Warning: if all you're wanting from this blog is the usual fashion fluff, then stop reading now. I've been trying to think for days how to properly express my thoughts on this matter, but in the end I can only express how I feel, and hope that the more eloquent words of others will prove more telling.
I am proud to be a Canadian and even prouder to be a Vancouverite during the Olympics. I think it is fantastic that we can showcase to the world how great we are. However, I have been saddened, hurt, and outraged by the dark side of Canada that has been revealed to me because of this event. It all started with an article by my editor at Schema Magazine, a Canadian online magazine highlighting diversity issues and celebrations of multiculturalism around the world. In the article, titled "Vancouver 2010 Olympics - Whitest Opening Ceremony Ever?" Alden speaks about how Vancouver and Canada is hailed as the home of the "cultural mosaic," but that the opening ceremonies lacked almost no diversity at all. Despite the multitude of Canadian heroes of various cultures, the dominant color overall was well.. as white as snow. At first I thought the article was purposely slanted to get a reaction. Everyone knows controversy is good publicity! Well, I think everyone at Schema and myself got more than we bargained for when the post was republished in local paper, The Georgia Straight.
Indifference on my part turned to shock and hurt by the over 100 comments posted. Overwhelmingly the comments continually expressed views that basically called Alden stupid, a "bleeding heart liberal" and that he should just plain shut up. Illuminating comments like
"The "political correctness industry" can not accept that the white people are more adapted to lower temperatures/ snow-ice sports. ",
"Curious as to why you think Asians even deserve to be part of the ceremonies? Because there are so many of you in Vancouver? Is that all? What else have you contributed to society here?"
"...Asians can live in Vancouver without ever having to speak in English, how Canadian is that, so before you accuse the white man. be grateful that the white man, like the Natives to allow visible minorities to grow and prosper in the Great nation that We call Canada."
and the list goes on and on. (Yes, thank you white man for allowing me to live in your country!! )
On a local news talk show on Vancouver station CKNW, the issue was again brought up by Prof. Indira Prahst. Unfortunately, instead of having a rational debate, the majority of callers criticized Prahst's views, even to the point of slamming show host Bill Good for having Prahst on the air! Privately, people at Schema were given feedback by colleagues and friends that expressed the views that since the majority of Canada's population was Caucasian, then visible minorities should be happy with the small chunk of the country's attention that they have. According to the Canadian majority, it was unfair that they had to "adapt to the rapid pace of
cultural change..." How can everyone possibly be included? they asked. As well, much was made to hint that any dissenting voices should be silenced as they had no merit to their claims as representatives of Canadian culture. After all, what have visible minorities ever contributed to this nation?
Quite a bit in fact. Chinese immigrants contributed a large portion of the labour and their very lives to build the cross country railroad that literally held this country together in its tender beginnings. Visible minorities have contributed to every part of Canada's history, economy, science, and culture. Many have given their lives in our wars and even more have suffered thanks to the Canadian "white majority" due to frankly racist immigration policies. My own ancestors were subjected to Canada's infamous head tax and I know of friends whose Japanese ancestors were unjustly interned by the government during WWII. To say that minorities have not contributed, or are a part of, Canada is appalling and demonstrates such a soaring level of ignorance that it leaves me breathless.
To make the Opening Ceremonies as diverse as a PSA commerical for the sake of political correctness would indeed be insulting and trite, however to ignore minorities almost entirely, particularly in a city as diverse as Vancouver, is still quite the oversight. If the Opening Ceremonies was supposed to celebrate and display to the world what Vancouver is, then forgetting to include its cultural makeup is just plain dumb. Walk down any street in Vancouver and you will see faces from many nations. And before you start saying I'm biased towards Asians, well then, where was the segment representing Quebecois culture? How could Vanoc forget that rather large part of our country?
What this all shows to me is that racism is not dead. For a country that prides itself on multiculturalism, the fact that we have this seething underbelly of resentment towards minorities is pure hypocrisy. Vancouver cited Canada's multiculturalism as a key selling point to get the Olympics. What would the IOC think if they had known that many Vancouverites think our city is overrun with "outsiders?" How can we blab endlessly about our politically-correct, colorful "mosaic" of cultures and then slap down anyone who tries to say otherwise by stating minorities don't matter? Judging by the various reactions, it would seem that many in Vancouver resent the numbers of visible minorities. They see us as the "visible minority majority" who disrespect "their" culture and "their" ways and they wish that "we" would all "just go home." Well, I'm sorry, but I am home, and as a 5th generation Canadian I had thought that what made Canadian culture unique was our ability to embrace cultures, instead of swallowing them. I had great pride in my country and our unique mix of people where everyone had a different cultural story - now, I feel only shame. We are all immigrants in Canada, it is what made this land. If you can only feel resentment at how "immigrants" are invading the land that you feel is rightfully yours, then well I can only feel sorry that you are so ignorant in your mindset. Canada may have started out as purely European, but it has never been a nation of a single religion, or culture. From its very beginnings Canada was a land of two nations: English and French, (also there were the First Nations!!) and a culture of openness and respect is the foundation we were built upon. To believe that Canada was ever a united monoculture land, is just incorrect.
The Closing Ceremonies are on Sunday and VANOC has been quoted as stating that it will display a greater range of Canada's diverse makeup. I can only hope they are right. As for changing the general public's mindset to this issue, well, that I feel will take more work than a 3 hour ceremony can fix.
Please take the time to read the various stories relating to this post:
27 comments:
this is definitely different than a fashion post, but i'm glad you were able to highlight it. it's incredibly frustrating when people feel the need to go "you invaded OUR land" - as if 1. we're perverted 2. we don't contribute to the prosperity of the countries and 3. as if they're not foreigners themselves just b/c they're literally white as snow. psh. i agree with you, i hope closing ceremonies showcase a better..variety, if you will. :)
This was a very interesting post. I'm not Canadian, so I can't really relate, but racism is always a no in my book!
It's just incredibly sad. It goes to show that diversity, true integration is not here. Sometimes different ethnicities really are too siloed (rural areas, areas with only one ethnicity around) as well and don't know and appreciate other groups; I think that's a crucial first step to understanding. I'm glad I grew up in the US/NY and diverse as it is, I've experienced racism here. The melting pot (including Asians, South Americans, and Africans) is still a newer concept and it will be a while.
When will racism truly cease? Only time will tell.
While I have issues with how Canada and Vancouver handles diversity...I do agree that I would rather have seen a ceremony that focused more on our part of the world instead of the natives and nods to the rest of the country.
It would have been entertaining and fun to see samples of the colour and music etc from the ethnicities that make up Vancouver.
I think they were so afraid of hitting on stereotypes of any type that they just swept it all under the rug.
And true, apart from China and Korea kicking butt in skating and curling....alpine sports tend to be pretty 'white'...and Canada would not have medals if it wasn't for Quebec, so may we need to suck up to Quebec more than anything really.
Skiing etc are really for the wealthy and in Europe and here that seems to be white!
A few thoughts:
- Don't take the comments on internet forums as indicative of a larger trend. For whatever reason the anonymous nature seems to bring out the idiots everywhere. Every time I start to feel inspired by humanity I simply browse Youtube comments to come crashing down again.
- The segment with the fiddlers represented a retelling of the Chass-Galerie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chasse-galerie) represented Canada's french history well in my opinion. Clearly the heritage minister did not, but I get the impression that unless the entire ceremony was in French with Celine Dion singing all the numbers he would not have been happy.
- I am withholding judgment on the ceremonies until I see the closing ceremony. While I agree that the opening ceremony did not represent the cultural mosaic that is the Canada we know and love today, I saw it as a telling of our origins which are primarily that of first nations and western europeans. I am optimistic that the closing ceremonies will be more about Canada as it is today with the mix of many different cultures. If it is not, then clearly the organizers will have missed a great opportunity.
I agree with Darren, the anonymity that the Internet affords can bring out some pretty lowbrow scum. As for the myth of racial harmony in Canada, I was disenchanted by that ages ago when 1) I was 19, and the mother of my Caucasian ex-boyfriend alluded to my status as a "double minority" (Chinese and female) as a deciding factor in me being awarded a full scholarship to university; and 2) I was in my last year of university, and this asshole of a professor who never bothered to get to know his class or his students accused me of plagiarism when I handed in a term paper on an Asian-Canadian novel, which included the application of firsthand cultural insights that HE didn't have access to given his white heritage. Ironic and maddening, especially considering that if he'd bothered to get to know his students AT ALL he would've known I'd been nominated for departmental awards multiple times and was on full scholarship. There was this seedy assumption under his accusation that because I was Chinese I couldn't be eloquent or write well in English.
The best thing to do is not to get mad but get even. Succeed at what you do and get ahead in life--their hatred will be nothing more than impotent vitriol and they won't be able to touch you.
That is so ridiculous, how can anyone possibly say that or make anyone feel like that.
Thank you for addressing this, I didnt know that was happening.
Sad to say, but I feel that every nation has to deal with this situation, representing the minorities. Sometimes, it's more complicated than we see on the surface.
Do we know if Vancouver tried to get minority groups involved or did they refuse to add minorities?
When planning and preparing a large scale event, things do get lost along the way. Perhaps, the people involved viewed Canada like what was presented in the Opening Ceremony. If everyone thinks alike, who will be there to think outside the box and find something that they might have neglected?
Sad to say, but I feel that every nation has to deal with this situation, representing the minorities. Sometimes, it's more complicated than we see on the surface.
Do we know if Vancouver tried to get minority groups involved or did they refuse to add minorities?
When planning and preparing a large scale event, things do get lost along the way. Perhaps, the people involved viewed Canada like what was presented in the Opening Ceremony. If everyone thinks alike, who will be there to think outside the box and find something that they might have neglected?
some of those comments were just horrible. i don't understand the people who still think that way...
Stylepint: My 3rd-generation Asian friend went through quite an ordeal to apply as an Olympics volunteer; and she didn't get in. However, my Irish friend who isn't even Canadian was immediately hired.
If you take a look at the Skytrain stations, they're littered with "volunteers" and the vast majority are white. Was it because minorities didn't apply? They couldn't speak at the same level of English? I personally don't believe that's the case.
Oh man, as a political science person the topic of multiculturalism and minority rights is what I study basically everyday. And let me tell you, the sentiments that those anonymous commentators echoed there are not from some idiots on the internet; the sad truth is that very many Canadians unfortunately hold these opinions.
I'm glad you highlighted that minorities have vastly contributed to the nation of Canada, in fact, if minorities didn't come into Canada the entire labour force as the "great white man" knows it would be finished. Canada would be in economic and social ruin. And yes, what the "great white man" did was ruin the lives of those aboriginals that were in this nation first. But of course, this history is just the one taught in middle grade, never publicized so that we all look happy and dandy to be in our little multicultural bubble. Even while celebrating the native heritage in the opening ceremonies, it romanticized the experience of Native Americans and the land and their cultural practices while completely disregarding the inhumane condition that many are facing right now as a result of institutionalized discrimination.
It is so appalling that people still think like this. Of course there are those of us who don't and they are the intellectual future of this country. It is important to realize that even though Canada markets itself as a multicultural country, there are those who use the guise of multiculturalism to deny minorities even a basic voice. They believe that multiculturalism is a form of concession given to minorities so that they can remain in power.
@Darren: I echo your optimism as well for the Closing Ceremonies. The two may be related as 2 parts of 1 story, so I'll withhold judgement until after Sunday. The reason I published this post now was so that people were aware and more critical of what they would be watching for this Sunday.
@lisa: Good advice! Eliminating, rather than dwelling on negativity is the best way to counter it. However I would like to point out to you and to Darren that the comments were not just being made on the Internet, but also on the live radio airways and in personal messages to people I know.
@stylepint: That's the thing, how could anyone who truly calls themselves a Vancouverite and a Canadian dismiss this large portion of our cultural makeup? I do remember reading in Vancouver Sun that various minority groups stated that they had tried to contact Vanoc with their input but were ignored.
@Anon: I'm afraid that I don't quite agree with you as I know of many Asian-Canadians who are Olympic volunteers.
@Marz: Thank you for your eloquent words, you really hit the points that I wanted to get across. Human rights are not a "privilege" for the majority rulers to dole out as they see fit - it is a right of human life to be treated equally and decently.
it is sad...that not only it happened in Canada but in the States also!
It's unbelievable that this is still happening, outrageous too. And I read a few of the comments - they were disgraceful! I am not Canadian but I feel embarrased to share a border with them (I live in Seattle)!
XOXOX
Libby
http://fashionconfectionairy.weebly.com
LOVED this post even though it's different from your fashion stuff.
It's the same thing in Australia really. Multiculturalism? Racial harmony my ass.
Once people stop seeing others and immigrants they'll finally understand the bigger picture. Essentially, we're all immigrants.
People segregating others into 'minorities' make me laugh. To tell someone else to get out of 'your' country? It's like please, do something better with your time.
LOVED this post even though it's different from your fashion stuff.
It's the same thing in Australia really. Multiculturalism? Racial harmony my ass.
Once people stop seeing others and immigrants they'll finally understand the bigger picture. Essentially, we're all immigrants.
People segregating others into 'minorities' make me laugh. To tell someone else to get out of 'your' country? It's like please, do something better with your time.
Wish I could say I was surprised at the reaction Alden got, but I'm not. The vast majority of people are idiots. I just try to find the few people who have decent values/ethics/morals/brains, and ignore the rest.
*sigh*
I love this post!! Looks like you are exercising diversity with your topics **wink**
Even in the states, there are racism, sometimes too close to home. My husband's father stopped talking to him because he did not marry a white girl. Even though my husband himself is part European and part middle eastern.
But racism can go both ways. My cousin, who is Chinese, refuse to let me set her up with anyone outside of her race, because her parents won't allow it.
Crazy, huh?? Hopefully, with time, people will be more accepting.
Living in Florida I encounter that kind of ignorance far too often. The amount of confederate flags that are flown is appalling. I find it incredibly sad that both our countries are still dealing with such stupidity in what should be a much more enlightened time!
J, thank you for writing this article and providing a voice to a vast number of people in the minority who don't often get their voices heard. You are brave for writing about this and taking a stand on an important issue. If we are truly a democratic, open and multicultural society, then these issues should be discussed whether people agree with them or not.
I hope the closing ceremonies will have some inclusion at least of other peoples who have contributed to this great country.
one last point: to those who say some immigrants come here,d on't learn english etc don't contribute to society - think about this: my gran came here over 15 years ago to raise me and 5 of my other cousins. she doesn't speak a word of english and has never worked here. However, her work was raising us to be good, hard working, law abiding citizens. We have all grown to become strong contributors to this society. Without my gran, we would not be here today. So think twice before you make sweeping generalizations about who contributes and who doesn't to Canada.
bravo. fantastic post.. i always felt that racism was sadly still present in a lot of places.. and well i'm in Texas.. so i've seen it now and then.. although i think houston is quite diverse nowadays.. it's definitely still there.. although i never thought it would be like that in vancouver.
I feel bad for those people that are too stupid to realize that they are too immigrants, perhaps if the were educated correctly they would know that the Native Americans were here first. Such a shame that one can be openly racist like that.
I really couldn't resist commenting on your blog post. Quite frankly, I was appalled, saddened and surprised at the same time. I have been to Canada (specifically Vancouver) and REALLY loved it there. It left me such a good impression. I loved the people (they were sooo nice!), the culture and the atmosphere. How this can be possible? it really doesn't go with the image I had with Canada. Even after years of my visit I couldn't stop praising to my friends and family how open and tolerant Canadian society is, and how much more 'advanced' it is compared to our country (in Scandinavia). So I am pretty sad to find out that after all racism exists everywhere.
This post is far from your other fashion posts. But i like what you've written. And yes, every person have their right to say what they like and what they want. Freedom of speech is what i see here on your blog now. =D
Jules
Soloden.Com
The Brown Mestizo
I was having a discussion with some of my friends yesterday about how cool that iginla is the captain for calgary flames eventhough hockey is clearly a white person's sport and calgary is a white town.
as for white being the majority I'd have to disagree, most major cities white are the minority ie toronto and vancouver even ottawa. calgary and edmonton has a huge asian population too. Even Victoria is getting more minorities. It's the little insignificant towns like Prince George that's ruled by the white people that has no other culture explosure so they don't know any better than dry humping in their pick up trucks, but it doesn't matter cuz no one takes their piss ass city seriously anyways.
Wow! How did I miss this post? You would think by now I would have read them all! =) It popped up as a suggestion at the bottom of today's Cancun post.
I've accepted that a percentage of any population somehow manages to live as brainless dumbasses. It's sort of a real-life version of the Walking Dead--they have nothing intelligent to say and yet they're still up, walking around, causing trouble, and commenting anonymously.
But when those attitudes are reflected in the Olympics, that's serious because the events were planned by the powerful--not the ignorant goobers from hicksville. {Full disclosure: I grew up in hicksville, so I may use that term.}
But here's a longshot, alternate theory. Perhaps the organizers are so evolved that they only see two groups within Canada, First Nations and everyone else. Wouldn't that be great? Yeah, I don't buy that either.
Great post MizzJ!
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