Dear Editor,
Re: “Enough of the Delphi daycare,” Letters, March 18.
Building on R.A. Hoegler’s recent letter that mentioned that the attendees at the recent workshop on Chinese signage were in broad agreement that the signage issue was symptomatic of a great underlying issue, I wish to concur and elaborate.
Those of us who object to the Chinese-only signage in Richmond object not because we do not like Chinese people, but because we do not understand them.
Not only can we not talk to many of our neighbours, but we’ve no concept of their history or their culture. That breeds fear.
Without cultural reference points between the long-term residents of Richmond and particularly the Mainland Chinese immigrants communication and understanding is nearly impossible.
Is there a malicious intent or intentional dismissing of established Canadian values? I choose not to believe so, but I have no evidence either way.
Like many others in that circumstance, I am therefore susceptible to fear-mongering.
Increasing trust between the non-communicating groups is certainly not going to happen without deliberate action. As an immigrant, I have adapted my personality and behaviour to meet the prevailing Canadian culture and I think it’s reasonable for anyone, regardless of origin to do the same, at least to the degree that they’re seen to be making an effort.
The call from our civic leaders must be to the leaders of the various Mainland Chinese communities to start to actively build bridges between the old and the new residents — some good ideas were raised at the workshop. It is not an issue that can be ignored any longer.
City Hall needs to tell us what will be different and what future they are committed to creating.
Rupert Whiting
Richmond
