Close Reading

So much racism packed into one video

I have travelled to the US often for work for close to 25 years, visiting client sites. While I live in Canada, I had witnessed so many experiences and differences that it became impossible to consider a move there. There are obvious tax advantages (most states, though not all, combined with fed taxes have a lower tax rate, as well as write off benefits of owning a house). Racism is a problem here too, towards black people (among others) and including violence and systemic racism towards our indigenous population (e.g. police and healthcare), but the level of systemic and societal racism in the US towards black people is difficult to comprehend.\n\nIn my work experience in the US over the years, my team was in Utah at the time of a mass shooting in the mall that we'd typically go for dinner. An employee at the company shot and killed his wife in the church parking lot. I've been at a conference in Nashville that had to be locked down because there was a shooting in the mall next door (to the Grand Ole Opry), which was across the highway from the restaurant were there was the shooting where a black man took down the shooter earlier that year. As an employer our company couldn't believe the costs the company had to pay. California was ridiculously high, but so even was Texas.\n\nWith Obamacare the US is making huge strides in healthcare. It's not just about the health insurance coverage, but the fact that the legislation is forcing insurance and healthcare providers to standardize their systems, and make the data flow much better. This will allow for more innovation, faster handling of transactions, and transparency of costs (an example is people not knowing their cost until AFTER going through the procedure). I believe the US will outstrip Canada (which is only in the middle of the pack of developed countries) in service for cost in about 10 years.

Oh stop. This kind of video is the type of thing that makes “Caucasian’s” not like you. Quit your whining. Born and raised Edmontonian. I’m 52 years old and have never witnessed outright racism against blacks. Yesterday I went to see a doctor. I have fibromyalgia and can barely walk but I had to cause I don’t have a car atm. The waiting room was PACKED. I asked about seeing a doctor and was told “ he’s not seeing patients today”. I asked “what about all of these people”? She said “they’re all immigrants and he is seeing them”. I’ve lived here my entire life but I guess he wasn’t seeing Canadians. I find the black people that complain and cry racism haven’t done much with their life. I have friends that are VERY SUCCESSFUL black people and they never talk like this. You just wouldn’t not hear it out of their mouths. And they live in Edmonton . Hard working, decent people they are. I’m facing homelessness come July 1. Ain’t nobody coming to save me. Rent increase of $430 dollars will do that tho. Everyone is struggling to some degree. Instead of further dividing us, we should be coming together to come up with solutions to help each other. This kind of video does nothing but harm but continue I guess……