Quote:
Originally Posted by afc wimbledon
Here's the difference though, all over Canada all politicians of all stripes are commenting on this terrible legacy, schools and streets are being renamed as fast as they can get the signs painted with not so much as a complaint, the only real debate in Canada about our treatment of the native population is how exactly do we make things better, the policies may be rubbish, they may not work but as long as I have lived in Canada (since the 80's) no one has ever argued that Canada didnt have some kind of debt or obligation to our native population, the debate has been about scale, method and cost, not the actual need.
In the US they are demonstrating to keep up statues of Nathen Bedford Forest, General Lee's statue has been relocated to pride of place in a golf course resort in Florida, not only are they in no way repentant but half the US is actively supportive of the state using violence to keep their minorities down, that half, including the GOP are closer to the Canada of the 1920's in real terms.
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Imo the main difference is that people in the USA are just more outspoken, particularly conservatives. Racism in Canada is more subtle but no less damaging.
The USA was also way ahead of Canada in terms of political recognition. Most major cities have streets named after important black figures. MLK day has been around since 1986. If anything Canada is at stage one. As for figures like general Lee, it's not too dissimilar than us having all sorts of things dedicated to John A. McDonald, one of the men responsible for among other things executing Louis Riel based on an obscure UK treason law.
I don't think the USA is any more racist, just their problems are different. The USA has large ghettoized populations mixed in their city centres. Canada has kept many impoverished people on reserves, without access to basic infrastructure. So the issue in Canada is more easily ignored. Incarceration rates for indigenous people in Canada are similar to poorly treated minority groups in the USA.
As others have stated gun control is a major difference maker. There have been multiple high profile incidents of police killing indigenous people. Changing the dynamic by allowing every citizen access to hand guns would certainly result in the many indigenous people who get arrested every day being at further risk if police gun violence.