Editor:
Re: Christians more than accepting, April 20 letters.
I would say, probably not.
It is a bold statement for the letter writer to claim that Canada is a traditional Christian country.
Missionaries were sent to make believers of what they called savages. Indigenous people had done well with their spiritual beliefs for thousands of years, till the arrival of European imperialists. Converted at spear-point, just like people in Scandinavia, where I come from – mind you about 800-900 years earlier. Not by enlightenment and prosperity, but pure religious imperialism.
“Appeas(ing) some non-Christian immigrants” – really?
Christmas is just a word, and isn’t tolerance a virtue that Christians think they invented? Of course, in the old world the word “jul” – or yule, as English-speaking people spell it – is the name of the holidays, which historically is a celebration winter solstice, and it has nothing to do with the birthday of Christ.
I grew up with the Lord’s Prayer morning, noon and evening. The Lutheran version of Christianity. We were perpetual sinners, and we were told about the eye in the sky, which spotted any nonreligious behaviour by even the smallest children, with the promise of relevant punishment. The only way to avoid Hell, was to pray, pray again and then some more.
I would say that children at school are not coerced into praying any more. Hopefully they are encouraged to develop individual thinking, not allowing them to be subdued by a mythical, non-existing force.
Allowing immigrants and refugees into Canada is an act of humanity. If some commit crimes, like indeed any other Canadian citizens, there are laws to take care of that.
Does integrating mean becoming a Christian, or is it all about the money? I think the government forecasts even the most traumatized refugees into Canada will become taxpaying citizens within five to 10 years from arrival.
And fortunately, the tradition of Canadian officials is to leave religion to the private sphere.
I think the way to understand a complex, multicultural society better is to pray less and do more thinking.
Ole Nygaard, White Rock
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Finally, someone has the guts to say what most people think.
I admire the letter writer for her honesty and you for printing it.
In order to accept and respect other cultures, Canadians had to give up ours, and become the minority – so sad and wrong.
I immigrated to this wonderful country 40 years ago. I had to have a job to come to, connection with the law from the country I came from, five years sponsorship by a relative and could not claim anything.
I met and made friends with some lovely Canadians, and later other immigrants from different countries with different religions.
In my and many others’ opinion, B.C. was sold to the highest bidder, and we all know who that was. Politically correct, I will not say, just welcome visitors to Vankong, Richkong and, if nothing changes, Whitekong.
I am too old to worry about it too much, but the future in B.C. will be nothing like when I arrived.
Susan Dobson, Surrey