“Civilization is the coexistence of the diverse”, Claude Levi-Strauss.
Statistics Canada and Mr. Collacott (Vancouver Sun, March 29th) have entered into a polemic arena that, to say the least, adds very little to clarify us what is really going on in Canada, and where we are heading to. For a start, the term “visible minority” is disgusting. Is, by definition, a racist concept. The reader may find this better explained in “Portrait of an anti-Semitic”, by Jean Paul Sartre. I would like to recall a single phrase from it: “If there were no Jews, the anti-Semitic would invent them”. Statistics Canada is inventing the “visible minority”, and worst, going further to warn us about a future “visible majority”. Mr. Collacott reacts within the same frame of thought. Rather than through statistics, or linear projections, I will try to make a point in the Chinese way, that is, through stories.
A man, “visibly” Caucasian, in his 60, born in Europe and settled in Canada in 1982 asks a “visibly” Chinese girl, aged 28: “Hi, where are you from?” The girl looks at him and patiently replies: “Canada”.
A “Friends” episode. One of the characters plans to go to China, a second says: “Hey, there you can look for a good Chinese restaurant”. A third character adds: “Only that over there they are not Chinese, they’re just restaurants”.
One from Lin Yutang: “Two men, one “visibly” Occidental, the other “visibly” Oriental, enter the jungle. Suddenly a very strange animal appears in sight. The Occidental tries to figure out to what family of animals this creature belongs to. The “visibly” Oriental, in which sauce would he cook it”.
The Chinese name for the United States does not mean “United States”, but “Beautiful Land”.
My point is: we don’t understand. And there is no point in discussing what we don’t know. It is appalling that a man like Mr. Collacot, who has been ambassador in Asia, not only dictates that we need more doctors, but that not even understands the racism implicit in this phrase. Are we ready to accept and embrace Chinese medicine? Are we eager to develop a health system (and business) based on prevention rather than one that needs sick people to function? What kind of doctors is Mr. Collacot willing to “import”?
Canada is an experiment. It is an Idea trying to become Fact. I can only recall one of such experiments proved successful. Centuries ago, in an Europe were Germans, French and Italians kept fighting each other, a singular land of coexistence and peace was founded: Switzerland.
Now Canada is at the crossroads. Statistics Canada and the Mr’s Collacots are not helping. What we need is a better understanding, which means better Education. And better Education does not mean better Education for Immigrants to integrate to our Society, but better Education for each of us to understand the Other. We need Knowledge to overcome Fear.
If successful, the Canadian experience will stand there, for centuries, for all to see and learn. And the Maple Leaf will stand not for a particular country, but for an Universal Idea turned into Fact.
