The Editor,
Re: "Sign language reflects business," Opinion, Jan. 27.
As a Canadian Citizen By Choice (CCBC), also known as an immigrant, whose native tongue is English, I find the opinion of Dr. Joe Greenholtz interesting.
Comparing the issue of Chinese language signs in Richmond today with a contentious problem that was solved in 1977 by Bill 101 doesn't make sense to me. That was a historical debate between founding nations that needed to be resolved for the sake of the nation.
With the aid of my trusted Canadian dictionary, I checked the meaning of some of the expressions used in the article: "dominant culture coming to grips with the idea that the world may not revolve around them."
I assume the dominant culture would be those that can be identified as non-Asian by outward appearance. But this section of the community consists of many different races or cultures, individually different, but united as populace by a common language, English.
In Richmond, the opposite is the reality. But do all those of Asian appearance communicate in the same language? I think it is unfair to lump the Asian nations together. They have individual language and identities, too. There are generations of CCBCer's who have lived together in harmony. Now is not the time to refer to "them" and "us" or "we" and "they" when referring to our neighbours. In the same publication, Balwant Sanghera (Letters) asks us all to make an earnest effort to reach out to each other. Let's do it.
"Tension between old and new value system." I have had the old value system accompany me through travelling, careers and various stages of life adventures for three quarters of a century. These values include: Respect, integrity, citizenship, harmony, modesty, opinion, nobility of spirit and diversity. Please spell out the new set of values, that I may teach them to my grandchildren.
"Feeling the pain of being irrelevant in their own backyard, for the first time." I will never be irrelevant (definition: not to the point, off the subject) in my country of choice.
I have an opinion too, and my opinion may be quashed by the wealth or the sheer volume of newcomers. This may be our government's intent. It's hard to determine the long-term intent of the powers that be.
Ann Merdinyan
Richmond
(For the full letter, visit www.richmond-news.com/opinion/index/html.)
