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Sick and Tired and Ready to Pack
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| tha_broad |
This is a good read!!!!
Article Here
Sick and tired and ready to pack
This 20-something-year-old, well educated, currently unemployed, black, immigrant Canadian drowning in student loan payments and a series of short-term jobs that provide absolutely no benefits is sick and tired of the constant bad news from the Gomery inquiry and the whole Canadian political scene.
Sick of politicians who cater to their needs and not my own. Tired of political parties that bicker among themselves about stuff that has nothing to do with me, or ignore the things that do, while constantly finding creative ways to take what few pennies I've got.
I suppose I could be happy about having the government's hand in my pocket if I could just see where my money goes. Instead I get to hear about AdScam, bad subs, a weak army, a crappy transit system (if you think TTC is bad, try taking Markham transit ... the buses come every 30 minutes), immigrants with PhDs who drive cabs, marijuana grow ops in my community, an unfair immigration system, Canadians dying in hospital emergency rooms while waiting for a doctor, and how good we are compared with those evil Americans.
Who cares about the "evil" Americans when I am unhappy with my own government? Are we so preoccupied with the rest of the world and the Americans that we have failed to notice how much trouble we have in our own backyard?
Our government has done good things for our country, but it has also left me scratching my head at times. What I am looking for (and I'm pretty sure you are, too) is a government that cares deeply about the average Joe. People like you and me. I want leaders who understand that we work hard and want our taxes to do great things for our nation. I am hoping and praying for leaders who can inspire me and make me proud to be a Canadian. I want leaders who inspire me to the point where I would stand in rain, sleet or snow just to shake their hands. I have heard about our great Canadian leaders of the past, now I am waiting for greatness while I'm still breathing.
Lately and sadly I have been asking my parents why they chose to bring me to Canada. I, for one, am dumbfounded. Please don't bore me with the usual Canadian pat-ourselves-on-the-back phrases. You know those lines, don't you? They usually go something like this: "Canada is a multicultural, free, democratic country. We have the best, free (it's not really free ... it's called high taxes) health-care system (unlike those poor Americans). We also are really blessed because we are very tolerant, generous and blah, blah, blah ..." Enough already! I am Canadian. I know what the benefits of living in this country are. But who are we kidding? We have some serious problems.
When I, like most immigrants am struggling to make my way in this country, hear how our hard-earned dollars are wasted I become infuriated. How can I feel good about a country that allows its citizens to sleep on the streets, its children to starve because their parents can't make a decent wage, or that allows its black youth to drop out of its public school system at an alarming rate? How can I feel proud under the Maple Leaf when I know that the guy who is driving me down to Union Station in his cab is really a family doctor who came to this country because he was duped into thinking that he was really wanted? Why should I feel that my government is doing right when I must step over homeless people to get to my destination in downtown Toronto? Why should I feel good about a country that allows criminals to roam the streets shooting innocent women and children?
How can I feel great about a country where statistics show that, because I am black, I am more likely to earn a lower wage or be unemployed despite having all the education in the world? Come on, Canada! It's time to live up to your ideals. Or have we set our ideals so high that we cannot live up to them?
When we speak of multiculturalism, do we mean the kind that only exists on the map but not in positions of power? If so, I reject that type of multiculturalism. When we speak of equal opportunity, are we talking about the kind of opportunity that exists only if you have the right skin colour, religion, language, political friends or the right amount of money in the bank? If that's your idea of equality of opportunity, I don't want it. When we say that all Canadians are equal under the law, I hope that's true because it saddens me to hear people of colour bring complaints of racism (call it racial profiling if you wish) against police, teachers, employers and border officials.
It is time that we practise what we preach. If we truly are a nation that values democracy, equality, transparency, honesty, fairness, peace and social justice, then let us demand the same from our leaders and ourselves.
If not, I'm packing. |
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| ryanm |
quite a good read. I agree with a lot that is said in that article. We need a serious attitude shift in this country. The one thing that stood out for me was that we need to stop worring so much about what others think of us and start fixing the many problems that we have in our own country.
And things aren't going to get an easier until this whole political unrest has passed. Lets just hope harper doesn't come to power. Although the other options aren't fantastic, they still far outdo anything he proposes for this country. Imagining that man in power is a terrifying thought. |
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| walkindude |
A good article. Unfortunately it wont be enough to get those politicians to do anything about it. For the past few weeks I have been thinking about this a whole lot. I feel that I am a successful immigrant, I have assimilated in to this society quiet easily compared to some. But I feel that I have hit a brick wall in a lot of issues. My career is not going anywhere anytime soon because the big shots in my organisation think that I am not good enough to hang about with them. My income is stagnant, my taxes are up. The government employees who are unionised have the government by the throat and demand anything they want and I’m not saying they get what they want but they have the right to actually go on strike. If I did something like that I would get fired! I see smart and very educated people work security jobs, they will spend their time here until they have to and then they will go back to their countries after they get their citizenships and I don’t think you can blame them.
This is a very sad situation for this country. Things need to change drastically otherwise you will see a brain drain that will leave this country in a lot of trouble.
I’ve given this country 8 years of my life but I am seriously contemplating leaving...going back home or any place where my Canadian education and experience will be of more value than in my own country! |
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| zoogla |
Very deep and thought provoking article...
I was born here but I'm still a visible minority...I hope that through hard work, higher-level education, and solid work experience that I may be able to be promoted up the ladder in my organization; I hope that's not wishful thinking... |
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| Moral Hazard |
| quote: | Originally posted by tha_broad
How can I feel good about a country that allows its citizens to sleep on the streets, its children to starve because their parents can't make a decent wage, or that allows its black youth to drop out of its public school system at an alarming rate? How can I feel proud under the Maple Leaf when I know that the guy who is driving me down to Union Station in his cab is really a family doctor who came to this country because he was duped into thinking that he was really wanted? Why should I feel that my government is doing right when I must step over homeless people to get to my destination in downtown Toronto? Why should I feel good about a country that allows criminals to roam the streets shooting innocent women and children?
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You can always do what the rest of us do and focus on how good you, personally, have it. |
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| Moral Hazard |
| quote: | Originally posted by fayraree
Very deep and thought provoking article...
I was born here but I'm still a visible minority...I hope that through hard work, higher-level education, and solid work experience that I may be able to be promoted up the ladder in my organization; I hope that's not wishful thinking... |
Speaking on behalf of "The Man", it's wishful thinking.... unless you're Asian, we (The Man) don't have much of a problem with Asians. |
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| zoogla |
| quote: | Originally posted by Moral Hazard
Speaking on behalf of "The Man", it's wishful thinking.... unless you're Asian, we (The Man) don't have much of a problem with Asians. |
Go snort a few lines with them at Guv!!! LOL!! ;) |
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| Moral Hazard |
| quote: | Originally posted by fayraree
Go snort a few lines with them at Guv!!! LOL!! ;) |
The Man cannot confirm or deny rumours connecting our accepted Asians to narcotics manufacturing or use. Moreover, The Man unequivically denies the use of any narcotics for recreational purposes by The Man himself. The Man commits to the estabishment of a Royal High Commission to investigate the source of these rumours and allegations. |
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| Jayx1 |
I agree with what he says except this part:
| quote: | | How can I feel great about a country where statistics show that, because I am black, I am more likely to earn a lower wage or be unemployed despite having all the education in the world? Come on, Canada! It's time to live up to your ideals. Or have we set our ideals so high that we cannot live up to them? |
Its difficult for everyone out there. Not just black guys. And if there is any country in the world where a minority is going to make it based on merit alone its this one. Its not perfect but name me ONE country that treats it's minorities better than here. |
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| zoogla |
| The USofA? ANYONE can have the American Dream, no? |
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| tha_broad |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
I agree with what he says except this part:
Its difficult for everyone out there. Not just black guys. And if there is any country in the world where a minority is going to make it based on merit alone its this one. Its not perfect but name me ONE country that treats it's minorities better than here. |
When I read it, I didnt read it as if that line was about him particularly. I read it as him giving an example... |
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| dEsidEL |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
Its difficult for everyone out there. Not just black guys. And if there is any country in the world where a minority is going to make it based on merit alone its this one. Its not perfect but name me ONE country that treats it's minorities better than here. |
Peru ! A Japanese guy made President :toothless
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