Anti-racism ads spark controversy
Re Ad campaign gets in your face, June 20 The poster aimed at countering Islamophobia has offended the large majority of Canadians who are tolerant, inclusive and exemplary of a multicultural Canada. Painting the picture of a “white” prejudiced Canada is not the way to alleviate cultural/ religious frictions and misunderstandings.
By and large, we are not a racist society: we are the envy of the world when it comes to inclusivity. The poster is confrontational, paints with a broad brush the notion of a largely bigoted “white” society in Toronto, a city that many consider the most multicultural in the world.
Yes, there are rotten apples out there but they are a very small minority and shrinking. The poster, however, has the effect of “throwing out the baby with the bath water.”
We have come a long way in accepting one another in this diverse city. We can certainly improve on it using a much more positive approach, one that fosters exchanges of interests, understanding of differences and highlights of commonalities. Fidenzio Salvatori, Toronto This poster says it all for migrants and immigrants: for the recent migrants from the Middle East and Africa trying to cross the Mediterranean for a better life in western Europe; for the “boat people” from Vietnam in the 1980s; for the Asians who were kicked out of Uganda by Idi Amin in the early 1970s; for the Irish who risked their lives during the potato famine of 1845 to cross the Atlantic to North America; and for mankind, which from time immemorial has criss-crossed continents seeking greener pastures. The statement, “Go back to where you came from,” sounds very pathetic and ignorant and shows a complete lack of feeling for fellow human beings. Max and Helena Desouza, Toronto Re Anti-discrimination campaign makes people uncomfortable — as it
should, Opinion June 21 Amira Elghawaby’s mean-spirited defence — I suffered and now it’s your turn to suffer with this flawed ad — is very disappointing, logically and emotionally. Her rationale for the insensitive ad needing to discriminate against whites in order to stop racism shows that she hasn’t learned how hate isn’t instinctive but is taught by society to perpetuate itself.
Surely her justifying more discrimination with the ads targeting a power group just adds to the problem and is not a solution that will break the vicious cycle of hatred.
How hard would it have been to identify the target of hate — the girl wearing the head covering — but to generalize the identity of the hater? Couldn’t a silhouette of the hater with a huge question mark superimposed on it have served to symbolize general, anonymous and systemic discrimination?
By singling out a young white man, a young white woman, etc., the antiracists have perpetuated hate on to this group.
Society doesn’t need victims insisting on payback for discrimination, but rather transcenders of hate like Nelson Mandela who, by their words and actions, make sure that discrimination doesn’t happen again to each and every one of us.
A good anti-racist ad should demonstrate that hate against any one of us is hate against all of us. Tony D’Andrea, Toronto This ad campaign is powerful. It reminds us that Toronto’s motto may be “Diversity Our Strength,” but we live in a city challenged by Islamophobia, xenophobia and racism. This is a reality that our Muslim friends and neighbours — especially Muslim women who wear the niqab or hijab — know all too well. Like OCASI, we are committed to building a Toronto that is inclusive, safe and welcoming for all. We hope that this campaign will spark needed dialogue and action toward change. Heather McGregor, CEO, YWCA Toronto As a Muslim born and raised in Toronto, the OCASI ad campaign sends me a different message. It reminds me that I didn’t come from anywhere else, there’s nowhere for me to “go back” to. My parents helped me create my own identity by fusing their old traditions with new ones (they make the best campfire biriyani!). It’s up to me to take the next step and represent myself in the larger Canadian community.
Groups like Canadian Muslim Vote and Uzma Jalaluddin’s column in the Star help me add my voice to the diverse perspectives that define Canada. “Back home” to me is right here. Nizam Hussain, Stouffville I am white. When I saw the print ad my gut reaction was negative — why are we using stereotypes to fight stereotypes? This is not a “nice” or “comfortable” campaign, and now after hearing the reactions to this ad I see the absolute necessity for triggering emotions and debate. There are many hard facts that show Islamophobia is on the rise and we need an active community response that rallies around all diversity for our neighbours, our children and for the sake of peace. Congratulations OCASI for sparking the conversation.
Kim Jenkinson, executive director, HMC Connections Re This is where I’m from, Opinion June 20 Can you imagine our concerns if a publicly funded ad campaign served to alienate young Muslim men in their intellectually formative years? Some people might think this unwise.
Yet Shree Paradkar argues such an alienating message is acceptable in addressing younger white men, because somehow the “regular white Joe and Jane” will suddenly realize how lucky they are. Instead, perhaps we might have an ad campaign to remind the young white male that his heritage also includes the fight against slavery, the vast expansion of voting and human rights, the fight against Nazism, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Then just invite him to “Keep Up The Good Work” of his ancestors: Pride in good works will be more effective than the shame and guilt that this campaign implies. Nelson Lister, Oshawa