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Canada – A Great Gift.
7-01-2020
“The world needs more Canada.” Happy Canada Day to all our fellow Canadians.
“We are problem solvers, innovators, and we do whatever it takes to get the job done right, because as Canadian we don’t know how to do it any differently.” We take responsibilities and find solutions. “We might be known for being polite, but don’t take our steadfastness and calm demeanour as points of weakness. We are smart enough to know this is not a battle between good and evil.”
Canada is a leader. Leader in resource governance, number four in the world, according to global resource governance organization. Leader in Global Peace, number six in the world, according to the United Nations. And Leader in Democracy, number six in the world, according to the world-renowned magazine, The Economist.
If you’re a new immigrant to Canada, struggling to make ends meet, give yourself a big pat on the back for choosing Canada as your new “Home and native land,” and if you’re children of immigrants, like us, who chose to migrate more than half a century ago, than go and give your parents or grand parents a one big hug on Canada Day for choosing Canada as their “Home and native land.” Let them know their hard work and struggles have paid-off, and it is because of their difficult decision to part away from their country and their loved ones is why you are a citizen of a best country in the world to call home. Whether you’re a new immigrant or old. You have given your children the greatest the gift you could afford by choosing Canada.
In this world of absolute mayhem, Canada has emerged as a beacon of hope and inclusivity. Let’s look at how Canada fared over the past four decades alone. Whether it was the refugee crisis in Somalia in the eighties. Canada took more Somali refugees than any other western counterparts. In the nineties, Canada rescued more Bosnian, Croatian, and Kosovar Muslim refugees than any other western counterparts. Canada remained arm-length distance in US-NATO led first Gulf War in 1991 against Iraq. This despite being an active NATO member.
At the turn of a millennium, 9/11 event led to reprisals against Muslim minorities around the globe, especially in the western hemisphere. Canadian Muslims remained unscathed, protected by nation’s political, religious, and business leadership. Then Prime Minister, Jean Chretien dispatched his top ministers to all the largest mosques in the country to attend first Friday sermon, after the 9/11 event to assure Canadian Muslims that the government is behind them, and will do whatever it takes to protect them against any backlash.
Canada once again chose to play the role of peacemaker during US led War on Terrorism and deployed its forces to Afghanistan as a nation builder and contributed towards stabilizing Afghanistan by developing its internal security apparatus by training its security forces.
When the world was hit with the global financial crises in 2008, only Canada emerged as the strongest economy among the G-7 Nations.
During the Syrian refugee crisis Canada by far welcomed more Syrian refugees than any other western nation in the world.
Now the world faces the menace of Global Pandemic. Once again, Canada is emerging as one of the safest countries in the world, taking all necessary measures to protect its citizens. According to Forbes magazine, Canada is among the safest countries in the world for Covid-19.
“A Canadian, is a Canadian, is a Canadian.” The thing that makes this country great is that your “otherness” – the colour of your skin, your religion, your ethnicity, your background – does not make you any less of a Canadian. In fact, if any thing it is what makes us all a Canadian. Indeed, as our Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau often states, “Our diversity is our strength.”
Unlike the melting pot at the south of the border. Canada stands out as the beautiful multicultural mosaic where global community celebrates being Canadians while remaining proud of their own culture and ethnicities.
You can be black, white, red, yellow, brown, yet be a Canadian. You can be Muslim, Christian, Jew, Hindu, Sikh, or have no religious affiliation and be a Canadian. A country where one culture celebrates other culture’s celebrations. Where Christian churches open their parking lots for Muslims on Eid day, and where Muslim mosques, clear out their parking lots for overcrowded church goers on Christmas days. Only in Canada, we will find more Canadians who are not Sikhs attending the annual Vaisakhi parade, and more non-Chinese Canadians attending Chinese New Year festivities.
Canada is a country where our non-Muslim co-workers remind us its Friday prayer time, we better hurry up or we are going to miss it. it is a country where thousands of Muslims give up their vacations during Christmas holidays so our fellow Christians can enjoy their seasons of festivities. It is a country where menorah is lighted at city halls around the country during Jewish festivals, and Ramadan Iftars and Eid parties are held during the fasting month of Ramadan by government officials.
No family is perfect. Canada is no exception. However, having said that, with all its imperfectness. It is still the perfect country to live in and raise a family. The best country in the world from all measures. A country which is second to none.
As Canadians it is incumbent upon us to ensure its welfare and well-being, contribute to its greatness by being a good responsible citizen. It is incumbent upon us to make this country better, for ourselves, and for our children. We all have a role to play and we must take that task with utmost responsibility.
Let’s take a vow that we will leave Canada better than the one we found.
From AlAmeen Post Happy Canada Day to all our fellow Canadians.
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