Racism too close to the surface
The
Wisconsin shootings are a reminder that much work remains to be done
against racial hate. Can this sort of tragedy occur here? Unfortunately,
yes.
We have seen hate crimes against Sikhs in the Lower Mainland before. In January 1998, there was the racially motivated killing of Nirmal Singh Gill in a parking lot at a Sikh temple in Surrey. A selfproclaimed white supremacist, along with four others pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the beating in which they brutally stomped Mr. Gill to death.
In 2009, six Sikh men were playing tennis in Aldergrove when four teens uttering racial slurs approached and assaulted these individuals.
Recently, in the Toronto area, a Sikh elementary school was vandalized with the letters 'KKK' and swastikas drawn on its walls.
Earlier this year, vandals wrote 'terrorist' on Sikh parade posters in Surrey.
What has been most impressive and moving since the Wisconsin tragedy is how communities have come together at vigils and with messages of support.
In Abbotsford, a vigil at the Sikh Heritage Museum saw many people came together to remember and pay their respects.
United States President Barack Obama offered his condolences in his White House statement after the shootings: "As we mourn this loss which took place at a house of worship, we are reminded how much our country has been enriched by Sikhs, who are a part of our broader American family."
Obama's statement calling Sikhs part of the broader American family can be very divisive in a nation that is already racially divided.
I understand that he was reaching out to offer his condolences. However, the question remains regarding his statement - are Sikhs part of the American family or not?
I was surprised to learn that the radio station CKNW with host Philip Till took the time to interview a man who wrote in about how Sikhs need to blend into the community more. The writer's comments were very disrespectful towards the Sikh community.
Not even a week had passed since the shooting, and the Sikh community was still in mourning.
Where is the respect in this? This was an inappropriate time to allow such a discussion, and it only fuels more hate and causes more divisions in our multicultural communities.
I agree that work needs to be done on the topics of cultural diversity in Canada, but it's all in the approach and communication. This was simply the wrong time to start a discussion of this kind.
Here is some of what writer Dave Foran said on air on CKNW when defending his letter:
"I'm not the only one here and I don't believe I'm prejudiced. I know lots of people from India. They blend in. They wear blue jeans. I don't want to live in India."
Foran insists he doesn't condone violence, but he believes "Sikhs are disrespectful" because they don't "blend in" after moving to Canada.
He goes on to say: "your long beards, turbans, clothes and waddling as you follow each other down the street is enough to make us sick. Lose the traditions or stay in India."
- Ken Herar writes about diversity for the Abbotsford Mission Times. His email is kenherar@gmail.com.
We have seen hate crimes against Sikhs in the Lower Mainland before. In January 1998, there was the racially motivated killing of Nirmal Singh Gill in a parking lot at a Sikh temple in Surrey. A selfproclaimed white supremacist, along with four others pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the beating in which they brutally stomped Mr. Gill to death.
In 2009, six Sikh men were playing tennis in Aldergrove when four teens uttering racial slurs approached and assaulted these individuals.
Recently, in the Toronto area, a Sikh elementary school was vandalized with the letters 'KKK' and swastikas drawn on its walls.
Earlier this year, vandals wrote 'terrorist' on Sikh parade posters in Surrey.
What has been most impressive and moving since the Wisconsin tragedy is how communities have come together at vigils and with messages of support.
In Abbotsford, a vigil at the Sikh Heritage Museum saw many people came together to remember and pay their respects.
United States President Barack Obama offered his condolences in his White House statement after the shootings: "As we mourn this loss which took place at a house of worship, we are reminded how much our country has been enriched by Sikhs, who are a part of our broader American family."
Obama's statement calling Sikhs part of the broader American family can be very divisive in a nation that is already racially divided.
I understand that he was reaching out to offer his condolences. However, the question remains regarding his statement - are Sikhs part of the American family or not?
I was surprised to learn that the radio station CKNW with host Philip Till took the time to interview a man who wrote in about how Sikhs need to blend into the community more. The writer's comments were very disrespectful towards the Sikh community.
Not even a week had passed since the shooting, and the Sikh community was still in mourning.
Where is the respect in this? This was an inappropriate time to allow such a discussion, and it only fuels more hate and causes more divisions in our multicultural communities.
I agree that work needs to be done on the topics of cultural diversity in Canada, but it's all in the approach and communication. This was simply the wrong time to start a discussion of this kind.
Here is some of what writer Dave Foran said on air on CKNW when defending his letter:
"I'm not the only one here and I don't believe I'm prejudiced. I know lots of people from India. They blend in. They wear blue jeans. I don't want to live in India."
Foran insists he doesn't condone violence, but he believes "Sikhs are disrespectful" because they don't "blend in" after moving to Canada.
He goes on to say: "your long beards, turbans, clothes and waddling as you follow each other down the street is enough to make us sick. Lose the traditions or stay in India."
- Ken Herar writes about diversity for the Abbotsford Mission Times. His email is kenherar@gmail.com.
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