Dear Editor:
Regarding Josh Labove's opinion piece in Sunday's North Shore News (Holding Tight to Fiction of a European Canada), Canada was built on the backs of immigrants who made this country what it is today. Certainly one cannot deny Canada's early immigrants were of mainly European descent. It follows that English and French became our national languages.The importance placed upon assimilation helped a disparate group form a common bond and shaped our national identity. We are globally recognized as a tolerant nation and continue to attract immigrants who are persecuted in their own countries for religious or political beliefs.
Canadians as a whole are inherently respectful of others and embrace the many different cultures that make up our country. We take pride in our diverse nation yet expect all our citizens to uphold certain standards. Having an adequate knowledge of either English or French is one of the requirements for becoming a Canadian citizen and helps bind us together.
Our tolerance for other cultures, languages and beliefs is one of our nation's defining characteristics. Unfortunately, this quality is too often exploited (heaven forbid you wish anyone a "Merry Christmas" anymore).The emphasis on multiculturalism has displaced the value of assimilation and any opinion to the contrary is vilified as racism.
Describing Mr. Saltzberg as a xenophobe and Putting Canada First as a hate group is an extreme reaction to a point of view not in line with Mr. Labove's. Fortunately, freedom of speech (another of our nation's defining qualities) allows both these points of view to be aired. Truly frightening are those who try to quash a disparate opinion under a trumped-up guise of hate or racism.
Melinda Slater
West Vancouver
