So
apparently I am supposed to care that the Canadian government will not meet its
election pledge of relocating 10,000 refugees to Canada by years end. Seeing as
the United States is only looking to relocate 10,000 refugees to their country
in the next few years, I feel fine if we don’t meet this arbitrary deadline.
And that is
exactly what it is, arbitrary. An ambitious number put out by a party trying to
demonstrate that it is possible to strive for more. That it is possible to do
more for the disadvantaged and dispossessed of the world.
There are
the disadvantaged and the dispossessed here at home, I am quite aware. I don’t
think any Canadian paying attention to the refugee issue could have avoided
those saying we should take care of our poor and homeless first. But this is a
false premise.
It doesn’t
have to be either or, we can do both. But like with anything in politics, it is
a matter of priorities. But that is what some do, they present issues like
these as if they are an either or. You either take care of the poor and
homeless in our country, or you bring in refugees, take your pick. There are a
lot of other sources of money in the federal budget to do both, if there was
the political will.
We are all
also citizens of this world. I don’t view the dispossessed and downtrodden of
my country any differently than those around the world. We must be united in
our resolve against war or poverty, no matter where it is. And we also must not
let the spectre of nationalism rear its ugly head when it comes to such
matters.
Ironically,
most of the hand-wringing going on in the press and among naysayers features
those who didn’t support the government’s initiative to begin with. So please,
spare me the condemnation. What is important is that we are doing something.
What many
neglect to mention is, for us to bring refugees, they first have to be willing
to relocate to Canada. It is not an insult to Canadians that a Syrian refugee
would choose to remain closer to home, in Europe. If I was in their position I
would probably want to stay closer to home so I could return home more easily
when the conflict is over.
Christmas
is supposed to be a time of charity. Where we greet strangers with a smile and
a “merry Christmas.” The very person who’s birth many are celebrating was a
refugee himself. After being born Jesus had to flee Israel into Egypt to escape
persecution.
So at a
time of year that is about giving and not receiving, have a little heart for
those around the world that are not having that merry a Christmas, no matter
their religion.
Don’t be a
scrooge, embrace the real meaning of Christmas, not just the materialistic one.
