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Dear Prime Minsiter: Admission of Syrian refugees in Canada a right thing to do
12-16-2015
Dear Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Justin Trudeau.
As we Canadians across the nation are preparing to accept 25,000 Syrian refugees with your blessing in the next few months. As an average tax payer living in Surrey, BC I would like to take this opportunity to thank and commend you for taking stance on the human crisis faced in that part of the world, while keeping your campaign promise despite a considerable amount of oppositions.
Canadians have always reached other parts of the world to help and show compassion to people facing either persecution by dictators in their country or fleeing war torn countries and have seen and experienced unthinkable horrors.
As you are aware, it has always been a Canadian tradition to help others during times of crisis. Canada has always resettled refugees to save lives and to provide stability to those fleeing persecution who have no hope of relief.
Canada’s record of accepting millions of refugees in the past stands out from the rest of the world going back to 1776 when 3000 Black Loyalists amongst the slaves fled the oppression of American Revolution. Tens of Thousands of Polish immigrants escape Russian persecution in 1858 to make Canada as their country. From 1880-1915 thousands of Italians were driven out of their Farm land as a result of new Italian state reform and made Canada as their new home. Same year, thousands of persecuted Jews fleeing pogroms of the pale took refuge in Canada. In 1891-1952 170,000 Ukranains began fleeing oppression from Austro- Hungarian rule, Soviet occupation and communist making Canada as their home. In 1950, 250,000 displaced people including Jews victim of Nazism and communism fled to Canada and seek refuge.
During the same period, Canada accepted many Palestinians who were driven out from their land by the Israeli and Arab war in 1948. In 1960’s thousands of Chinese refugees fled the communist’s violence. In 1968, 11,000 Czech fled the soviet and Warsaw communist invasion. In 1970, 7000 Chilean and other Latin Americans were allowed to stay in Canada after violent overthrow of Salvador. 20,000 Soviet Jews refugees were allowed to stay in Canada from 1970-1990 after they were deprived of religious and political freedom.1971; thousands of Bangali came to Canada after the outbreak of Bangladesh war. In 1973, following expulsion of Idi Amins south Asian population, 7000 Ismaili Muslims fled Uganda to make Canada their home. In 1980, 60,000 boat Vietnamese found refuge in Canada. From 1987-1992, thousands of Fijians escaped 1987 military coup and resettled in Canada. In1992, 5000 Bosnians were admitted to Canada fleeing Yogosav’s ethnic cleansing. 2006, Canada resettled 3900 Karen Refugees from Thailand Camp.Since 2008, Canada resettled 5000 Bhutanese refugees. Last but not least, on the refugee seekers list was our former Prime Minister in 1960, Mr John Difienbaker’s grandfather who was a German refugee of the Napoleonic war who introduced Canada’s first Bill of rights.
As a result of continuous Canadian generosity, The United Nations awarded Canada the Nansen Medal for its outstanding humanitarian tradition of resettling refugees.
I am sure you are aware of many successful refugee stories from the past, where refugees excelled and later became prodigious contributors to this great country. Due to the countries constitutional charter of rights and an equal opportunity given to its Citizens, many have and will continue to thrive in business, education and in the labor force contributing towards this country. As we are all aware that the structure and fabric of this country has been built on the foundation of the hard working immigrants. The Canadian Government may contribute in the early stages of the refugee’s settlement, but in the long-term, I am sure the country will benefit from these refugees in tax forms as it’s known from the past.
Refugees are not someone who would like to leave their homeland, environment, comfort of their homes and friends just for the sake of resettling in a new environment. But are forced to leave their country for the safety of their families life and unimaginable hardships faced and have in many cases, been forced to live in refugee camps for many years. When they arrive in Canada, they basically pick up the pieces of their lives and start all over again.
The admission of Syrian refugees in Canada may take longer than anticipated; however, majority of the Canadians do understand the security and screening part of the process before admitting refugees into the country.
Finally, I would like to humbly request you to halt all bombing campaigns in Syria and withdraw all our Canadian jetfighters out of the conflict region to further save many innocent lives. I am neither a military expert nor a Middle Eastern; however, I have closely observed the situation in the Middle East through the media from last 25 years since the first Gulf War. And my observation is that aerial bombings kill more innocents and vulnerable ones on the ground than the targeted ones. I am sure the bad guys will always have an intelligence info beforehand which makes them get away first. In the past two decades, we have witnessed a rise in the bombings and terrorism around the globe which has made this world very unsafe to travel and move around. As bombings increase so do the number of refugee claimants around the Globe. Bombing has only created millions of orphans and widows in the last two decades then ever seen before.
Keeping our pilots out of the conflict area will not only keep them out of danger but will save billions of taxpayers’ dollars in operating costs. Last week we have just witnessed a jetfighter that was shot down while claiming to destroy ISIL monsters. There is absolutely no loyalties between countries in that region while all side claiming to fight a common enemy.
Your previous commitment to establish a diverse, gender-equal cabinet in the parliament and accepting Syrian refugees fleeing their war-torn country is a typical example how the world leaders shall react towards the crisis and not through bombings.
As Canadians, let us show the world that we can invest in solutions rather than in conflict. Canada’s compassion and fairness is a source of great pride for Canadian’s. Let’s continue to be engaged in this great cause of compassion, care and generosity so that we can reduce the number of lifeless children’s bodies being found lying on the shores.
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