Around the world, hatred for migrants is on the rise. Michael Harris writes:
The National Front in France is flat-out anti-immigrant. The ultra-right mayor of Beziers was quick to point out that the terror suspect in Germany was once again a refugee. “The wave of migrants,” he said, “is a wave of death.”
Austria now has its Freedom Party, which spouts the same anti-immigrant line.
Even in Germany, which has been a beacon to the world in its acceptance of over a million desperate people displaced by war in the Middle East, the extreme Right is rising.
The Alternative for Deutschland party, once mired at 3 per cent in the polls, could get as much as 16 per cent of the vote in the 2017 elections. They want to ban minarets and calls to prayer and march under the slogan “Islam does not belong in Germany.”
The Great Orange Twitterer wants to ban all Muslims from the United States.
When World War II ended, this country welcomed hundreds of thousands of those who had been our mortal enemies:
After the universal slaughter ended in 1945 and millions had to leave a shattered Europe, 270,000 Germans made their way to Canada to start a new life. Despite having been the mortal enemy of Canada and the Allies for five brutal years, they were taken in.
Like the Germans, the Italians also came to Canada, though they arrived in two distinct waves after both great wars. For part of the time in between those wars, they were designated as ‘enemy aliens’. Italy was the enemy in the Second World War and yet 500,000 Italians came to Canada for the same reason as the Germans — to start a better life, in what they hoped would be a better place.
History shows that we are better than the hate mongers who presently strut their stuff upon the world stage -- something to think about in this time of "good will to men."
Happy Holidays -- and good will -- to all.
6 comments:
Glad to see you are back in the pink Owen.
Thanks, Kirby. Happy holidays to you and yours.
Thanks Owen and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours. I think this world has in general become a very hateful place. Perhaps in part to globalization or the fact that the world has become smaller in many ways. I always love to read Harris and find him to be very informative and right on the mark. I am however dismayed over the hateful contributors in the comments section of his posts. I guess his enemies are bound and determined to undermine him. Keep up the positive message and many returns in the New Year.
Thanks, zoombats. Some commenters are full of bile. But that's not you. I always enjoy your thoughtful contributions. Happy holidays.
.. the warm, calm & level headed beacon..
Northern Reflections.. is truly valued..
Like several others, always read..
Marshall McLuhan forsaw such Canadian 'outposts'
where technology met art..
In my view, Indy Blogs are 'art'
hybrid creations erupting with creativity
.. the written word .. opinionation
.. reflection .. perspective .. conversation
idealy a place where reason rules ..
merci beaucoup - thank you ..
the salamanders have spoken ..
2017 is shaping up to be an ugly year, salamander. Let's hope it's a year where reason won't be overwhelmed. Happy holidays.
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