Richmond - The Editor, I am writing in response to the letter written by Mr. Filtness on March 19, 2014. It is entitled "Don't like Canada? There's the door." With all due respect, I would have to disagree with the statements that he made.
Richmond - The Editor, I am writing in response to the letter written by Mr. Filtness on March 19, 2014. It is entitled "Don't like Canada? There's the door." With all due respect, I would have to disagree with the statements that he made.He was responding to a claim made by Ms. Huang who was expressing her discontent about the government cancelling the Investors Class Program. In the article she was mentioned in, she had made many other statements talking about wanting communication with the government and the Chinese, but you only chose to mention one of the things she said and used that as the main feature of your letter."We would like to come here, this is our country, not only your country, it's ours. Our Chinese ancestors built this."You go on to tell Ms. Huang that Canada is not her country and said that laying some train tracks did not mean Canadians traded their sovereignty.Ms. Huang was not saying that Canada strictly belongs to the Chinese because they helped build the railway, but she is claiming that the Chinese were a part of Canada as well and deserve to be allowed to come there.Canada was established because of all the unique immigrants who came from all over the world to make this wonderful nation. If she is a citizen of Canada, then it is her country as much as it is yours or mine, as I am also a Canadian citizen.Ms. Huang has the right to her sense of entitlement as a Canadian citizen, just as you are expressingyour entitlement in your letter.If it is not about the Chinese then what is it about? Her conduct seems to be quite respectful. Ms. Huang spoke and delivered her reasons in a professional manner.These immigrants are not whining and being annoying. We have the right to free speech in Canada. Voicing your opinion in a respectful manner is not something to be condemned, nor does it mean someone is ungrateful for where they live and the opportunities that they have.Differing views and opinions are how we come to compromises and help make this nation even better. There is no place where everyone agrees on every single thing, but just because someone challenges the status quo it does not mean they should "get the hell out."We are blessed in Canada with the ability to have differing views and not be sent away for expressing those views, so we should not start suggesting otherwise now.Sarina GillRichmond
