The other day we were discussing politics in the office. As a collective we decided the United States has veered way too far to the right, while Canada currently sits too far to the left and that we would all be a lot happier if somehow those two polarized thoughts could meet somewhere in the middle.
For example, we discussed various religions and discovered that we are for religious freedom as long as that religion doesn’t undermine human rights. So, human rights and equality comes before anything else.
Canada is a mosaic, so best described as a salad, in regards to the different cultures and backgrounds of people that live here. I feel like this is what we have to protect within our country. Canada doesn’t produce enough people to sustain itself as a country, so immigrants are important in ensuring the country’s future. However, Canada is supposed to be focused on celebrating differences, while putting people first.
My grandmother is proud of her heritage having emigrated from Holland many years ago. Her and my grandfather first lived in a renovated railcar by Elbow, Saskatchewan. They worked hard and made a life for themselves here. They identified as both Canadian and Dutch.
They came to Canada for a reason and I think immigrants still come to Canada for a reason, but what we hear now is that many don’t want to give up any part of who they were at home. However, they are no longer in their country… so, human rights violations like female genital mutilation – although illegal – is happening.
Stewart Bell with Global News wrote an article on July 17 of this year, “Female genital mutilation practitioners travelling to Canada, border officers warned.” The act itself may be a part of a religion or culture, however, it is linked to infections, infertility, and childbirth complications; which is a human rights issue. You’re endangering someone’s life for your religion or culture and to me that’s not acceptable.
Surely there is a way to celebrate a culture or religion without compromising the rights of an individual?
Now, I know Canada doesn’t have a perfect track record either as the country subjected First Nations to terrible atrocities based solely on culture and religion. However, the country should have learnt from this and should defend human rights above anything else… and no, we shouldn’t worry about offending anyone if we are focused on human rights especially in our own country.
I don’t believe we can force beliefs onto other countries, that’s what people go to war for, but when coming into Canada it should be made clear that we welcome all cultures and religions, however, the country will not tolerate practices that compromise human rights even if it is part of a culture or religion. So, we’re not asking them to completely give up their culture or religion, but to see that human rights are at the forefront of our beliefs as Canadians and that as a Canadian they may celebrate their cultures or religions, however, certain practices may need to be re-evaluated if they infringes upon human rights.
