I had hoped that my recent column about a white woman complaining about a lack of “white food” options in a Burnaby shopping mall would be the last of it.
But more and more racist people have decided to reveal themselves to me by complaining about a lack of “white food” options throughout our city – as though that’s a real problem.
Like this person, who admits that it’s not actually about food but the mere presence of people who aren’t white.
“I understand what the person in the article is feeling,” reads an email. “It isn't about the food specifically, it's feeling like you're the clear minority in your home province. That's not right. If I wanted to go to China, I would. I don't blame new Canadians, of course. I do however blame the government and local officials.”
There you have it. They just came out and said it. They feel that because they are white that they deserve to only see some sort of “white culture” all around them. They blame government officials for allowing non-white people to come into Canada, even though our colonial country was built on people settling here from other places.
These folks are OK with immigration, as long as the people who come here don’t make them feel like they are living in “China.”
I received a lot of emails from people saying I was being “divisive” by pointing out people’s intolerance for other cultures. That’s how people try and suppress talk about racism – by claiming it’s being “divisive.” No, what’s divisive is hating people simply for not being white.
Then there were more people messaging me because don’t like driving through Metrotown and seeing “so many Asian restaurants.”
Like the entire idea of seeing Asian restaurants makes these folks uncomfortable, instead of embracing that we’re a multicultural community. They literally resent driving around their community because of it. Although, to be truthful, it’s not about the restaurants – it’s about the fact that they don’t want people from Asian countries moving here. They blame “foreigners” for all of their problems in life.
As someone who grew up in Burnaby and only saw “white” restaurants everywhere in the 1970s and ‘80s, I’m thrilled with the way our community is now.
It’s rich with so many different cultures and makes our community a better place. It’s reflective of the people who live here – people who have built lives in Burnaby and make our community stronger.
So just stop it.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
