Have you personally experienced racist remarks?
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I've never experience verbal displays of dislike for my colour face to face. I have however, been pulled into a facist happening while riding the bus with my daughter and her cousin. A fellow bus rider says to me "seems we're the only Canadians on the bus today". The bus was full. Standing room only. It took me a few minutes to realize he meant the only white people on the bus. I was horrified at his ignorance and gave him a little education. What a jerk.
When I first moved here from Victoria I heard all kinds of comments about "hongcouver. And was asked how I could stand the smell in Surrey (Surrey has the largest population of Indians outside of India). Weirdly, it was from friends who I had no idea were so..dumb.
I couldn't imagine being verbally abused because of my colour. I could never imagine abusing someone in such a manner.
When I first moved here from Victoria I heard all kinds of comments about "hongcouver. And was asked how I could stand the smell in Surrey (Surrey has the largest population of Indians outside of India). Weirdly, it was from friends who I had no idea were so..dumb.
I couldn't imagine being verbally abused because of my colour. I could never imagine abusing someone in such a manner.
I had an interesting sort of racism hurled toward me a long time ago.
I was working in the sears mail-order for the Xmas season, and after a few days, the lady who
worked with me who was obviously irish, with an accent, began chatting with me and I mentioned to her that my dad was
also irish, so she asked me where he was born, and I answered "Dublin', and she glared me and
said "Another bloody southener", which really caught me by surprise, took me a couple of seconds to gather my wits about me, then I said to her, 'You are in canada, my country, and we don't put up with racist comments like that, and if you want to continue that sort of behavior you should pack your bags and go back to ireland. I avoided any chit chat with her
after that.
I was a typical white kid with british parents, and didn't have much contact with either
french or first nations kids, and just a few others, maybe a few east indians.
And, we did make fun of the east indians, but never to their faces, and never in a way that
made them aware that we were being racist, but we were, and didn't really know it.
My husband grew up in Queensboro, (called little europe), italian parents, and every nationality you could imagine there, and they all hung out together, and openly made fun
of each other, and never got mad about it, but 'be careful', as an outsider what you say,
as they would stick up for each other then. chinese, italian, czeck,dutch,japanese, ukarnian,
and on and on, they were all living there, in an area about 5 miles by about 2 miles'
They came from Queensboro on the school bus to our 'uptown' junior high school, and
there was definitely a bit of a divide, but it all worked out eventually. That's when I met
my husband as he came on that bus to grade 8 and I walked to school, grade 7, boy what
a cute dark flashing italian kid, that was it for me.
I was only 21, when she made that comment,and got very nervous . I would like to be able to do it again,
as I would have been a little more 'mature' about it, I would have talked to her about
the comment, and dug a little deeper, and I wouldn't have had to make enemies with her.
Maybe ;-)
I was working in the sears mail-order for the Xmas season, and after a few days, the lady who
worked with me who was obviously irish, with an accent, began chatting with me and I mentioned to her that my dad was
also irish, so she asked me where he was born, and I answered "Dublin', and she glared me and
said "Another bloody southener", which really caught me by surprise, took me a couple of seconds to gather my wits about me, then I said to her, 'You are in canada, my country, and we don't put up with racist comments like that, and if you want to continue that sort of behavior you should pack your bags and go back to ireland. I avoided any chit chat with her
after that.
I was a typical white kid with british parents, and didn't have much contact with either
french or first nations kids, and just a few others, maybe a few east indians.
And, we did make fun of the east indians, but never to their faces, and never in a way that
made them aware that we were being racist, but we were, and didn't really know it.
My husband grew up in Queensboro, (called little europe), italian parents, and every nationality you could imagine there, and they all hung out together, and openly made fun
of each other, and never got mad about it, but 'be careful', as an outsider what you say,
as they would stick up for each other then. chinese, italian, czeck,dutch,japanese, ukarnian,
and on and on, they were all living there, in an area about 5 miles by about 2 miles'
They came from Queensboro on the school bus to our 'uptown' junior high school, and
there was definitely a bit of a divide, but it all worked out eventually. That's when I met
my husband as he came on that bus to grade 8 and I walked to school, grade 7, boy what
a cute dark flashing italian kid, that was it for me.
I was only 21, when she made that comment,and got very nervous . I would like to be able to do it again,
as I would have been a little more 'mature' about it, I would have talked to her about
the comment, and dug a little deeper, and I wouldn't have had to make enemies with her.
Maybe ;-)
Here's a bit of an optical illusion that ties into peoples perceptions. I may very well
have not appeared to be my Sons biological Father to some racist snapperhead &
might have been perceived as some foster parent...but that doesn't excuse behavior
that is racist, sexist, and just outright ugly.
Part of the illusion is that I'm the little white guy (at 6'2" & 205lbs)...and in this picture
my Son was still only just 17yrs old. You wouldn't believe how relieved a school principal
would be once he/she met me if my Son got into trouble and I was called to the school.
The preconceived idea of who I would be when I walked in the door was almost comical.
Inevitably a Resource Officer (in-school cop) would be present until I introduced myself,
and then he'd just look confused and usually just leave. Racism is alive and well but I do
think things are changing for the better.
Ron, genetics are a funny thing. My friends husband looks just like his father. dirty blonde hair, blue eyes. Scottis. His brother (full) looks just like their mom. Black hair, brown skins, brown eyes. Metis.
Growing up in Saanichton, Brentwood, BC you couldn't tell who was and who wasn't native.
Growing up in Saanichton, Brentwood, BC you couldn't tell who was and who wasn't native.
I come from a French family, and amidst all the fairly light skinned kids, my grandma managed to give birth to one who was dark. Olive skinned (apparently a genetic hand-me-down from the Brittany region of France) to such a degree that she passed as native if you didn't really scrutinize her features.
As I now work Security I have been accused of being racist when enforcing safety rules with off site companies making deliveries – Presently I have 3 staff from Somalia - Muslim– 1 from Ghana – Christian – he is 69 –
As I have been with the company for years they know my attitude towards racists – Not tolerated – After I was once accused of being racist by a visible minority the company – a multinational went to the persons company, another multi-national and laid it out clearly – They wanted him disciplined – a copy of the disciplinary action taken to be sent to the company and it has been filed for future problems if they do arise -I am a WASP –
The older gentleman that works for me and I had a chat one day – I explained some of the comments that are directed towards me about the staff, some say they have problems with English etc – veiled racists comments at the minimum – so I explained to him that in future if it was OK as I needed his permission from him my reply to these racist asses would be quite simple – Oh are you referring to my Father in Law –
But on a small number of occasions visible minorities have stated they are being picked upon because of their color – It carries no weight -
Different ways to handle them but on every occasion action is taken. My staff knows it and do appreciate that these situations are not tolerated– My boss is a great supporter of this and he is also a WASP –
Racists are not always white.
Question
Are you a separatist? Are you also running into slurs because it may be a reaction to your behavior?
What were the circumstances leading up to these racist slurs –
you provided very little information –
You gave locations – The Bay Stores and the Legions –
Tel you the truth if it is a rampant or as you say Canada’s hidden agenda – It appears that it is only located in the Bay and the Legions – Sounds false to me – sounds like you have a public agenda –
Last question – If we disbanded all bay Stores and the Legions would we as a country be no longer divided? Would the abolition and destruction of these 2 organization mean that Canada is free of racism –
Appears to me and I will wait for your reply that you find English Canadians to be the problem. Wow – A lot of thought went into this thread you posted.
Are you a separatist? Are you also running into slurs because it may be a reaction to your behavior?
What were the circumstances leading up to these racist slurs –
you provided very little information –
You gave locations – The Bay Stores and the Legions –
Tel you the truth if it is a rampant or as you say Canada’s hidden agenda – It appears that it is only located in the Bay and the Legions – Sounds false to me – sounds like you have a public agenda –
Last question – If we disbanded all bay Stores and the Legions would we as a country be no longer divided? Would the abolition and destruction of these 2 organization mean that Canada is free of racism –
Appears to me and I will wait for your reply that you find English Canadians to be the problem. Wow – A lot of thought went into this thread you posted.
You're addressing Scratch. Below his name you'll see the words "Time Out."
He can't answer you at this point.
He can't answer you at this point.
Funny thing is I have been called an Indian Lover because I have spent a lot of time with indigenous peoples. I am an associate member of the Sinixt Nation and when one of them can't attend functions that pertain to their interests, I have authority to represent them. I have been to various treaty meetings involving other tribes claiming Sinixt territory and spoken on their behalf.
Some people wonder why I am involved but that is a long story. My involvement though really seems to upset the racists but I have learned how to handle them. Most are what they are because they have low self esteem and I don't.
Some people wonder why I am involved but that is a long story. My involvement though really seems to upset the racists but I have learned how to handle them. Most are what they are because they have low self esteem and I don't.
No - luckily, I never have. Racism of course implies various races of people. How about this kind of racism (harrassment I guess), my kids - cops kids - were called pigs and bacon. They got beat up some times just because they were cops kids. Is it really any different?