The Time has Come
I have been looking and studying trends and facts about how to deal with the current Canadian system of discrimination and racism, and I have come to conclude that blogging, forums, live interviews etc.are good but they are not going to change things.
We all know that this govt. is very much aware of what is going on, but they haven't lifted a finger because they know that things will not change unless someone will be willing to stand up like a Mandela, A Luther King or a Cesar Chavez among the minorities of this country.
With that in mind, I am thinking about creating an organization called MAID ( since we are all treated like it, only this word pertains more to the female gender ) which stands for Minorities Against Inequalities and Discrimination.
This will be a pro active watch group whose goal mainly is to constantly prod the Govt. of the current wrong doings that minorities are encountering in their daily lives here in Canada. Demand action and changes constantly. I want this group to be recognized and be the voice of the minorities of all colors.
Groups like Greenpeace, MADD started as nothing and now they are recognized almost everywhere.
We have to bond together. As they say, there is strength in numbers.
And so, I call on you people out there. Are you willing to put your money where your mouth is?
If so, come and join me...This is a gargantuan task that I cannot do alone. I need people who wants change, who's got ideas, the desire, as this will entail alot of work. I need people who are willing to commit to this cause setting aside their own agenda and working with the group as part of a well oiled machine producing only positive results.
I will need publisher, a contributor, people good in communications and computers. People who are willing to stand on the street volunteering to distribute flyers about our agenda and what we are trying to achieve.
I will need people who are good at recruiting and explaining our goal to others. As we grow and get recognized, we of course will need more talents to help us.
So if you feel, that you have what it takes, the dedication, the desire and drive for a CHANGE, let me know how I can get in touch with you by leaving me a note here or at my e-mail addy at jadeye1@yahoo.com
More power to all!
Addendum:
We do not foster radical ideas in this site nor in the group that I am planning to form. The aim is to have a more effective dialogue with the govt. and educate people about racism and discrimination.
I believe that change is possible through proper communication and educating everyone about the harm and negative effect Racism and Discrimination has, if it is continously and openly practiced without a group to check or counter its effect in the society.
At the end of the day, we hope to see a change that would be beneficial to all minorities, Canadians and Canada itself.
posted by Jadeye at 3:01 PM
6 Comments:
Count me in ! I can contribute in the media aspect of this movement. I fully support your endeavours and encourage everyone to participate to this worthwhile cause.
This is a pathetic country and it's not worth fighting for. It'll never change because its whites-rule policy is theirs and since we CAME here we should move elsewhere as soon as we're able to.
I would hate to sound negative about the ideas coming forth but Canada just sucks!
America was once like Canada if not worst. Thanks to men like Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez etc... that now there is freedom uncomparable from any other countries in the world as well as dignity and respect, though I say that discrimination is still somehow around. We fight for our kid's future and the future of Canada.Turning our backs from such a good cause will only embolden the racists to further oppress and dominate.
We don't ask to be in power, all we ask is to be granted equality, dignity and respect that we all deserve. After all, we all know that without the immigrants, this country would have long been buried in the deep.
Well , I thank you Jadeye for your courageous stand against the inequality and hypocrisy of this country.
I am not sure though if such a movement (MAID) will be as effective as multi million dollar class suit action against Canada.
http://www.canadaimmigrants.com/Compensation.asp
The Canadian government persists in giving away millions of dollars to bureaucrats, subcontractors, and “non-profit” agencies that have only done one thing right; being government-friendly beneficiaries of this lavish cronyism.
The government’s lack of leadership is solved by keeping its thick bureaucracy happy - just to lessen the public outcry. And of course, by being nice to their close friends who plunder the treasury, declare bankruptcy, or otherwise benefit from rich government contracts that pay well.
But in terms of immigration policy, taxation and the economy, who pays for this lack of vision? The ones who bring billions of dollars, not only in cash, but also in skills to Canada; independent/skilled immigrants. The government is directly responsible of this multibillion dollar fiasco, and so it has to be accountable for the de-skilling process and decapitalization that each foreign professional suffers as soon as he arrives here.
Just think about it for a second… Aren’t skilled/independent immigrants entitled to be retroactively compensated for this mismanagement? For example, if you (as a family doctor) had worked in your field of expertise, you would have made x amount of money every year, wouldn’t you? But because you were working as a taxi driver, caregiver, or something similar, your income was significatively lower. And for the "privilege" of working in a Brown Collar Ghetto, you get to pay taxes, GST, PST, health care premiums etc. Just like the well off Canadians do here in Canada; except they can afford it, you can't.
At the same time the rest of your hard earned money has been feeding the Canadian economy because you buy products and services in the Canadian market and that creates directly and indirectly jobs for Canadians. How many job counsellors, landlords, business owners, and political parties have benefited from immigrants? And what do we get in return?
Nothing.
We have to live in “bad” neighborhoods, not because we want to be in the midst of drug dealers, crowded, stinky, cockroach infested buildings, greasy spoon restaurants, liquor stores, pawn and pot shops, but because we can’t afford a house in a “good” neighborhood where many “Canadian professionals” live, where one can see trees, flowers, rivers instead.
Yes, we live in impoverished neighborhoods where we are condemned to remain silent, surrounded by marginalized Canadians with whom you can only talk about the weather because they never finished even basic schooling, or because they are on drugs, or simply for your own safety.
Maybe living in “good” neighborhoods doesn’t mean we are going to have interesting conversations with Canadian professionals, but at least we will have the chance to invite some educated people from other countries and guarantee them a minimum level of public safety.
Even the basics of food, and clothing are limited by our meager incomes. We have to buy our clothes in second hand stores or out of season, when they are on sale. We have to eat lots of industrialized food because the “organic” one is way more expensive. Look at who shops in fancy boutique grocery stores in trendy areas. Then look at who goes to the big box discount stores.
Many of the basic services are out of our reach: dentists, cars, car insurance, family vacations, cultural events, professional treatment by a family physician, good education for our kids.
Most of our kids go to schools where the grade 8 English teacher will be the Grade 9, 10, 11 English teacher. That same teacher will also teach Physical Education, give counseling, and if needed he teaches Social Studies too. Oh, don't forget how low the Canadian childcare services were rated by the OECD in 2004, nor how expensive postsecondary education is.
As you may see, we are paying way too much for the standard of living that this “strong” economy is giving us in return. And you know why? We, as foreign and visible minority professionals, along with our kids, have been marginalized from the mainstream society while this country shamelessly wastes our resources and compromises our kids’ future.
Therefore, if you think you deserve to be compensated for all the time you were unemployed or underemployed in Canada; we invite you to sign this letter by sending us a message with your name, surname, email address, profession, the province where you live in, and write "Professional Compensation" at the beginning of your message.
P.S. To all skilled immigrants who are about to leave this country, or those who have already left: You should be compensated too. Don't leave this country quietly and empty handed.
Sincerely,
Canada Immigrant Job Issues
PS Labour discrimination is not only arousing righteous indignation, but it's also boosting the number of skilled immigrants looking for compensation.
http://www.canadaimmigrants.com/Compensation.asp
I have nothing against a class action lawsuit. In fact, that is one of the most effective way of creating a change. However, given all the facts that you cited why we should file a class action lawsuit which myself and immediate family will join, at the same time, prior to the case being resolved, which most likely will take a lifetime considering all the tactics the govt. is bound to employ, isn't it also a good idea to join hands and create a pro active group that would vigilantly watch the govt. and push for changes at the same time?
Look at the case of those orphan natives of this country. There 3600+ at the git go and now only 900 are still alive and they have not been compensated by the govt. In fact, it is far from being settled. The govt. aside from admitting that it has been slow in responding, has done absoultely NOTHING, and I fear that a class action suit will be no less different.
We can pour our disgust and sentiments to all the sites and forums, but as long as we do not make effort to put our words into action, we'll be no more than cry babies forever and will continue to be treated as a second class citizen in this country.
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