Let's keep in mind that integrating 'the Other' into society is nothing new. Canada has been doing it for more than a century. The prairies in the early 20th century witnessed an enormous influx of immigrants from cultures that were certainly regarded as 'the Other' by anglo-saxon protestants. Ukrainians, Poles, Italians. There was tremendous hostility to immigrants from Catholic countries in both Canada and the U.S. They were regarded as uncivilized, barely literate, and superstitious. They came from countries with little history of democracy. They had much larger families than protestant Canadians. There were fears the country would be swamped.
But it turned out alright. The new Canadians integrated and assimilated. Their children did not continue to have 6 and 7 children themselves, and like other Canadians, became less religious.
Canadians on the right need to recognise that we've done this before, and the country didn't fall apart. We weren't overrun by illiterate papists.
Canadians on the left need to recognize the economic anxieties that underlie much of today's fears around immigration. And to reflect on how we did manage to integrate large numbers of immigrants with foreign beliefs (hint: it was by treating them as individuals while championing Canadian values and institutions).
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Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
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