The Editor,
Re: Sign language reflects business, Community, Jan. 27.
The local media and a few fellow Richmondites are attempting to stir up the debate on Chinese-only signs again.
Some are accusing council of having its collective head in the sand, doing nothing to ease the ongoing debate.
The truth is there are hardly any Chinese businesses that have Chinese- only signs. Except for a few very small businesses, all have are bilingual signs. If you need proof, check it out for yourself, I have.
There may be an issue that the Chinese words are much larger than the English words. But, how large is too large, and how small is too small?
Are we going to follow the lead of Quebec to measure the proportion of the size of the relative signs?
City council did not avoid this issue, Chinese-only signage is not an issue. It is only an issue to those who are building a mountain out of a mole hill.
There are just too few Chinese-only signs in our city. What business would turn away 50 per cent of their potential customers in Richmond?
I, therefore, offer a challenge to all the critics, including the media, to do an independent survey and check out how many Chinese-only signs exist.
The underlying problem is the issue of long-time residents having difficulty adjusting to the changing demographics of our city and to a culture alien to them and different from their own perception of Canadian culture.
Perhaps the changes are happening too fast and they are trying to cling on to a culture they have been accustomed to for the last few generations.
Canadian culture or mainstream culture is only a reflection of the composition of its population.
It is dynamic and it is evolving. Speaking as a Canadian of Chinese ancestry, I am a Canadian first, a very proud Canadian, and I will defend Canada with my life.
At the same time, I am also proud of the culture that I bring to this land. Together with other visible minorities, we are enriching and contributing towards the evolution of the Canadian culture.
Richmondites, let us make room for one another, enjoy each others differences and build a harmonious city together.
Lawrence Lim
Richmond
