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Race and Identity

In: Religion Topics

Submitted By hermandeol
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Race and Identity
When an immigrant settles in a new country, they may run into many barriers. Settling in a new country itself is a huge challenge, since the country and its environment is new to them. Migrating is a big challenge, which leads people to language barriers, a lack of recognition for foreign credentials, or issues with integration. But Multicultural Canada has its own ways in which migrants can easily settle into Canada. Translators are widely available Canada. Most of the workers in Canadian banks know more than one language, just to help to immigrants with their accounts. (You can apply for bank loan, almost in any language). Moving into a new country is a huge step no matter how well prepared or how confident you are. In Newcomer, by Mehri Yalfani, a girl suffered from the revolution of Iran was forced to migrate to Canada. She was not able to communicate well in her ESL class, due to her language barrier. In Finding a Nationality That Fits by Isabel Vincent, describes how Isabel had trouble reintegrating with her cultural roots due to the fact that she was migrated to Canada at a very young age. She couldn’t say if she was Canadian or Portuguese. In The Other Family, by Himani Bannerji, the Author herself, regret her decision to bring her child to Canada, away from her culture and heritage. The child also had difficulties accepting her heritage and culture. Which lead her to be white, like the majority of the families in Canada.
While the terms integration and assimilation are somewhat related, but should not be confused with each other. Integration is a term that refers to the process in which migrants and refugees become part of the culturally and socially of a country. This process helps newcomers settle in their new country and become recognized as citizens in that society. Assimilation, on the other hand, is a term that indicates the ethno-racial identity of the migrant is abandoned. Migrants instead seek to merge their identity into the expectations and norms of the country in which they are settling in.
I do agree with the notion that Canadians are more tolerant to racial minorities and more welcoming and respectful to newcomers and their cultural differences than Americans. As Canadians, we do encourage integration into our society, allowing migrants to promote their culture and heritage. Free language classes are provided widely by government to help the newcomers America on the other hand is more of a patriotic country, which encourages more of an assimilation into their society.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms ensures that Canadians are all equal and free from racial discrimination. Examples such as; the freedom of expression, right to vote, right to life, and other rights which recognize multicultural heritage keeps Canadians away from discrimination. But discrimination can hit in many forms, examples of such being the exclusion of a minority, or the denial to vote. Whenever rights or freedom gets violated, the CCRF ensures that victims can go to court to ask for a remedy.
For a nation like Canada, diversity is strength. Canada is made of people from all over who had the gumption to get up and leave their country and go somewhere new in search of a better life. Although there have been struggles in settling before, and will still continue in some way, but the government is providing what so ever to help newcomers, settling into Canada.

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