Speaking of cultural diversity, on a more positive note, this Thursday February 19th is the Lunar New Year. We used to refer to is as the Chinese New Year but all of Asia celebrate it not just China so now we refer to is as the Lunar New Year since the calender is based on the phases of the moon not the traditional Western calendar.
We made a passing reference to the absurdity of the claim that the Chinese in China shouldn't celebrate Western holidays like Christmas. My response is why not? We celebrate the Lunar New Year here because we are a multi cultural society. Diversity makes us strong. The parade is on Saturday the 22nd.
I'm really enjoying this TV series on Netflicks about two guys traveling called Departures. After their cross Canada trip they visited Jordon and the experienced Diwali in India. Here in Surrey we know Diwali and Vaisakhi. They found some strange traditions of cremating human bodies then dumping the ashes in the Ganges river. Yet they were very respectful about it and explained this isn't our home. These are their traditions and we have to respect them. I really like the series. I have a friend I met on a local mountain from Europe who recently visited the Taj Mahal in India then went mountain climbing in Nepal. Indeed there is so much to see out there that you simply can't find in a crack pipe or on an episode of Sons of Anarchy. Departures is way better than any of that.
Respectfully, is the Chinese growth in Vancouver, "diversity?"
ReplyDeleteMy old High School, Point Grey in Kerrisdale, is now 98% Chinese. Everyone in Kerrisdale buses is Chinese. Every house around our old house there is Chinese, literally 95% or more of every single house has Chinese owners. From about Oak street to Pacific Spirit Park, every house has Chinese inhabitants.
This is NOT diversity!
It is merely swapping out one huge majority, for another very obvious huge majority.
I hate to break it to you but that's called reality. That's why I encourage people to get out of the fish bowl and travel so they can see what it's like in the rest of the world. Globally white people are the minority.
DeleteWe've had this discussion before. How do you think the First Nation bothers felt when the white man came here and disrupted the demographics of their home.
When my kids were in high school it was predominately Asian. This was a wonderful thing because those Asians weren't gang bangers they were good hard working kids who cared about school and went on to University. It raised the bar and helped lift Surrey up out of the toilet it was in.