Sunday, May 28, 2023
booked.net
Reducing our footprint!   For every issue we print, we plant a tree!

No products in the cart.

  • About
    • Contributors
    • Disclaimers
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Giving back
    • Mission Statement
    • Past Issues
    • Where to Find
    • Call us at 613-935-3763
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Lifestyle
  • Events
  • Columnists
  • Videos
  • Advertise!
    • Online
    • In Print
    • Classifieds
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result

It’s Canada Day and I feel shame

The Seeker by The Seeker
July 1, 2021
in News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
14
SHARES
76
VIEWS

It’s Canada Day. A day that normally is filled with parties, fireworks, carnivals and outdoor entertainment. A day where we take time to celebrate our Country, the true North, Strong and Free, from far and wide.

But this year, I don’t feel like celebrating anything.

You might also like

Five Question with Tarbox – New EP Monochrome Dream

Five Questions with April Wine drummer Roy Nichol

Five Questions with Photographer Stephanie Gravel

Canada has been in the news over the last month or so, not for the good it has accomplished in the world, but for the atrocities it has perpetrated towards indigenous people.

Because of the pandemic, things were already looking bleak for celebrations before all this happened, but now, I, like many other Canadians, are not in a “Cheer up Canada” kind of mood. Not at all.

No.

I am enraged, actually. Enraged that hundreds of defenseless children have died at the hands of government and churches. I am furious that this part of history was hidden from me and not taught in school when I was growing up. But I’m especially mad at myself for not digging deeper. How is it that I just now learn about this? Why did I accept what they fed me as the truth? Why didn’t I research more? I did see red flags, but I ignored them. A hand full of times, I have witnessed Native-Canadian conflicts. I have see first-hand how tense they can be, but instead of questioning the white man’s actions or motives, I sided with him by my silence. I was complicit. And I am ashamed.

As I saw the growing movement to ban Canada day take off, I wondered if this was all just a way for white people to make themselves feel better, a way to try and shut up the critics. Now that things are truly in the open and there is nowhere to hide, now that the truth can no longer be swept under the rug, a big gesture was needed. I work in Marketing, I know how you spin a situation. This definitely feels like a spin. And it’s a spin that is too little too late. It doesn’t do much else than giving white people a semblance of peace of mind. They did good. They boycotted Canada Day. Now they can return to their privileged lives and forget about all this. Am I right?

For things to change, you need action. Real action. Not bogus hypocritical pretend action. You need to take a stand.

I’m not saying that the protests and marches planned for today are not real or needed; I’m saying that taking out your orange shirt today for the march, to show your support and make yourself feel better, then returning it to the drawer to be stored for the rest of the year won’t work. You need to wear that shirt everyday!

I have nothing planned today. I’m not partaking in any celebration. I’m taking this day to reflect on Canada. The good. The bad. The ugly. I refuse to celebrate while my brothers and sisters are mourning so many of their own. I am showing the respect they so much deserve and need. I will stay silent. Today. But then, I will make noise, every other day. I will advocate for history to be taught the way it should. I will lobby for not only reconciliation but restoration.

Will you?

[ays_poll id=1]

Author

  • The Seeker
    The Seeker

    View all posts

Next Post

A Closer Look at the 6 Amazing Benefits of Eating Organic Foods

Subscribe
Connect with
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect with
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Please login to comment
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Inner Site Sidebar

Advertise Here
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube TikTok
Don't miss anything!

Get notified of all our new news by ringing the bell at the bottom left corner!

Content Safety

HERO

theseeker.ca

Trustworthy

Approved by Sur.ly

2022
The Seeker Newspaper is located at 327 Second Street E., Cornwall, ON K6H 1Y8 -- All rights reserved
The Seeker does not accept responsibility for errors, misprints or inaccuracies published within. The opinions and statements of our columnists are not to be presumed as the statements and opinions of The Seeker, and should not substitute professional or medical advice.
ISSN 2562-1750 (Print)

ISSN 2562-1769 (Online)
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Lifestyle
  • Events
  • Columnists
  • Videos
  • Advertise!
    • Online
    • In Print
    • Classifieds

© 2023 Reducing our footprint!   For every issue we print, we plant a tree!

You were not leaving your cart just like that, right?

Enter your details below to save your shopping cart for later. And, who knows, maybe we will even send you a sweet discount code :)

wpDiscuz
0
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x
| Reply
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Go to mobile version