Let’s be welcoming

We do not need to fear that terrorists will arrive in the ranks of refugees fleeing wars. The French government has admitted that the terrorists in the recent attacks were French, not Syrian or Iraqi. (Nov. 18 Leader-Post.)

Why is this so? Because, as its own research shows, France has failed to make immigrants and their children feel a part of French society and failed to make them want to embrace the country’s values. France “created” its own terrorists.

So what does this tell us as Canadians? We need to welcome refugees and help them want to join our society and embrace our values of inclusion and tolerance. Letting them live in “ghettos” and struggle economically will work against us. We must teach and uphold basic human rights that Canadian society is based upon. We must insist on equality for women and girls, and protect children and youth from those who preach hatred.

Organizations like the Regina Multi-faith Forum show inclusiveness and tolerance for others. And the more that each of us welcomes immigrants and refugees, and includes them in our activities, the more we are protecting and strengthening our way of life. (My grandparents were immigrants. My father was born here in 1916, yet, up until the 1940s he faced slurs from so-called ‘old-stock’ Canadians. That was because he was Ukrainian!)

Please remember that the only original Canadians are our aboriginal people. The rest of us are all descended from immigrants/refugees. G.F. White, Regina