i work in a place where all are welcome ... all.  it is part of the culture there. and you know.. people can get along, people are just people no matter their colour, their shape, who they love ... there is nothing to fear.  people just want to live their lives.   Yes, i know there are bad ones.. but bad ones come in all colours too.

so don't fear your neighbours ... or hijabs or turbans ... i have a dear muslim female friend.  who wears her hijab, swears like a trucker and wishes she could have a dog .. i love her dearly... and she asks me stuff and i ask her .. and there is nothing to fear.  get to know your neighbours.  Really they are not that different from you.

thanks for this very thoughtful piece.

2 hours ago, Mikiesboy said:

i work in a place where all are welcome ... all.  it is part of the culture there. and you know.. people can get along, people are just people no matter their colour, their shape, who they love ... there is nothing to fear.  people just want to live their lives.   Yes, i know there are bad ones.. but bad ones come in all colours too.

 

so don't fear your neighbours ... or hijabs or turbans ... i have a dear muslim female friend.  who wears her hijab, swears like a trucker and wishes she could have a dog .. i love her dearly... and she asks me stuff and i ask her .. and there is nothing to fear.  get to know your neighbours.  Really they are not that different from you.

 

thanks for this very thoughtful piece.

Yes. You are right that there is good and bad in all cultures. I had a good Muslim friend too, actually, she moved to London and is married with kids. She seems pretty happy. 

The reason I just feel so disappointed in this case is that you don't need a physical count to SEE just how big the Hispanic community has become in my area. But, the boss of my boss asked for a headcount anyway. For years, I've been telling them "you need more bi-lingual staff members, the Hispanic community keeps growing." But, they've always been in denial about that. What was the headcount? Over five hundred more Hispanic members than those of any other background. He became so upset that he pretty much forced one of the receptionists to change all of the members marked "mixed" to read "Caucasian" just so that the numbers looked better. It's like they want to live in a world that there are always more Caucasians than any other lineage.

I'm sorry, but numbers don't lie.

It's ridiculous that they're trying to pretend otherwise just out of fear of being the minority for once. 

1 hour ago, Valkyrie said:

There are good, non-discriminatory churches out there.  I grew up in a non-denominational church--part of the United Church of Christ.   As far back as I can remember, they've helped refugees and done wonderful work in the community.  All are welcome, regardless of age, race, sexuality... whatever.  A while ago now, they went through the process of becoming an "open and affirming" establishment and openly welcome LGBT people.  In fact, our pastor is gay.  I know I'm one of the lucky ones to have grown up in such an accepting place. 

That sounds like a wonderful community. I know that not all churches or religions are the same. I'm just tired of what I've seen and grown up with.