this. "The time to eliminate the Indian Act is now."
Update:
Jan 6, 2013
To correct myself, it was pointed out to me that "Assimilation" was not actually what I meant in the above post, but it was "Integration". Because I'm not asking First Nations to give up their culture and heritage, on the contrary, but hoping they see a better way that the current dependent situation much find themselves in. It doesn't have to be "one way or the other", Canada is a great place with tons of opportunities for everyone.
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