Trying Being An Indo Canadian For A Day..

Try walking for a day in my skin
By KenHerar
Apr 20 2007
For the last few months in my regular column, I have been writing about diversity.
Today, let's try something new. How about a human transformation, and you become an Indo-Canadian for a day.
That's right. You are going to be me.
Sounds like fun, doesn't it?
You'll experience firsthand some of the challenges minorities still face in Canada. Here it goes.
Close your eyes and count to three. Zap. You look in the mirror and say “Ken, I am you.
You grab a cup of coffee and read the paper. The front-page headline reads, "Indo-Canadian Man Shot Dead."
You realize that's your community for the day. You read the article with interest.
The first thing work colleagues ask when you arrive is: Did you read the paper? Another shooting involving your community.
You're shocked by these comments. You decide to leave work early.
It's time for lunch you head to your favorite sandwich store. You're in line when a Caucasian male approaches from behind. He asks: "How do you say thank you in Punjabi?"
You looked puzzled for a moment. You want to tell him I am actually a white dude locked up in a brown body.You find his interest encouraging.
You get in your car and put on the radio to hear more details about the shooting incident. You go to the mall to pick up a few things. You get this feeling that people are labelling you in silence, as a result of the news of the shooting.
You decide to visit the Sikh Temple to escape the outside world and meet your new community for the day. You are impressed with their generosity. The talk at the temple seems to be on the shooting death, which you find the Indo-Canadian community is quite concerned about. You realize how one incident can disrupt the lives of many.
You told many people you enjoyed the dal and roti it was fantastic. You went up for three helpings. You wanted to do the bhangra. People replied in the evening.You also wanted a big bowl of hot curry. Unfortunately, meat and liquor cannot be served on temple premises.
Later you go for a walk, and a Caucasian person greets you saying Sat Sri Akal, which means hello in Punjabi.
It uplifts your spirits and establishes hope. You've had enough and ask me to transform you back. I am not ready yet.
While driving home, a car dangerously passes you on the shoulder side of the road. It is wet and dark. You both stop a few miles down the hill at the red light.
You look at him in disgust. He looks at you shaking his head, saying, Wha'ts your problem?
You reply: Your driving.
He replies: Go back to India and get out of my country. You people are ruining it.
He says a few more nasty things, which you can't repeat.
A few seconds later, the light turns green. You decide to speed up and leave him in the dust. He wasn't finished and wanted to say a few more racial slurs.
You've had enough and put the pedal to the metal, letting your V6 engine speak for itself.
At the next light, he turns off giving you his big middle finger. Your blood is boiling. For someone who was born and raised in Canada, you are deeply insulted by his comments.
This fool doesn't know I am actually a brown guy for a day.
You realize that racism is still a reality.
You make it home and the day comes to the close. You beg me to transform you back to yourself. I decide to bring you back to the conscious world.
Wow, that was challenging walking in your shoes for a day, Ken.
Your post-transformation reactions are Indo-Canadians still face many challenges.
There are two things you request from me.
Can I keep the tan and explore India?
I reply, India is yours, but the tan is mine.
Who's next in line for the great Canadian makeover?
Ken Herar is a columnist with The Abbotsford News, He can be contacted at KenHerar@gmail.com
© Copyright 2007 Langley Times