Close Reading

Here is a aggressively neutral take as a Canadian elementary school teacher in an area with an extremely high Indian population (around half our school is ethnically Indian). It is also my own opinion, and some opinions on the internet suck: The good: Cultural integration IS possible (the Indian families are more into hockey than the white families where I live), tons of cross-cultural friendships, beautiful blend of cultural celebrations, top achievers are almost always second-generation immigrants, kids are growing up to love their parents' culture while also loving Canada's, many fantastic families who engage their children well and raise them very respectfully, religious temples that will feed an amazing meal to ANYBODY who walks into them (as long as you cover your hair), low rates of family trauma (drugs, abuse, divorce, etc.), families that take care of their elders The rough: Not all families are interested in being Canadian (some families just send their kids to Indian speaking private schools, live in Indian areas, and only seem to practice Indian ways of life - what's even the point?), many Indian families retreated into their home-lives during Covid which removed their children from integration opportunities, a very small percentage of the families are absolutely TERRIBLE at parenting and treat their sons and daughters with different levels of respect, multi-family households pay a single property tax which makes the contribution per taxpayer much smaller (while social benefits are equal to anybody else), some crime such as extortion and gang activity has been imported into the country, some individuals' disregard for rules and laws (setting fireworks on Diwali in the middle of a dry, grassy field is just plain stupid), some Indian communities seem to vote blindly for their own ilk during local elections without any regard for policy or experience, LMIA immigration program has been corrupted by the nepotism of bad actors and the greed of large corporations (wages can be federally subsidized which makes it cheaper to hire immigrants than the 16 year old down the street). Many of these families were simply making good choices for their own family, so don't blame the people themselves for this - blame the government that allowed it to fester unsustainably. I'll continue to stick up for the majority of these beautiful families though - haters be darned! Watching these kids grow up gives me some hope for humanity!

Who else loves the elderly Sikh gentleman? Respect 🙏

Trudeau, my brother, My words cannot begin to express to you or your people just how genuinely sorry I am for my country's utterly repulsive and inexcusable behavior throughout the last month and a half and for the downright cruel, hostile treatment you've suffered at the hands of the most incompetent, greedy, poorly educated, narcissistic, racist, sexist, xenophobic buffoon to ever preside over the United States. Not only is Donald Trump an overly privileged, pathetic, whiney crybaby who literally folds his arms, stomps his feet, and launches an all out temper tantrum whenever he doesn't get his way or when someone else has the TV remote, he is a dangerously delusional, high stakes risk taker who wouldn't think twice about using his own mother or child as a human body shield if he thought his life were in danger. There is absolutely no value, principle, moral or ethic he wouldn't betray without hesitation if he suspects there is anything at all to be gained - you know, the type of guy who would poison the entire neighborhood in order to hoard all the complimentary tampons and lip gloss samples from his neighbors' mail boxes just to ensure that he got first dibs on everything before anyone else. Incidentally, he is also the same type of guy who pockets all the flavored mini coffee creamers from the gas station and all the paper bed sheets and Qtips from the doctor's office. I wouldn't put it past him to steal the waitresses' tips off tabletops on his way out the door upon leaving McDonald's. In fact, I would bet everything that he steals the donation jars for Jerry's Kids at the local supermarket. I mean, its already a given that he is likely the guy who filed a lawsuit a few summers back against a sweet, innocent littls FOUR year old boy for having a lemonade stand on property not zoned for commercial use. If it wasn't Trump then I'm sure it's only because he was too busy ordering the National Guard to power hose and pepper spray the 30 or so elderly nuns who had been distributing bottled water to folks demonstrating in support of Black Lives Matter on the hottest day of the year. Satisfied in his victorious battle against the nuns - 9 of whom had been hospitalized for critical injuries including the 92 year old Mother Superior who suffered massive brain bleed, swelling and concussion due to the excessive force of the power hose and an 87 year old nun who lost permanent sight in one eye due to the pepper spray - Trump had the nerve to pose for a publicity shot in front of the church while holding a Bible - UPSIDE DOWN - and scrunching and contorting his face into that hideous trademark scowl he does ever so naturally. Yep. This is the man my fellow Americans chose to represent our nation as President - a man who beats up 90 year old nuns and imposes 25% tax hikes to our ONLY FRIEND in the entire world simply for refusing to accept his invitation for statehood. I mean, come on, Trudeau, is that really asking too much of you? Was it really worth bruising Donny's fragile little ego and sending him into a fit of rage? (Seriously, though, I suspect he really does feel as though you are in the wrong for refusing to humor his delusions and thus embarrassing him in front of all his Russian dictator and Ku Klux Klan buddies.)\nOnce again, I do humbly apologize and I promise I will support whatever actions you choose to take and I will help you in any way you deem is best. \nMuch love and peace always, \nMs. S. Delois Jackson

OMG I laughed so so hard when you read the French comment (I’m French Canadian too)… he made you say it three times ??? priceless!\nMy personal answer would be : no, I never considered moving to the US. I considered Europe several times (went for exchanges in England and Russia a decade ago). Moving to US… for myself, I can’t see a good reason. Especially now… \npeople who are interested in the US are people who have career ambitions or want to make more money (like in Universities, finance, technology…). There is a second category of people, that I don’t think they use Reddit ;) Retired people over a certain age, they go live in Florida half the year and some decide to stay. There are also a small number of neoconservatives who think we live under a liberal dictature (yes, I’m looking at you Alberta), might be more interested, as well as our evangelicals too, since they want to insist on imposing their religion on everyone else. \nSo, mostly : climate for elders, ambitions (career or financial) for youth, ideology for some others. Maybe love too !