Bob Hope used to say that he migrated from England to USA when he was told that he can not become the king of England. My travel to Toronto was not due to any such reason, though there can be many reasons for travelling / migrating to a new land. The best reason I can cite for my travel was my ambition to discover Canada! Yes I did discover. Going to a new land for the first time you dream about the country reading from print media and watching the TV channels. My picture of Toronto was shattered when I started living in GTA. I had a strong feedback from some immigrants settled here and that was the basis of my prejudiced and biased opinion about the immigrants and the other ethnic groups. What I found was shocking most of the canadian Pakistanis or Pakistani Canadians I have known were always complaining about the others and the injustices done to them. Common complaints were; indifference of the other ethinic groups towards Pakistani Canadians, their position outside the main stream of Canadian life and Hatred towards their beliefs, way of life and their culture,etc. I noticed during my stay in Toronto that:
- on Canada Day none of my acquaintances had any decoration or even a canadian flag hoisted ,
- on Christmas again they showed a cold shoulder,
- nobody was present at the match being played by Toronto Blue Jays,
- In the marriage of my son I asked some of those present about the Canadian Politics, no reply but they had up to date information about their respective countries Pakistan,India and Bangla Desh,
- why the name of any new or old Pakistani Canadian does not appear anywhere on the national teams, atheletics,etc?(failed to find one in 2007-2008)
- why dont they contribute to the canadian national charities, develop a taste for the music,art, cuisine, fashion, literature and life styles,etc?
- why they try to live in a locality where their own fellow coutry men or from south Asia live?
Let us think over these issues because if we do not accept others and recognise their values then they will not reciprocate. Are we not responsible for our plight? The fault dear Brutus is not in our stars but..................
