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:
