Xenophobia (was Re:jobs in Linux / IT)

[Zbigniew Koziol]

The subject, with "xenophobia" there, is really repulsive.

I have been writing on similar matters in the past, so let me please 
have a few words more.

Someone noticed that Canadians born here also do have similar problems 
as newcomers. Thats so much true. And these who are new should be aware 
of that. We basically all share the same place, economical situation, 
all that surrounds our living conditions, we have similar opportunities, 
and while new people here have to struggle for living, these who are 
here for generations have too. New ones would benefit greatly by 
understanding and accepting this simple fact. These new ones are not 
singled out of the crowd for worser life. And when to speak about 
people, I do agree, most of Canadians are wonderful, though usually live 
according to standards and base their life on values that obviously must 
somehow differ from these values newcomers brought here.

There are more than two important points in this a bit ugly discussion, 
but let me mention them.

New ones do have a much more difficult start. Why? Well, simply these 
who live here for a long were able to create their own network of 
connections, which is extremely a good thing in life. While newcomers 
often do not even understand how the society works and very often have 
no idea where even to find information about matters that are of 
importance to them.

In other words, these living here for a long do have better 
opportunities through the fact that they are supposed at least to 
understand better this society and have more connections. If they do 
indeed make a benefit of these factors is another issue for discussion. 
But anyone arriving to Canada for living here should, in principle, be 
aware, that he or she is breaking up with their society and starting 
life from the beginning, de facto.

Canada is, I bet to say, most tolerant country in the world, when it 
comes to accepting newcomers.

That does not need to mean yet that it is easy to settle here and live. 
No, it is not. These who think that life is more difficult everywhere 
else are terribly mistaken.

Canada is not xenophobic, neither as a country nor as a society. It is 
open to others more than any country in the world.

One perhaps should have in mind, however, a simple fact: Canada could 
probably not live and develop without newcomers. Many Canadians are not 
aware how much they have to suffer because of this huge influx of new 
people. That changes the entire policy, economy, social life. Yes, these 
living here for generations do suffer by that! And often are not 
understanding this social process. But Canada indeed seems to have no 
other choice.

My problem, if I had any problem, would rather be about approach to 
certain values. It is rather a common idea, may be largely unconscious, 
that newcomers ought to be used. Just used. That they should pay the 
cost of coming here. Well, they will pay that cost anyway, regardless of 
how open the society is towards them or how much federal money are 
invested into helping them. That idea is wrong right at its roots. It 
harms heavily these who are living here for generations as well. It is 
been used by single people, by propaganda in media, by governments. 
Still people seem not to mention that both, these who come here and 
these who live here for 100 years or more, are simply made stupid and 
their minds manipulated. One can not build Good by doing Evil.

zb.


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