I’m still unravelling my feelings about leaving my newspaper job. The task feels as daunting as working through a giant skein of wispy yarn full of knots and tangles. Every time I feel like I have freed the spider-web thin strands from the most stubborn of knots, I find myself facing an even bigger knot just a few inches along. I sigh deeply and put the skein, and my feelings, away for a time.
A very brave and MUCH NEEDED article.I can relate to so many things that you felt as me being the only asian teaching in a high end school. The Canada I call home is changing and not in a good way.
Thank you for this thought provoking read.Diversity and Inclusion are an integral part of a fair society,It's talked about a lot but is truly missing in work places.We as Canadians need to re think and unlearn so its easier for our future generations.
This article was pretty intense. I had to read it twice with time in between. So many feelings but I liked it. Very raw, very personal and painfully true.
As a white person, in a majority white city run by a lot of other white people, it is really hard to know or understand the challenges someone of colour or a different culture has to deal with. Maybe if we (white person) were the minority, we would be hit in the face with it and develop a better understanding. I believe in earth, not countries, I believe we are all sisters and brothers and when I meet people I talk to the person, not the gender or colour. Or I try. But I have suffered bias in the past and maybe still do, and in all honesty, I don't think that's just a white problem but an ignorance of the world and other cultures. If we never leave our home, city or country how can you truly know? When I went to Ireland, Mexico, Pakistan, and when I bought a property in New Brunswick, all culturally different from what I was accustomed to and none of it was a bad thing, I loved and embraced it and feel like I learned something every time. I hope to have a huge repertoire of culture "shocks" one day.
As a woman, I have also experienced being dismissed by males in charge more times than I can count or remember. I know that feeling, knowing you're right, knowing you can make a difference and basically given zero acknowledgment. Having more women in positions of power has helped, thank goodness for that.
My point, don't give up Anam, you learned a lot from that job, more than you know. You learned what you needed to learn to use one day in a position where you CAN make a difference. Change has to start somewhere and with the amount of people coming to Canada, change will happen. The white youth growing up with other cultures will be normal to them, they won't be afraid, they'll see past the colours and traditions because it won't be strange to them. Just like young men today are growing up to be more engaged husbands and fathers...it had to start somewhere.
It is literally women/people like you that can and will make those changes happen. What you don't finish, your daughters will. You and my daughters don't have to deal with the issues I did growing up, same will be for your daughters. They already have an advantage with a white father, brown mother, being raised with Muslim traditions while surrounded by Catholics and other religions. They ask questions, they are becoming more aware than you and I ever were. I'm excited to see them learn, grow and ask questions because they will carry our torches one day.
A very brave and MUCH NEEDED article.I can relate to so many things that you felt as me being the only asian teaching in a high end school. The Canada I call home is changing and not in a good way.
Thank you for this thought provoking read.Diversity and Inclusion are an integral part of a fair society,It's talked about a lot but is truly missing in work places.We as Canadians need to re think and unlearn so its easier for our future generations.
This article was pretty intense. I had to read it twice with time in between. So many feelings but I liked it. Very raw, very personal and painfully true.
As a white person, in a majority white city run by a lot of other white people, it is really hard to know or understand the challenges someone of colour or a different culture has to deal with. Maybe if we (white person) were the minority, we would be hit in the face with it and develop a better understanding. I believe in earth, not countries, I believe we are all sisters and brothers and when I meet people I talk to the person, not the gender or colour. Or I try. But I have suffered bias in the past and maybe still do, and in all honesty, I don't think that's just a white problem but an ignorance of the world and other cultures. If we never leave our home, city or country how can you truly know? When I went to Ireland, Mexico, Pakistan, and when I bought a property in New Brunswick, all culturally different from what I was accustomed to and none of it was a bad thing, I loved and embraced it and feel like I learned something every time. I hope to have a huge repertoire of culture "shocks" one day.
As a woman, I have also experienced being dismissed by males in charge more times than I can count or remember. I know that feeling, knowing you're right, knowing you can make a difference and basically given zero acknowledgment. Having more women in positions of power has helped, thank goodness for that.
My point, don't give up Anam, you learned a lot from that job, more than you know. You learned what you needed to learn to use one day in a position where you CAN make a difference. Change has to start somewhere and with the amount of people coming to Canada, change will happen. The white youth growing up with other cultures will be normal to them, they won't be afraid, they'll see past the colours and traditions because it won't be strange to them. Just like young men today are growing up to be more engaged husbands and fathers...it had to start somewhere.
It is literally women/people like you that can and will make those changes happen. What you don't finish, your daughters will. You and my daughters don't have to deal with the issues I did growing up, same will be for your daughters. They already have an advantage with a white father, brown mother, being raised with Muslim traditions while surrounded by Catholics and other religions. They ask questions, they are becoming more aware than you and I ever were. I'm excited to see them learn, grow and ask questions because they will carry our torches one day.