A while ago on a Sunday night, if people paid attention, they would notice a lot fireworks popping through all night, that was the Sikh people celebrating their holiday. -cuecue(cuecue) @华人论坛:枫下论坛 The Rolia Forum of

枫下茶话 / 政治经济 / 都说加拿大是多元文化, 这位女士的话很有挑战性啊: Why is this country bending over backwards to please every minority and why are we changing an established way of life so that people aren't offended? -coolmao(酷猫); 2006-12-13 {2620} (#3374621@0)
本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛The Mississauga News
Dec 8, 2006

The Canadian way?

I am the parent of a child in the Peel District School Board. I have noticed the differences in the school experience my daughter is having, compared to the one I had growing up, such as an overabundance of safety rules and things they cannot do. This includes ceasing to use the word "Christmas" and having "Christmas concerts." Now the children have a "Holiday Tree' and participate in winter or holiday concerts in December.

So, I was rather disturbed when my daughter came home recently and told me that some children had a party separate from the others. She told me they had a party in the library and that she saw parents coming in with food for it. I was a bit upset, so I called the school and spoke with the vice principal, to find out exactly what had taken place. I was informed that children celebrating Diwali and Eid had a party during the lunch hour (and he stressed that it was on the lunch hour), where parents were welcome to attend. The children could wear traditional costumes and eat food prepared for the occasion.

When I mentioned to the vice principal that kids can't enjoy Christmas in the schools anymore he said that they like to think about everyone's denominations and that this is a fair balance.

I don't think it is a fair balance. I am not a religious person, but if you are going to wipe any traces of Christianity out of our schools, the religion on which this country was founded, it seems unfair to celebrate another, regardless of whether or not the party is private and attendance is optional. I have no recollection of any parties taking place for Christian holidays or Jewish holidays. There have been no Chanukah parties in the library.

This seemingly small issue brings out a bigger issue for me. This is Canada and when you choose to move to Canada, aren't you in essence choosing to adopt our way of life?

Why is this country bending over backwards to please every minority and why are we changing an established way of life so that people aren't offended? If you don't like the traditions and customs in Canada, surely you are free to look for a life elsewhere.

Political correctness has become ridiculous and I have finally had enough of worrying about offending every other person and feeling like I have to change for people who are not open to change themselves. Mark my words, I am not the only one feeling this way and I think, eventually, there is going to be a major backlash to all of this political correctness and catering to minority groups.

Melanie Coombs

Mississauga更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net

我坚决支持她!!!!加拿大过于强调多元了,谁的利益都要照顾,最后谁都没有得到什么.昨天电视新闻还讲到一个申请难民还是什么的受到"刁难",移民部说对遇到这样情况的人表示SORRY,但这是我们的法律(做饭时听的,不一定准确).这是一个国家机构的正确态度. -hhorse(hhorse); 2006-12-13 (#3374708@0)

你现在是属于少数族裔吧?? -jacky2001(beyond); 2006-12-14 (#3376526@0)

是的,我是少数族裔.我选择到移民就选择了新的生活环境,OPEN TO CHANGE.不是说少数族裔不应该受到尊重,而是现在在加拿大确实有点太过了. -hhorse(hhorse); 2006-12-14 (#3376650@0)
If you are strong, you change the world; if you are weak, you compromise. That's how Franch and English people brought their world in and replaced Aboriginals'. That's also why Chinese people always sing a song to accommodate into the major society. -cuecue(cuecue); 2006-12-14 {212} (#3376754@0)
50 years later, who knows what colour tone would be of the major society? I respect every culture, but I love and persist my way, a Chinese way, and always take an honor of that, no matter where I choose to live.

“there is going to be a major backlash to all of this political correctness and catering to minority groups.”但愿不要秧及池鱼. -calgarian(ThanksFlames); 2006-12-13 (#3376442@0)

我也最注意到这句. 读了有没有后背隐隐发凉的感觉? -coolmao(酷猫); 2006-12-14 (#3376659@0)

No, my 后背 does NOT 隐隐发凉 at all. :) Believe it or not, the future of Canada is in the hands of Minority and the Minority's home countries. -asker(amour); 2006-12-14 (#3376833@0)

democracy means minority should be supported and protected....see inside...please. -webbwebb(rr_rolia); 2006-12-14 {514} (#3376518@0)
It is totally understandable to have such kind of complain. But, democracy means: First, minority has to follow majority. Second, minority has to be supported and protected. Please do not forget one fact: in the beginning, Christianity was minority. Lot of blood takes Christianity to the top. Now we have a much more civilized society. We should be aware of the importance of respecting diversities, even sometimes, it means an inconvenience for the majority. Another thing is that Chinese are visible minorities.
A while ago on a Sunday night, if people paid attention, they would notice a lot fireworks popping through all night, that was the Sikh people celebrating their holiday. -cuecue(cuecue); 2006-12-14 {776} (#3376590@0)
Think about it, Chinese people have a long history of play fireworks during the Chinese new year, but when have you seen Chinese people allowed to play fireworks in Canada?

Think something else, have you ever asked how long it takes an Indian person to sponsor his parents to immigrate into Canada? And how long it takes a Chines person to do the same??

One more to think, if you ever experienced a citizenship test, how many Indian people were there taking the test comparing to other minorites???

Really found that Indian people are becoming more and more stands out than other minorities now. Do not blame anybody, just count how many MPs (member of parliament) are Indian people, and how many Chinese people even moved their feet to the voting stations?????!!!!!!

我不明白你为什么问"when have you seen Chinese people allowed to play fireworks in Canada?"允不允许放烟花和种族肯定无关。只是中国人还记不记得放烟花这事了，因为在中国的大城市里可以放烟花已经是很遥远的事了。 -vicky2005(孩子她爹); 2006-12-14 (#3376815@0)

Yes, Chinese people are forgetful and changeable. They are chasing western culture too much and don't know how much tradition left remembered than Taiwan people? A nation lack or losing of tradition and characters is a misery and tragedy... -cuecue(cuecue); 2006-12-14 (#3376854@0)

这位加拿大女士不就是不想看到加拿大变成A nation lack or losing o of tradition and characters 吗? -hhorse(hhorse); 2006-12-14 (#3376893@0)

Sorry, I am not a Canadian yet, I am still a Chinese. The nation here I mentioned is not a country, it's something about nationality and blood race. -cuecue(cuecue); 2006-12-14 {254} (#3376914@0)
I am always a Chinese nationality in my blood. I hope Chinese people can carry on their prestigious and precious tradition. Canada is an immigrant country. It doesn't have much tradition, one of its characters is multiculture. It's not losing anything.

保持自己的传统文化并不等于要大同别人.我理解的多元文化应该是各种文化元素都包容,但不等于一个国家没有个主流文化.移民来自各种背景,一夫多妻国家来的人要把几个老婆都移民,加拿大是否也该尊重他们的习俗,承认他们的婚姻,允许他们在加拿大一夫多妻? -hhorse(hhorse); 2006-12-14 (#3376939@0)

Let's talk about the topic 50 years later:) -cuecue(cuecue); 2006-12-14 (#3376949@0)
非常赞同hhorse说的 -uwsofia(淡淡的兰花); 2006-12-17 (#3382663@0)

you should read more books about the canada history. -rowyourboat(摇呀摇); 2006-12-14 (#3376940@0)

I am all ears:) Please go ahead. -cuecue(cuecue); 2006-12-14 (#3376946@0)

胡说，今年春节我在北京就放了很多烟花。 -tornet(老枪); 2006-12-14 (#3376960@0)

支持。入乡就应该随俗嘛。 -rollor(Rollor); 2006-12-14 (#3376608@0)

Does this mean minority immigrants deserve to be discriminated while job hunting? -asker(amour); 2006-12-14 (#3376810@0)

这是两回事 -vicky2005(孩子她爹); 2006-12-14 (#3376817@0)

What's the difference? -asker(amour); 2006-12-14 (#3376820@0)

入乡随俗和找工作受歧视怎么是一回事呢？ -vicky2005(孩子她爹); 2006-12-14 (#3376828@0)

So what is the so-called 入乡随俗? On which part, we should 入乡随俗, and which part, we should not? How many negative things happened, are happening and will happen to minority in the name of 入乡随俗? -asker(amour); 2006-12-14 (#3376837@0)

如果光从找工作这一点说，至少要把英文说好, 按这里的方式与人沟通。 -vicky2005(孩子她爹); 2006-12-14 (#3376874@0)

I agree, but how can a person 把英文说好 without enough support from the government, if she/he happens to be a poor parent who has to support her/his children? -asker(amour); 2006-12-14 (#3376882@0)

"把英文说好"是属于personal achievement , skill or ability的范畴的. -rowyourboat(摇呀摇); 2006-12-14 {128} (#3376934@0)
Distinctions between people which are based just on such individual merit are generally not considered socially discriminatory.

I wonder what she would write, if she happened to be a minority. -asker(amour); 2006-12-14 (#3376816@0)

well, well, well, see how many Chinese (members of minorities here) wrote that many comments with this kind of attitude. even in Rolia, even on this thread, look back #3376590@0 -table(桌子来了); 2006-12-14 (#3376846@0)

Thanks, sister. :) Yeah, sometimes I just cannot help feeling ashamed of how some minority people have internalized the oppression and discrimination against them in the name of so-called 入乡随俗. -asker(amour); 2006-12-14 (#3376856@0)

Hands:) -cuecue(cuecue); 2006-12-14 (#3376933@0)

新媳妇进了大家庭,小姨子受委屈了. -647i(流浪的步行万里); 2006-12-14 (#3376878@0)
公立学校由居民付钱，大多数信啥就该弄啥。问题是大多地区，C教确实不占主流。比如有些十家报的学校，80%是大陆学生，就该过春节。有些私立犹太学校，100%犹太人当然得过他们节日。 -tornet(老枪); 2006-12-14 (#3376982@0)
同意。入乡随俗。 -triton(melancholy); 2006-12-14 (#3377084@0)
" kids can't enjoy Christmas in the schools anymore" Christmas好像是假期吧. 学校不开门 -pkwong(rrrloiaaa); 2006-12-14 (#3377322@0)
我对她的话既同意也不同意。 -havefun(havefun); 2006-12-14 {778} (#3377701@0)
同意的是我们应该入乡随俗；
但是请仔细想想：
1. 300多年前，欧洲“移民”来到这片大陆时，有没有遵循当时印第安人的传统习俗？还是采取各种政策慢慢地“灭”掉了印第安人的文化，拿走了他们的土地，blah blah blah?
2. "This is Canada and when you choose to move to Canada, aren't you in essence choosing to adopt our way of life?" 我记得我在公民宣誓时，当时主持仪式的order of Canada说：欢迎你们成为公民，我们不是要你们放弃你们的原有文化及传统，我们希望你们把这些带进来，大家互相学习...。我觉得他这番话比较大气。
3. 我想我们选择来到加拿大也多多少少是因为它的包容性及多元性。真要在欧洲、澳洲或美国（稍好一点）那种比较单一的民族环境下，我们的生活可能比今天还要更难。

我以前曾经在某欧洲驻华领事馆工作过，那里的鬼子对中国人的态度就决不是加拿大或北美那么包容了，绝对是礼貌但鄙视看不起。
Fortunately, she's just a minority who just cannot face the reality. I believe most Canadians have chosen to live in a multicultural society and respect the different cultures and religions. -sinbad(Seven Seas); 2006-12-14 {148} (#3378267@0)
I think she is one who shoud look for a life elsewhere. But I feel sorry for her because there aren't many such places to choose in today's world.

看来这女人不象是少数族裔. 她说的东西有的偏激, 有的还是有些道理. 比如说开party, 别人开别人的, 你开你的就是了, 你们的人不组织, 可不是人家不让你开, 怪谁呀? 只要在不妨碍别人的前提下, 你想开什么party, 开就是了. -cuecue(cuecue); 2006-12-14 {125} (#3378351@0)
同样道理, 信基督的有Christmas也应该让人家保留自己的传统, 什么holiday tree, winter concert, 听着都别扭, 那些教派也太欺负人了!!

俺觉得, 多元文化的做法是, 不同文化的人都可以按照本文化的习俗过节, 但是把圣诞节圣诞树改名, 不是政治正确的做法. 西人也没有逼着我们把春节的名称改掉啊. -sailor(新年晚会我演啥); 2006-12-14 (#3378390@0)

这事和咱们中国的春节没啥关系，是那些不喜欢基督教的教派，不爱听Christmas这词。其实学校方面也不一定就怎么样伤她们的感情了，比如我儿子的学样日历上就写着： Merry Christmas to families celebrating Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Holidays to all !!!!! -cuecue(cuecue); 2006-12-15 (#3379816@0)

Holiday是一个中性词，不伤害任何人的感情，无论是majority还是 minority都可以有自己的特色的party,而不要求别人一定要用自己的文化来命名这个公众节日， -rainiherby(水源泉香); 2006-12-25 {318} (#3394807@0)
即便是多元文化，minority还是或多或少的不断改变自己来适应这个社会，majority有责任提供这样一个平台使minority在这里和他们共同生活，为加拿大作出更多贡献，正是这样一个原则，才吸引新移民在这里安居乐业，仿佛当初那些殖民主义者试图改变殖民地的生活方式时，他们自己也在或多或少的改变，现在正好反过来了。

其实我也是一个基督徒。
如何把握住一个度, 对政治家来说也是很难办的事情. -humormaster(没有); 2006-12-27 (#3397640@0)

@

A while ago on a Sunday night, if people paid attention, they would notice a lot fireworks popping through all night, that was the Sikh people celebrating their holiday.

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