CANADIANS PROUD TO SET AN EXAMPLE
Re: Pay Refugee Travel Costs, Ottawa Urged, Dec. 23; McCallum Defends Refugee Goal, Dec. 24. Some Canadians say Syrian refugees are not welcome because there may be terrorists among them. They need to relax. We must never fear accepting refugees. Even if there will be problems with this newest wave of refugees — and there are bound to be some — goodwill and compassion must always triumph over fear.
Even though we presently have problems meeting the needs of many poor Canadians, our doors for refugees must remain open. The larger problems this will produce will, no doubt, require our larger effort but we must not be afraid of this task. We must never fear refugees or the challenges they will bring. Our freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes. Whenever we do make them, this is Canada and we will overcome them.
It would certainly be a real black mark on Canada, or any other country, that reduces or stops the process of helping refugees because of fear or a lack of compassion. Canada is proud to be a country known for tolerance, goodwill, compassion and respect for others. Let’s hope that never changes, and let’s hope other countries will follow our lead.
Bob Hicks, St. Catharines, Ont. This preoccupation with the plight of refugees shows we have misplaced our priorities. The refugees could be looked after by members of the Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries. We in Canada should be using our resources to help homeless Canadians. There are Canadian citizens living in tents or cardboard “homes” in every major city, but the government is ignoring them in favour of foreigners. Why not support the agencies that are working to help the homeless who live here. Canadians should not be second- class citizens in their own country.
Joann Braem, Surrey, B. C. I cannot believe that anyone one, least of all the federal government, would consider paying the travel costs of any refugee or immigrant. Is this an expansion of the helicopter parent syndrome? Every one coming to this country must do so on their own volition, as they have for the past 100- plus years. That is what has made our country what it is: independent, resourceful, respectful of each other and thankful for the help of former immigrants and refugees.
Refugees and immigrants who owe a debt to their family and friends in their homeland work harder knowing that they have an obligation to those people. Their children learn the virtues of respect and responsibility by watching their parents pay their debt.
The helicopter approach of shielding children from all responsibilities and hardships has led to children who cannot stand on their own and contribute to society.
Peter Fedirchuk, Kanata, Ont. No one, except thoroughly duped Canadians, ever believed the Liberal promise to bring in 25,000 refugees before year’s end. It, along with “Sunny Ways” Justin Trudeau’s many boastful promises to his adoring fans, will no doubt be tossed onto the back shelf to gather dust. Let’s hope so, because otherwise some of them will cause immense damage to Canada, if implemented.
Jim McDonald, Dundas, Ont.