Canada is a place where multiculturalism is encouraged, but when did it get so overwhelming? Lately I can’t walk down the street without hearing mumbling of music in a foreign language. It’s not that I don’t like people from different ethnicities. I myself come from an unconventional Canadian background; however there are some boundaries one takes when in front of others to let them feel comfortable. I remember when I first started attending Maple Collegiate. I was nervous and scared, but when I walked through the doors I seen so much diversity that it intimidated me on another level. Walking to my classes I seen two very different ethnic groups huddled together. On one side you had the Filipino’s and on the other side you had the East Indians. The thing that I think bothered me the most about these groups was not that they were together; instead it was because they excluded people who weren’t from their parts of the world.
Multiculturalism is about learning and integrating with people from all over the globe. At Maples however, we see the opposite of this. Yes there are different groups of people, but no one steps out of their little zone to talk to someone and get to know them, and god forbid speak in ENGLISH!! One day as I was walking in to the bathroom during break I encountered a group of East Indian girls talking. As I approached the sink, one of them came over and said,
“Hey are you Punjabi?” When I responded “no” they turned away and started to speak in their language. I was in a bad mood as it was and that seemed to blow me over the top. Before leaving the washroom, I turned back at them and said
“Just so you know this is Canada, here people speak in English!” I assumed they got the message as they didn’t say anything before I left.
I like to think that people don’t intentionally do this, but when they are clearly speaking in English and decide to conveniently switch when someone walks by, it makes you wonder. I suppose it may be easier for some to communicate in their native tongue, but all I’m trying to say is when you’re at school you should at least be respectful and use a language everyone can understand.
A couple reasons I think people would engage in this behaviour are because, it may make them feel more comfortable in their new environment. I think a way this behaviour would be dissuaded is if schools made it mandatory for students and staff to speak in French or English the two OFFICIAL LANGUAGES in Canada.
By far my favourite entry I have read today. For the main reasons, because I couldn't agree anymore and for the fact you. Used some light humor in it as well. Anditssomething that like, every single student at maples should really read handsome should take some pointers from.
ReplyDeleteYour right but I guess there's nothing we can do about it.
ReplyDeleteCanada has adapted the UN's Charter of Rights and Freedom. We called it the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom. There it states "That everyone has the right to the following fundamental freedoms", this includes the freedom of speech. Unless we change history and break this Charter, there can be no other way to force the usage of only English or French in schools or anywhere else in Canada.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is quite intimidating to not be able to understand or communicate with other cultures. But there's no changing the Canadian Charter that has been applied for or a century in this country. We may have to just deal with it personally, or just ignore it.
I see where you coming from its just that sometime it is seen as a very disrespectful thing. For example you are in a group for a project and half the group is speaking a language that the other half does not understand.
DeleteI enjoyed reading your blog and I agree that this is a issue at maples
ReplyDeleteDisagree just because there speaking in a different language doesn't mean they're saying anything bad. I speak 2 languages and it's awesome and great if u want to tell someone something and don't want others to know!
ReplyDelete