In Canada, refugees encounter a foreign word: Welcome

[ZBBM]

Everyone --

Apologies for starting this thread here -- it has nothing to do with the Leafs -- but since many of you may not ever read The New York Times I want to make sure you don't miss the feature on the front page of their website.  It is a truly beautiful story about how your country has stepped up to embrace Syrian refugees in the wake of the tragic drownings this spring.

To me, it really captures everything that I, as an American, like about Canada and Canadians.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/01/world/americas/canada-syrian-refugees.html

Wonderful photos too.

You know, you guys should be proud to be Canadian.  You are leading the way in a compassionate response to a humanitarian crisis, instead of sowing fear and division, as a certain someone who would lead my country is doing. 

Well done.  I hope you all enjoy your national holiday tomorrow.

Mods -- do what you will with this, I understand if it needs to be moved.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm generally not a very patriotic person, but I've never been prouder of my country than when I saw our response to the refugee crisis. Especially when you contrasted it with the response of our neighbours down south. Tears were definitely shed watching the footage of some of the first ones arriving in Toronto.

 

[herman]

We could have very easily gone in the other direction, and I am glad the nation took a stand for embracing and lifting up a people in need.

The article does highlight that Canada is in a unique position to help because the government supports private refugee sponsorship. There are a number of organizations out there that have been facilitating these programs for a long time.

 

[Kin]

It's nice to highlight the positive aspects of what Canada has done internally but it's important to keep in mind that countries like Lebanon and Jordan have seen their populations grow by almost 40% with Syrian refugees in just a couple years and are currently bearing the brunt of those costs. A carefully controlled program like Canada has is good but a lot more needs to be done on an international level to deal with the broader crisis.

 

[Arn]

Very interesting to read about that given the context of what's happening in the UK at the minute mostly fuelled by a fear of immigrants.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Thank you Zanzibar for providing the article.  While Canada Day has long passed, I'm proud to say I'm fervently and patriotically Canadian! 

While every country has it's good points and bad points, in the words of Pope Francis..."We're all immigrants". 

And now we give others (refugees) the opportunity at savouring hope and settling into a better quality of life, something all of humanity deserves but all too often diminished in the face of evil and violence on this planet.