wild goose chase
Active Member
The discussion of Syrian refugees being welcomed made me think about whether or not Canada deserves its reputation of being one of the countries that is quick to integrate immigrants as "one of us".
I feel like obviously, we're not the only New World country with recent immigration (US, Australia, New Zealand etc.) but I feel both native-born Canadians and new Canadians are more quick to see each other as "both Canadian" than many other countries.
Whereas, I feel like, even in the US, while also a country of immigrants, the gap between an American citizen born in the US and an American citizen that is foreign-born is kind of bigger in the mind's eye in terms of who is seen as "more American" than who is seen as Canadian. I'm not saying that first-generation immigrants don't get xenophobic treatments like being told "go back to your country" in Canada too of course, but I feel like the "a Canadian is Canadian, even if foreign born" is stronger here. Even the discourse regarding immigrants down south sometimes still emphasizes being born and bred as highly important for Americans including ability to run for President. "Birtherism" is something that is kind of foreign in mindset to many Canadians. However, there was that Bill C-24 that proposed that dual-citizen Canadians can have their citizenship revoked for convicted criminal activities, while I don't think that even in the US, they'd strip citizenship for criminal activities but rather try someone as an American citizen who committed a crime.
I may be biased of course thinking that Canadians are more tolerant than most countries towards immigrants, but what do you think? Are we more willing to accept that a Canadian can be foreign born and still call themselves "Canadian" than most other countries would?
I feel like obviously, we're not the only New World country with recent immigration (US, Australia, New Zealand etc.) but I feel both native-born Canadians and new Canadians are more quick to see each other as "both Canadian" than many other countries.
Whereas, I feel like, even in the US, while also a country of immigrants, the gap between an American citizen born in the US and an American citizen that is foreign-born is kind of bigger in the mind's eye in terms of who is seen as "more American" than who is seen as Canadian. I'm not saying that first-generation immigrants don't get xenophobic treatments like being told "go back to your country" in Canada too of course, but I feel like the "a Canadian is Canadian, even if foreign born" is stronger here. Even the discourse regarding immigrants down south sometimes still emphasizes being born and bred as highly important for Americans including ability to run for President. "Birtherism" is something that is kind of foreign in mindset to many Canadians. However, there was that Bill C-24 that proposed that dual-citizen Canadians can have their citizenship revoked for convicted criminal activities, while I don't think that even in the US, they'd strip citizenship for criminal activities but rather try someone as an American citizen who committed a crime.
I may be biased of course thinking that Canadians are more tolerant than most countries towards immigrants, but what do you think? Are we more willing to accept that a Canadian can be foreign born and still call themselves "Canadian" than most other countries would?
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