I came across few whites as a boy at Qunu. The local magistrate, of course, was white, as was the nearest shopkeeper. Occasionally, white travelers or policemen passed through our area. These whites appeared as grand as gods to me, and I was aware that they were to be treated with a mixture of fear and respect.
~ Nelson Mandela
I had the privilege of being surrounded by many accomplished Canadian retirees during a recent vacation.
The group was homogeneous, for the most part white, Anglo-Saxon, and Protestant (WASP). The odd visible minority, who did not fit this description, had found a way to blend into Canadian culture.
The love, trust, respect, and admiration these people have for national values and government institutions is unassailable.
Growing up in an era where Canadians were widely acclaimed for being thoughtful peacekeepers and human rights defenders, the filter through which they see things is logical.
What I will share in this blog is seen through the lens of a foreign-born Canadian who felt the need to embrace local culture to succeed.
Allow me to put things into context. A co-worker on Bay Street once said that by taking my husband’s family name, I was gaining instant WASP legitimacy. To retain and acknowledge my heritage, I decided to hyphenate my last name .
My husband and I are grateful for the opportunity to take the best of two very different cultures to raise our children.
As we waited in line to board our cruise ship in Venice, my husband complimented a man’s designer sneakers. The conversation quickly led to this highly educated man telling us he was thrilled to be leaving Italy. He ‘hated’ Italians.
As an empath, I felt uncomfortable but remained silent. My mind tried to find a logical explanation for why this man had hate in his heart for an entire culture. Italians are hard-working people who have done so much to improve the quality of life in our country.
I have heard racist comments coming from my own family of origin, but I expect more from those who have had the luxury of extensive university education and are entrusted with the healthcare of many.
The conversation somehow led to our sharing of my heritage. Thereafter, this man’s partner kindly took the opportunity to ingratiate me every time we saw each other.
Closing thoughts
~ Anne Dotter
There were a lot of kind and thoughtful people on our trip. My intent is not to paint everyone with the same brush.
Yes, I am grateful for the privilege of life in Canada. And yes, I express my gratitude to my husband and his family for helping to create a fulfilling life for our children and me.
But, I feel un-entitled to some of the luxuries others enjoy, especially extravagant overseas travel.
Comments