As much as I love the UK and many of the people in it, I think the thing that shocks me the most is the racism and the levels of it that exist there. In Canada, we have seen the same attitudes but due to our Multicultural policy, we have more of a "leg to stand on" (so to speak) so that we can speak out against racism in any form. This policy gives us a voice to speak out against discrimination due to colour and belief. While it is not the perfect system it is a good start.
You can imagine though, that when I was in the UK last time, I was shocked to see so much discrimination in a country that has so many people of different cultures supposedly coexisting. Many of the attitudes that I had seen in Canada when I was young (that are no longer acceptable here) still existed there. I was horrified. This is a country that I looked up to, that my ancestors had been a part of and yet, people of colour were not equal. Their religious beliefs were frowned upon because they were different or they were considered to be dodgy if their skin was too dark.
A friend of mine who just returned from there said she had the same observations. She said that, even though she was Caucasian, when she was with friends who were visible minorities, she was treated differently. Kind of like she was a second-class citizen. It was disturbing, she said. Even those who were from countries in the continent were looked down upon.
Anyway, I was reminded of that when I read this story today. I love North Wales and I know that this is not just a regional thing but it is still upsetting that this stuff goes on. Wales has beauty and charm and some really nice people. It's too bad that this lunacy still exists.
I know that racism exists all over the place. However, with the wisdom I think that I have achieved, I have learned not to judge cultures through the eyes of my own. By this I mean that, we base our opinions on something by using our own culture as a measuring stick. I have come to realize however, until we can stand in the others' shoes and look at it within their cultural biases, we have no right to judge. Let's just accept the differences and if we cannot understand them, leave it at that. Everything exists for a reason. We may deem it as wrong or threatening but really, what's the use of getting ones knickers in a knot just because we don't understand something.
If we don't stop this stuff (I am reminded of a song by the Manic Street Preachers entitled "If you tolerate this your children will be next"), we give everyone the right to force change on cultures and people without consulting those whose lives we deem necessary to change. And we all know how that worked for Mr. Bush...
I don't want you to think that I am picking on the UK. This story just happened to cause some feelings to resurface in myself about injustice and judgements in the world today. We just really need to revisit it.
Have a great day! I am off to Kelowna to attend a wedding from tomorrow and don't know if I will have access to the internet there. If not, I will see you next week!
You can imagine though, that when I was in the UK last time, I was shocked to see so much discrimination in a country that has so many people of different cultures supposedly coexisting. Many of the attitudes that I had seen in Canada when I was young (that are no longer acceptable here) still existed there. I was horrified. This is a country that I looked up to, that my ancestors had been a part of and yet, people of colour were not equal. Their religious beliefs were frowned upon because they were different or they were considered to be dodgy if their skin was too dark.
A friend of mine who just returned from there said she had the same observations. She said that, even though she was Caucasian, when she was with friends who were visible minorities, she was treated differently. Kind of like she was a second-class citizen. It was disturbing, she said. Even those who were from countries in the continent were looked down upon.
Anyway, I was reminded of that when I read this story today. I love North Wales and I know that this is not just a regional thing but it is still upsetting that this stuff goes on. Wales has beauty and charm and some really nice people. It's too bad that this lunacy still exists.
I know that racism exists all over the place. However, with the wisdom I think that I have achieved, I have learned not to judge cultures through the eyes of my own. By this I mean that, we base our opinions on something by using our own culture as a measuring stick. I have come to realize however, until we can stand in the others' shoes and look at it within their cultural biases, we have no right to judge. Let's just accept the differences and if we cannot understand them, leave it at that. Everything exists for a reason. We may deem it as wrong or threatening but really, what's the use of getting ones knickers in a knot just because we don't understand something.
If we don't stop this stuff (I am reminded of a song by the Manic Street Preachers entitled "If you tolerate this your children will be next"), we give everyone the right to force change on cultures and people without consulting those whose lives we deem necessary to change. And we all know how that worked for Mr. Bush...
I don't want you to think that I am picking on the UK. This story just happened to cause some feelings to resurface in myself about injustice and judgements in the world today. We just really need to revisit it.
Have a great day! I am off to Kelowna to attend a wedding from tomorrow and don't know if I will have access to the internet there. If not, I will see you next week!
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