Dose canada have the same"arab phobia" as USA?

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SteveN

Canada in general is more tolerant of all races, religions, as well as sexual orientation.

You could be a gay Iraqi Jewish male living in Montreal and no one will give you much of a second glance, unless of course you decide to use your cell phone in a moving car while holding a cigarette! Smoking in public and using a cellphone in a car are much more likely to be tolerated less than being Muslim or Arabic here.

That being said, there are always some people in every country who are prejudice against others, and Canada is no exception. We are not an ideallic country that is immune from bias or racism. However, I can say that it is frowned upon and not tolerated when we see it.

As for terrorism in Canada, we have been fortunate in that we have not seen a large amount of terrorist activity here. The size of the country and smaller cities make it less appealing to someone who wants to influence our decision making.

In our recent history, I know of only a few incidents that I could qualify as terrorism. In 1970 in Quebec, a party known as the FLQ who were trying to obtain independence for the French province, started using bombs in mailboxes as a way to get attention to their cause. They even kidnapped a British diplomat (James Cross) and killed a Canadian minister (Pierre Laporte) before the military was called in to restore order.

In 1990, the Oka Crisis resulted from the decision to expand a golf course onto disputed native burial grounds, resulting in the death of a Quebec police officer, and a standoff that blocked off access to a town for more than two months. The army was again called in to restore order when negotiations failed.

This week (Oct 2008) there is news in British Columbia of a group opposed to the dangers and environmental impact of the sour gas pipelines and processing plants that are in that area. So far we have had two bombings, one that resulted in a minor leak of toxic gas on the pipeline. The federal government has called it terrorism, so you can expect that they may prosecute any accused under terrorism laws.

And of course, one person's definition of terrorism is another person's "fighting for change". Terrorism can result when someone wants to effect change or have their voice heard and does not know of any other way to get the public's attention. Alternatively, it can also happen when a group wants to retain power they lost to another group.

Since Canada has traditionally taken the role of peace keeper and not invader, we have very little reason to be attacked by terrorists, at least not from foreign ones.

bigA

While there are individuals in Canada that have that attitude. As a whole, I would say Canada is very tolerant towards the Islamic faith.

"Little Mosque on the Prairie" is the stereotype we prefer to perpetuate...check it out :)

David H

No on both points we are 100% more tolerant and accepting of all cultures and races in Canada, that is why we have been voted the best country to live in 6 years in a row by the UN.

Party Time!

No for both questions.

Haligh

No, to both of your questions, I think Canada's very welcoming.

Jane Marple

No we do not have this kind of phobia. Canada is great for accepting people no matter what race, religion or sexual orientation they are.

No we were never attacked by arab terrorist. Montreal was attacked in the past by an extremist policital party called 'The patriots'. It's part of our modern history, the party does not exist anymore.

ADD: correction the political party was named FLQ but their members called themselves <Patriots> inspired by the Patriots from 1867.

Karen C

When I was growing up there was exactly one (1) phobia. That one centered around schoolwork and the licking we would get if we didn't learn what we were sent there to learn.

What in the sam hell is 'arab phobia'? Is this an accepted term in Oxford's English Dictionary? Arabs are people - what is to be afraid of? They are made of flesh and blood just like you. Take them apart on a autopsy table and all their parts are the same and in the same places. Get to know them and gee whiz! They are just like everyone else. Some are good. Some are bad. Some are smart. Some stupid. Some kind and some nasty etc etc etc.

A terrorist is a terrorist. There are terrorists of all descriptions and from all countries. Did you ever notice terrorist of all types tend to not practice their terrorism in countries that do not themselves practice it back? That is not a rule but it is a tendency. Personally right now, I am more concerned with the drug addicts in this city who target the poor and elderly. Them I can do something about like nag the city and the police to get their act together. They are white or black usually and they are local terrorists that affect my life. What good is there in worrying about foreign terrorists that I do not know and that I can do nothing to stop? In fact from here, perhaps the best thing to do with them is to get to know them. It is much harder to attack people you know and like than those you know nothing about.

Obsessing about the unknown accomplishes nothing. The various governments have trained people to track them down and weed them out. Judging an entire group by a handful is unintelligent, unproductive and just plain stupid. It is as clever as being afraid of all cars because one hit and killed someone or all planes because one crashed into a building - human error and/or mechanical error. I still get around by car, still cross streets and still fly when going long distances and so probably do you.

What you are suggesting is unproductive and illogical. Terrorists concern us but they do not run our lives via a phobia. They win when you let them. If I was an American I would be more worried about the children you are bringing up to become murderers and rapists. I would worry about teaching the kids to hate people because they are a different colour or go to a different Church or worship a different God. I would worry more about letting my kids eat themselves into an early heart attack or playing with the guns left lying around the house and shooting each other. If you must be phobic, pick a logical thing to be phobic about.

Franklin D. Roosevelt said "There is nothing to fear but fear itself."
Maybe look to your dead President's. They had more intelligent things to say that still are true than your live Presidents.

pappy12a

No we don't have the same phobia...and our terrorism tends to be home grown

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