Fear of Being Called a Racist!

If you have been following the news the past two weeks you have not missed the many accounts describing the relationship between the Canadian Federal Government and the aboriginal peoples of Canada. The Idle No More movement and the long fasting of Chief Spence have been well covered in our news media. The Manitoba chiefs and AFN are still pressing for a meeting with the PM and the Governor General. Some are saying that the PM is fostering hatred of aboriginals if he does not act. Of course, this octogenarian has to wonder why, no matter what the Queen says or whatever the Governor General does or does not do,  if this troubled group of Canadians wants a meeting, then why not? If it is important to a large number of our fellow Canadians, it should be important to our government. Have the meeting for heavens sake! Our leaders respond more quickly to some International event than to the needs and aspirations of our own people. Something is not right.

Back in the late 80's and early 90's I had the privilege of serving as chair of a big city committee dealing with community, ethnic and race relations. Although the Canadian Human Rights Commission was established in 1977, followed by the Human Rights Act, the Employment Equity Act etc. it was a tremendous challenge to get, not only the committee members to work together, but to try to understand the complexity of living in a society as suddenly diverse as Toronto. I have nothing but admiration for those brave souls seeking solutions to problems that were so historically entrenched and difficult to discuss and eradicate.

How do we define discrimination as so many of us have our own ideas that can often be intertwined with our emotions. One that I have used to guide me in the past is that published by the Australian Human Rights Commission: "Racial discrimination is when a person is treated less favourably than another person in a similar situation because of their race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin or immigrant status."

Living in Toronto these many years we have witnessed a wonderful transformation of diverse peoples. Indeed, for many of us to visit another part of the country, that does not share this diversity, often results in shock. Nevertheless, many of us are still hesitant to express our opinions, to examine and clarify our own inherited notions and biases, and to open the lines of true dialogue for fear of being called a 'racist'.  

Indeed what does 'racist' mean? 
(It is interesting to note that the United Nations does not make a distinction between racial and ethnic discrimination.) 

This lack of general dialogue poses many obstacles that need to be overcome and resolved. What makes one a racist? Can we be a racist and not know it? Is it possible for a group or an individual to assume that a certain remark is racist, when indeed it might not be?  How do we determine what is and what is not? Do we draw general conclusions from the actions of a few? 'I worked with those guys and they are all a bunch of...!' Have we inherited certain ideas that today would be considered racist? Can someone who has felt the wrath of racism validly carry on and judge all future events through those tinted glasses?

I remember one occasion when, after a game of hockey, some of my friends began to make certain racists remarks about players on the other team. I was shocked at some of the vicious outbursts but said nothing. I mentally argued with myself that any comment to the contrary would not change their fixated views. At the same time, I mentally argued, any attempt to censor their remarks would result in my loss of 'friends' and team mates! It is not easy to take a stand when the opportunity to bring about change is itself a threat, or at least so I thought at that time.

Not only do Governments and leaders of all stripes need to examine their own beliefs and recognize any possible baggage. But as Canadians we should not be afraid to examine our own personal beliefs and possible biases  without fear of losing face or being tagged with an epithet we don't deserve.

As Barack Obama said in his Inaugural speech today -  all of us are born equal. Is it not time we start to actually believe those words and act accordingly?

And that's Dick's View of the World this Week