International students deserve apology

I was so heartbroken to read the story (“International students victims of verbal attack,” Cape Breton Post, Sept. 26) of three international students who were verbally attacked by an apparent fellow Cape Bretoner.

This individual has to take a good look at himself in the mirror and acknowledge how wrong he was and he should repent his actions by publicly and personally apologizing to all those involved, particularly those innocent young women.

When I travel around my community and I see those young faces from all around the world my first thought is how great this is for our island to be experiencing this exposure to various cultures. And how fortunate we are that out of all the countries and universities in the world these people choose our small island to further their education.

Then on the economic side we begin to realize that their presence is such an financial boom to our economy which needs all the help it can get.

Every university in Nova Scotia is vying for international students that are keeping their institutions afloat. We have to show them that we are the place to go. So it doesn’t help when some misguided racist attacks them. I’m a firm believer that racist ideas are taught and can be overcome my education.

To the students that had to face this horrible encounter all I can say is that as a Cape Bretoner, I offer my apology and I hope you can see it in your heart to forgive what I hope is an isolated incident. D. Victor Tomiczek Dominion