Close Reading

***National Post***\nMuslim leaders should've condemned Hamas instead of fomenting hate\nIf they had spoken out against terrorism, their advocacy of the Palestinian cause would carry much more weight. \n\nPart of the reason we are seeing division, hatred and unrest in the streets of Montreal, Toronto and other communities across Canada is due to the collective failure of Muslim leaders, in Canada and around the world, to condemn the despicable Oct. 7 terror attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians. \n\nIt was a horrific and cowardly attack by a terrorist group — not by all Palestinians, Arabs or the wider Muslim community. It should have been condemned and contained immediately. Muslims who pride themselves as followers of a peaceful religion should have empathized and consoled the grieving Jews. \n\nThere was a lot of time to do this. There was a lengthy delay between the attack and Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza. Instead of taking this time to condemn Hamas’s slaughter, Arab and Muslim politicians and government leaders promoted anti-Jewish hate to shore up their political support. This is nothing less than encouraging antisemitism. \n\nMuslim political and religious leaders, barring rare exceptions, chose to contextualize, equivocate and, in most cases, justify Hamas’s barbarity. What we have, as a result, is widespread hate bordering on violence in Canada — a country where communities have historically lived side-by-side in peace. \n\nThe situation got worse due to the statements made by community leaders like Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s special representative on combating Islamophobia, who did not hide her partisan and divisive outlook by clearly siding with the protesters on Canadian streets, characterizing them as “peaceful demonstrations,” even though we have seen people supporting Hamas, calling for genocide against Israeli Jews and harassing and intimidating Jewish-owned businesses. \n\nOn Twitter, Elghawaby approvingly cited a quote from a Toronto Star column reading, “The stories I have heard are both fantastical and true. Muslims (and others who silently sympathize with the loss of Palestinians lives) are being disciplined, maligned, isolated and targeted at work.” \n\nInstead of reaching across the aisle and consoling the Jewish community, she has instead chosen to focus her public comments on rising Islamophobia. \n\nSeriously? Remember the Muslim family who were killed in a hate-related attack in London, Ont., a couple years ago? All communities, including the Jewish community, across the political and religious spectrum unambiguously condemned that hate crime. And it brought a sense of relief and security to Muslims in Ontario. \n\nRemember how, after more that 50 people were gunned down while worshipping at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019, political and religious leaders from all faiths stood behind Muslims and consoled them? \n\nAlso, after the Quebec mosque attack, almost all communities in Canada chose to stand with Muslims. There were images of people in Alberta who formed a human chain to protect Muslims. Similar scenes were witnessed elsewhere in the country. Jewish community leaders spoke out, loud and clear, in support of Muslims and against hate and bigotry. \n\nBut that is not what Elghawaby did. Instead, she makes it sounds as though it is Muslims who are the victims, while failing to mention the barbarity unleashed on Oct. 7. This is not leadership. This is not her mandate. Her job is to promote tolerance as enshrined in Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. \n\nNow imagine a scenario in which Muslims did what they ought to have done in the first place: condemned the Hamas attack, sided with the Jewish victims and dissociated themselves from terrorism. Their voices for the Palestinian cause would have carried much more weight. \n\nWhat we are seeing instead is a rising tide of anti-Jewish hate on our streets, promoted and peddled by Muslim leaders themselves, either by gaslighting the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, or wallpapering it with the political colours of the Palestinian cause. \n\nLet us all come together, not to let hate be poured onto the streets of Canada, but to stand united for a secure and prosperous country. \n\nNational Post \n\nRaheel Raza and Mohammad Rizwan are members of the Council of Muslims Against Antisemitism.

My first visit to Canada (the so called Province of Quebec) was in 1972. If you've had asked me at that time where was paradise, I'd have answered to you that it was right here in Quebec and particularly in Montreal. I spent two years and went back home in 1974. I came back five years later in 1979 with the intent of staying and I did. I've spent decades of wonderful years here, and although I will leave next year, I will still remember with nostalgia the lost best decades (70s, 80s and 90s) I'd have spent in Montreal. I will remember the most beautiful city of the world and what it has become in the years 2000 amd counting. I remember how clean and well maintained that city was; how its people were among the most polite and civilized in the World; how life was so easy and affordable; how tolerant as a society the French Canadian one was and so on. Today, all that is gone, and when I take a look at the pile of trashes and garbages on the Ste-Catherine street and Saint Laurent Boulevard, it makes feel sick. In fact, Montreal has become a huge Third World city, and it is not better on a social point of view : you can't walk one block or two without being dragged by a homosexual or a lesbian. Speaking of lesbian and homosexual, you can't keep your work if you don't support the LGBT and or willing to date your boss. I am leaving next year to go back to my country where there is still a seemingly willingness to normalcy, but since the LGBT has managed to sneak its power everywhere, I am not holding my breath of a bright future overthere, but it's my home and I prefer to be there and deal with it.

Great job n great research by the Nitish Rajput's team. This is 100% true, most of the people migrated to Canada in 80s-90s remember punjab negatively. Most of the news these people hear is through the indian media houses which very negative. They expect the same rights from indian government as they get from Canadian government. Most of the Khalistani supporting got active because of ruling party politics where a regular sikhs whose son, brother n father served in indian army and marines is called Khalistani without any reason. This has definitely created a divide in society, and media houses are also spreading the negativity towards a community. \n\nWahi baat h ki Modi is not india n humei ni pasand uski politics. Doesn't mean ki hum anti nationalist hogye or we hate modi. Bhai nahi pasand humei politics jo society mei divide kre. First thing a sikh child is taught is that everyone is equal. Ab tum fundamentals attack kroge toh humei ni pasand ayega.

I have a chronic pain disability. I can't even fathom trying to manage that in the US healthcare system. Like Tyler mentioned, that alone is enough of a reason for me. 2 party system is also a hard no (even though it hurts that we're not much better right now). Gun culture is a no for me, it's not an environment I care to be a part of. I hesitate to use safety at school as an example because I remember when Taber followed on the heels of Columbine (I was in grade 9 that year). There's a lot up here in Canada that we need to improve, but with what I value as a Canadian I certainly would feel like I was downgrading if I moved to the US. Heck, as an Albertan even moving to another province would feel like a downgrade to me since I have no PST where I live, we're rat free, I live within an hour of the Rocky Mountains, etc.

Bro wtf, this video came out right when I was thinking of moving to Texas.\nThe house prices in Canada are just unliveable, and I really like the politics, guns, and tech sector that Texas has.\nIts beens omething iv been thinking abt for years honestly.\n\nNow while I can technically just spam my TN visa indefinitely while living in Texas, its gonna be pure unbridled CANCER tryna get a green card and possibly a dual citizenship.\nI get clowned for it, but I like America, and specifically really like Texas as a state.\nIt would be nice to be considered American and all, so im open to dual citizenships and all.\n\nBut for WHATEVER reason, the US grants greencards based on your country of BIRTH, and not the country you grew up in all your life with a citizenship in.\nThis means 20 year wait times, cus im apparently from a country I cant even remember being in.\nIts not a completely be all end all type of deal, since if I marry someone else who was born in Canada, my chargeability would be from Canada.\nSo my options are to litterally get bitches.\n\nThe whole process is cancer honestly.\nApparently it was infinitely easier in the 90s since Elon Musk also immigrated from South Africa, to Canada, and then America.\nBut times have changed, and it just really be like that.

I’m with my fellow Canadians, I’ll visit the US (although even then, it’s beginning to look less and less ideal) but over my dead body would I live there. \nThe fact you have become desensitized and don’t discuss school shootings is baffling. 4 or 5 years ago, there was a shooting where I live in Canada. The whole city was on lock down. I believe one elderly woman died, and 3 were injured. The person was caught, arrested, and is rotting away in jail. It hasn’t happened since. People still remember it. My little sister and I were scared, so we hid in my bedrooms closet. (It was on the second floor, and there was no way anybody could break in and get up there easily.)\n\nHealthcare is a huge issue. My family has a long line of health issues, and with that in mind, the risk is just to obscene.\n\nI am a woman. The fact that laws are being stripped away from us by old white men who have no idea what it is like to be a woman in the states is horrifying. \n\nGun culture. It’s near-on impossible or at least it’s incredibly difficult to get guns here. Owning guns isn’t respected. When people die from being shot, it’s remembered and spoken about, even years later. At least to me, it seems you care more for your Guns and the rights to own and use them, then Women who want to have bodily autonomy.\n\nYour political issues. I don’t even know what to say at this point beyond. The entire senate is rich old straight white men who like to make laws about groups they aren’t part of, and strip laws away from others. You basically have two polar opposite sides of the political spectrum and that alone, divides people so deep they can’t even be in the same room for more then 10 seconds.\n\n\nI’m Part of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Enough said. \n\nI’m well aware that not everyone in the US is like this. But in my eyes, that’s more then enough to deter me. I’m glad you decided to take a look at this, and see our reactions to the questions. And I’m glad you didn’t take offence to the harsh or bitter answers. Sure Canada isn’t perfect, but it’s better in enough ways to keep me much preferring staying here.

I’ve lived in both countries in small towns and big cities Hell No Thanks and I would have great insurance. I remember in preschool having to do active shooter drills in the US nope. If you look at stats on gun violence and mass shootings it’s crazy. The US leads by an astronomical amount. Tyler says the US has more access to guns and although I have no idea where to get a gun I think people could get one pretty easily but we don’t need them. I can walk in the dark and not fear for my safety and Canada has only had 3 mass shootings in its whole history. Of course medical, dental, education, women’s rights, maternity and paternity leave, unemployment, help when Covid lockdown happened, clean free water in homes, housing, … on and on. America the “free” is antiquated and no longer true. Education has slid to 30 something in world rankings and Canada is in the top 3. Cost of education, daycare, child benefits ect. I could write paragraphs. Also it’s hilarious when you hear American say oh we’ll just moved to Canada like they can just drive here and settle down?!?there’s a border and you can’t illegally just move here and get a job. If you’ve lived in both countries you’d know the difference. I don’t even want to vacation there anymore since about 10 years or so ago.

Finally Someone with a Good heart to tell the Truth about Canada ,Remember Canada are like the southern states (You have no rights in Canada ,like in America) DON`T GO THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! That was wild. Here in San Ysidro everything was calm and actually civil. People waited their turn. I live nearby so I saw it with my own eyes. People at las Americas outlet would pass by food to them and the officers gave them the food. I was an immigrant 35 years ago I am now a us citizens and although I love the USA, I will always remember the struggles I had to go through. The hunger, the injustice, the reject and the cultural assimilation, learning a new language, and work work work until I couldn’t no more. All those efforts paid off and I believe EVERYONE has a right to have a better life. I have family members in Canada and Europe who are also immigrants and also go through these struggles. If they don’t make it to the USA, I hope the Mexican government takes advantage of this immigration influx, after all, the USA is great because of us. It’s time other countries take advantage and advance as well ??

very nice video Ashir bhai. I remember you from the drama you did back when i was a child. Now I have moved to Canada in Feb 2023 and share our life daily in vlogs. You are welcome to check and share your insights on our struggles in comments. thanks for guiding people very right.

We have so much empty land so why deny these poor people the right to call Canada home. I don't know why certain people feel they have right over others but i welcome these people to Canada. Just remember we pay higher taxes, and everything cost more than your bi-weekly pay-cheque but welcome!!

Very true. I moved to Canada at the age of 20 going on 21 in 1990 and in a few months, I am turning 54. I've been to college twice and I could not get a job in the fields I studied for; instead I am working in a factory and I've worked hard. I'm on medical leave, but I'm now waiting to return to work and my employer has not been making it easy to return. I plan to return to my home country once I retire, because I hate winter weather and when it gets cold, my arthritis flares up and it will get worse as I age. It's very expensive here, car insurance, house insurance, phone bills, grocery bills, property taxes, and federal taxes. You work and work and you get 2 weeks vacation and sometimes, you don't even get to enjoy it. I remember getting sick when I took my holidays. You work long and crappy hours for just enough money to pay expenses and you don't really get to enjoy life. Canada is a beautiful country, but when do you get time to explore and enjoy it? Right now for me, it seems to be when I retire I'll be able to do that, if I can afford it (remember, taxes are high).

I think you ladies are way out in left field and you really don't know what you're talkin about. Unfortunately for some people it doesn't work out for whatever reason usually because they do not want to assimilate very well. I grew up in Ontario to a french-canadian father and an Italian mother in my life in Canada was so perfect said if I had to dream up a better life I could not have done so. I grew up playing all the sports and enjoyed all the different sports and the changes of seasons. My parents had a summer home on the st-lawrence river and every summer we water-ski swam fished, play golf in the morning and barbecues every night right on the water. Even though my grandfather was in the hotel business I was all about sports and enjoying everything about it. I grew up in a town of about 50 thousand about 40 miles from Montreal. When I wanted some great nightlife just drove a short drive to Montreal and it had everything did anyone could want in Nightlife. I have lived in United States for forty years and I can tell you that it really isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Heaven forbid should you get some kind of catastrophic illness you are screwed. I knew a woman who work for travelers insurance for 30 years at the best insurance a money could buy had suffered a couple of strokes and was on the verge of going broke had she not died when she died. People think that insurance continues to pay his long as you're ill and nothing could be further from the truth. This lady was going to have to sell her house to continue paying for round-the-clock care had she not died when she did. United States middle class is getting wiped out. I've seen enough poverty and hardship in this country to last a lifetime. I find greed to be running rampant in this country. When I grew up in Canada there was always the grass is greener on the other side and when I did move over to the other side the US that is I can tell you unequivocally the dead grass is not greener on the other side. There are more millions and millions of people here that are one or two paychecks away from being homeless. And we're talkin 2023. Now let's talk about violence. There is a mass murder in the United States every single day of the year. And a mass murder is defined by four or more people being killed by one person at one time. Killing these so out of control in the United States that now even six-year-olds are shooting their teacher. I find a tremendous amount of built-up Anger from people. Food is very expensive and shelter is also out of control and non affordable to most people. Again I find United States being able to paint a much Rosier picture then does really exist. And there are more con artists and thieves , Crooks, con-artists, bamboozlers, cheats and scammers then anywhere that I've ever been. And I will say this is it it ain't getting any better and I don't see it ever getting better. I find it is everybody out for themselves no matter who they cheat. I live in Southern California and I can tell you that night life where I live is non-existent. Understand that LA and Hollywood they always have to glamorize everything to sell it to tourists. Just remember that things today are not what they were 40 years ago. Middle-class people in Canada would also be just middle-class people in the US. But if your life means anything to you as far as safety and raising a family then Canada wins hands down end of discussion. People that say Canada is boring is because they are boring. That's what I found to be pretty standard across the board. Life is what you make of it. But I will say that you gals definitely need to move away if you don't like Canada. Do not let the door hit your ass on the way out. And just for your information Canada ranks annually as one of the top countries in the world to immigrate to. Canada is the second largest country in the world by land area and next to Saudi Arabia has the third largest oil Reserves in the world. Canada has huge amount of freshwater which most of the rest of the world seems to be lacking and having spent my Summers on the Saint Lawrence River one of the Great Rivers in this world. I wouldn't change my twenty years in Canada for anyplace else in this world and I will be moving back shortly.

1. Aba’s right. I have family in Columbus, OH. Ain’t much to do up there. Sorry if you’re from there lol\n\n2. Correct about all of the fast food here in the U.S. Can’t stand it. That’s why if I DO go out to eat, it’s at the healthy options. Chipotle, Sweetgreen, Cava, etc.\n\n3. I was in Toronto a few years ago during a layover. I want to know why most of the employees I encountered at the airport were mean/rude af ? I know this is anecdotal so I’m not going to take it seriously. It’s just what I vividly remember.\n\n4. I live in the DMV. It’s a very diverse area but there’s a lot of neighborhoods that are segregated but I’d argue that it’s more of an economic issue. It’s visibly noticeable as soon as you hop on the metro. Start on the orange line on the VA side, the crowd is bright. But if you stay on long enough, go through DC and end in MD, it gets dark. I’ve lived here most of my life and it’s always been this way unfortunately.\n\n5. I need to go back to Canada to try that tap water. Y’all made it sound so good ?

Immigration to a new country is hard. It sounds like it has failed for you so you are right to try somewhere else. My parents put in the hard work and effort to have our family succeed in Canada for their children's sake. I do not remember boredom being a problem for us kids but then we loved the freedom of the outdoors even in winter. We did not rely on other people to entertain us. MY parents had to be very flexible and give up a lot of their old country ways. They did that work and we have all prospered.

Bro.. you are right in what ever u are suggesting..\nBUT... its misleading as well...\nI am also a Canadian citizen.. and I can have counter suggestions to yours..\n\nU are repeatedly saying u will not budge even an inch to what u are saying about Canadian environment... Thts where u are wrong... rather a serious wrong...\n\nBro.. remember that your audience are Muslims.. plz share your experiences from a Muslim perspective not a Canadian perspective...\n\nCanada gives you freedom... and thats where and when the problem starts..\n\nGuys if u want to come to Canada the first thing u shall consider is that u will have to sell your soul... and when we sell our soul we become slaves...\nThis system has been very intelligently Design... this system will slowwwwly make u a slave...\n\nBro.. plz Don't share your opinions based on yr intellect...

Remember when Canada evacuated a Saudi girl because Justin Trudeau had an election and wanted to look like he cared about human rights but didn’t evacuate a single Canadian stranded abroad ?

I remember when my family immigrated here over 15+ years ago and my brother was only 1 years old. 2 weeks after coming here he slipped on the floor and cut open his forehead on the hinges of our door and he was bleeding everywhere (he later had to get 6 stitches to fix it), my father was out working and we didn't know how to contact the police or hospital because we didn't have a home phone yet. We used our neighbors and the ambulance came and I strictly remember that because we didn't have our health cards yet they wouldn't start work even though my father said he will pay when he gets there. I remember my mother and I feeling helpless while my 1 year old brother was bleeding out (the hospital staff tried to stop the bleeding with cotton ball and bandage) and I distinctly remember that they did not start helping my brother even WHILE my father was paying but only started work after the bill was completed. Even though my family felt helpless at that time and we felt it was unfair, we never blamed Canada because it was their policy and they have every right to follow protocols. So it makes me angry to see people who walked into our country illegally getting far better treatment than my family ever got even though it might not be anything as life threatening as ours was. It makes me angry that our hard earned tax dollars are used to help people who have no motivation to help the country that gave them asylum during war.. It's actually the opposite as a lot of these families call their free housing "disgusting" and compare it to "living like a slave". I'm angry because little girls at my brothers own school are getting shoved and assaulted by refugee boys as young as 6-7 and are let off with a simple "don't do that again" and a meeting with the parents. This is not the Canada my family came to love and call home so I can't imagine the hardships of Canadians who are living here for 3, 4, 5+ generations 😔😔

As a young child I remember viewing the Amish women as being in a chronic 'state of funeral' based solely on their signature dark garb. It created in my own (childlike) logistics that this was a type of society which I needed to keep at a distance from myself. I disliked their choices, finding them muted in a world layered thick in rich and vibrant fields of color. The color black in ancient cultures (apparel) indicates the refusal to acknowledge or be unresponsive, to be closed off. I can understand how many real (natural) Canadiens can view Muslim women in their communities in a strange light. An interview with a very rich Saudi woman (living in Saudi Arabia), in how she spoke of her own frustration by not being allowed to own a drivers license, instead being driven in her husbands pricey Mercedes by a hired driver. She forced this issue on her local, home town government when she attempted to embarrass the officials of this primitive law, which in her view, had outlived its purpose and no longer applied to modern women in her culture. This interview went viral being shown on multi media networks and the town became embarrassed by the exposure. We should all applaud these women for their natural right to be free from outdated ritual and constraints continue to impose these indignities upon women. Muslim women living in Canada who wear the typical dark cloth across the features of the face and over the body are putting forth a message that they are 'second class citizens', are 'less than equal', are 'one mans property' - not unlike a common barn yard animal but possibly owning less importance than an animal since an animal can be traded for goods or services for profit. One can understand how real (natural) Canadien women can view this type of apparel as a slap in the face of their gender, a violent slap to go to the 'back of the line', 'take it lying down and like it'. So much is fear based and these Muslim women should shed their fear as layers of dark folds are sent falling to the floor - once and for all...

What about the terrorism that Christians are involved in?  The sexual abuse of children that still goes on today.  People have to remember not only were Pope John Paul and Pope Benedict were aware of the sexual abuse the perverted priests and bishops engage in,  but Pope Benedict went out of his way to move and protect the pedophile priests.  The Catholic church has spent millions on lawyers to prevent having to pay out the victims of sexual abuse.  The catholic church also has in its possessions stolen art works and valuables stolen by the Nazis during the war.  They have not handed them back to their rightful owners.  And to add insult to injury the Catholic church enjoys tax exemption status and protection in Canada while the victims of the church do not have access to services to help them rebuild their lives due to the effects they still suffer as a result of this abuse.  \n\nAn example of the further victimization sexual abuse victims of the Catholic cult have been exposed to is the practice of Crimen sollicitationis  Crimen sollicitationis states that if a person speaks out about their sexual abuse experiences within this cult they can be ex-communicated from the church.  \n\nAs a white man who is an ex catholic and who also had sexual abuse from this church it is my belief that many young children who were sexually and spiritually abused by the Catholic cult did not come forward because of shame and did not want to have to be exposed to this kind of re victimization by the Catholic cult again. \n\nI believe it is because a lot of Muslim people are people of colour that they are persecuted in Canada.  The real terrorist in Canada is not only the Catholic church but a spokesman for them the Crime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada.  The are terrorists who rig elections, and their party is rife with criminal and illegal activity and are a threat to democracy.  That is why everyone should be protesting their anti terrorist bill they are ramming down the throats of Canadians Bill C-51  \n\nIf you have nothing intelligent to say and believe being a conservative makes you exempt from the laws of Canada, and you are set in dismantling democracy, the Conservative Party of Canada wants you.