Immigration and emigration a discussion
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40193)
Canada
January 13, 2009 1:27pm CST
My father was in the Canadian army and he went to fight in the Second World War, where he met my mother in England and after the war, he went back to British Columbia and sent for us, my mother, myself, and my little brother. I was three years old at the time and have been in Canada ever since. Unfortunately my mother did not apply for citizenship, so I had to apply for my Canadian citizenship when I was in my twenties.
Now my father himself was also an immigrant, having come in a round about way with his mother and sisters from Moldavia to Brazil and then to Canada. The reason was the lack of freedom in that country and the opportunities here even though they were land owners.
My maternal grandmother came from England to be with my mother and stayed here until she died.
Now on my husband's side, his family left the Ukraine *they were Low German Mennonites because of the tyranny of the government, and the attacks of the Cossacks, religious persecution and such.
Last year a family from Somalia who joined the church on the other side of town affiliated with us became citizens of Canada. They left Somalia because they were Christians and were fleeing religious persecution. There was another family also from Africa who had a relative who had to prove that she was being persecuted for her beliefs and is now free to travel.
Now I believe that fleeing from persecution, the need for land,,I love (you can substitute the States, Australia, New Zealand or whatever country you either emigrated to or wish to) Canada, as well as the need for opportunities are good reasons to move Canada. What I do not like is people moving from a tyrannical country because of the lack of freedom there, and want to bring the same tyranny into their new land, the Sharia law being a recent example.
So what was your reason for moving from your country to the country you are in now? Was it about family and freedom to have more land, freedom from religious persecution as was ours? Or was there another reason?
4 people like this
11 responses
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
13 Jan 09
I think if you emigrate to a new country for whatever reason you must be prepared to accept the laws and customs of that country. You need not to give up your own culture unless elements of it are against the laws of your new country (Example female circumcision, being fully veiled in official photographs,)
So for that reason I would not want to live in any other country than Canada. I would not want to live in countries where women are oppressed or where basic human rights would not be accepted.
I do agree with you that once you come to a new country it is not acceptable to want to import certain laws if there is a separation between church and state in your new country.
I will always oppose any attempts to import Sharia law even in family matters. You may recall there was such an outcry in Ontario over this until the Province passed a law making it mandatory that all family matters are settled in family court and not through religious or other arbitration.
Recently the Province of Quebec has also created a document that new immigrants to their Province must sign.http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=917563
It talks about Quebec being a democracy, that men and women are equal and violence is not acceptable and French is the official language of the Province. I know many Westerners will not like the last point but the fact is that that right was granted to the Province under the BNA Act and Canada was a nation created by English and French, therefore French has more status than other foreign languages regardless of the size of that immigrant population.
A lot of immgrant groups and spokespersons for various ethnic groups find this document insulting but personally I think it makes a point.
Potential immigrants have to think not only of what they will gain by coming here but also what they are willing to give up once they are here.
2 people like this
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
13 Jan 09
Well guess what, the English of Canada is a lot different from the English of Britain. The Engllish of Canada is different from the English of India and the English of Louisiana or the Caribean but it is still English. The French of Quebec is different from that of France but it is still French. That of
France is different from that of Belgium, that of Belgium is different from that of Switzerland. So what is your point? I don't get it.
Apart from that, what you said about kids being educated in French, people who immigrate to Quebec should be aware of it and decide if they want to go there or not. This new document that the immigrants have to sign makes that clear. At leased the Quebecers are honest about it. In any case you are digressing from the topic at hand, which was immigration and the reason why people emigrate.
Just as an aside, I worked in Quebec for years and yes, of course I had to speak French but you know what? knowing an extra language did not make my head heavier, did not add weight to my body but yes, it added money to my pay cheque.My children went to French Immersion Schools, and lo and behold they did come away speaking English just as well as any other Canadian kid and were able to go to University.
My son came back in the summer after a vacation in Europe, part of it in the Pyrenees of France where absolutely no one speaks anything else but French. He and family had a wonderful time which would not have been possible without some knowledge of the language.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
13 Jan 09
We passed through Quebec on our way to Prince Edward Island and we learned that if a child took a few French lessons, he has to attend a French school even if he only knows a few words. So I do think when someone moves to a country, they have to study the laws and not fall into the trap of having their children attend a school and later be unable to communicate with their parents.
Also the French in Quebec is a lot different from that in France from what I heard.
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
13 Jan 09
it is true that once one will be decided on getting his foot aplomb in another country, he has to study first the language, the customs and traditions and the laws of that country chosen for a new settlement.
people vary in outlook in life from country to country. there are so many things to consider.
neither would i welcome the idea of people from other countries coming into mine because, they are only taking refuge for one reason or another.
the insights of our friend here about those who have fled from tyrannical rule to be bringing such value with them is not desirable.
1 person likes this
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
24 Jan 09
HI suspenseful. I am against immigration. I don't want to sound being racist. However my small island cannot sustain arond 5,000 illegal immigrants coming in every year. It is taxing on our small economy. We are bound by International EU regulations to keep them here until they find a place to be sent abroad. If they were genuine cases of refugees yes I am in favour of helping them but most of them are not.
It seems that it is a planned organised crime to bring illegal immigrants from Libya to Malta and Italy.
2 people like this
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
30 Jan 09
This week we had a UN organisation blaming the local government that the conditions in which the illegal immigrants are being kept here are inhumane. They forgot to appreciate the thousands and thousands dollars spent on these type of facilities. It is not the first time that these immigrants have broken new bathroom fittings to show their angers at being kept in detention, or thrown food at the officials. Thanks for the pencil
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
I do not think it is right to overwhelm a small country with people of a different race just to change the whole makeup of the population. That is not just happening in Malta, but also in Canada where they are trying to get as many people from China and India here as possible. It was different back in the 1700s to the 20th century where there was a lot of open spaces, but this is nothing to do with helping people who are being persecuted, or people who want a bigger place to live, people who just love the country and cannot wait to get there, but I think they want to make sure that the Anglo-Saxon European in Canada becomes a minority and it would not make me figure that is what they want to do to Malta, make it so that the original citizens be heard less then the immigrants.
2 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
13 Jan 09
dont know why my great great grandparents came to this country probably from prosicution as I think on my dads side they were prodistants (sp) and were from Ireland.
and some how my grandpa got to Utah dont know how or why he came this far west.
Am assuming that my grea greats came thru Ellis Island and became citizen. I wa born here so was my dad and so was his dad!.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Jan 09
I watched Godfather Two and it was a mix up with the immigration officials being old men who really needed better eye glasses and they did not have hearing aids in those days so the did make mistakes.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
14 Jan 09
I heard those stories about people coming through Ellis Island. It counts much more exciting then getting off the boat at Halifax, Nova Scotia and taking the train.
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
14 Jan 09
I, personally, would like to leave my country, Trinidad, which is an island in the south of the Caribbean because the government is extremely corrupt and the people quite prejudiced. Between both of these, little or nothing is done for most people and unless you're rich, which I am not, living is very difficult. In my day, when my people, descendants of Europeans living in the Caribbean, held sway, it was much nicer and much more in our favour. Since then the history and social changes have made this island a pretty scrappy place to live. You have to depend on friendships and contacts for most things and even your own family, who are having it hard fending for themselves, are finding it burdensome to help you. At my age, 58, it is also difficult to leave and start elsewhere. So, you see my problem. Religious tyranny is also starting here where the government is favouring one religion over all the others even to the extent of making laws to favour themselves. I know what your family went through. Its begining here in Trinidad right now.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
30 Jan 09
I guess it is quite hard there as well and it must be difficult to leave the country unless someone tries to kill you for your beliefs and there are witnesses. People seem to think that when they turn the country over to the 'original' people that everything is going to be find, but it does not work that way. Look what happened in Zimbabwe and in South Africa, there is a lot of corruption going on and farmers are being forced off their land.
@aisaellis22 (6445)
• United States
14 Jan 09
Hello suspenseful! I planned to move to USA hopefully this year if we complete all the requirements of immigration. I married an american and so we decided to live to his homeland. I know that I have to adjust there because I enter into their teritory. Our culture is different from american culture but I won't expect that the american people will adjust to me because I go to america not in my country.
@aisaellis22 (6445)
• United States
16 Jan 09
well, he lives in florida...I hope I will like it there too..lol!
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
13 Jan 09
No, I moved because I married a Jamaican and came to live here in 1970 - I was so young. This is an excellent post but before I can really respoond I need to know what the Sharia law is? sorry, I do not have a clue but basically I believe that when in Rome you do what the romans do. Immigrnats shouls accept the laws of the country that they moved to and not impose any other laws. But I need help here
Suspenseful. Blessings
1 person likes this
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
13 Jan 09
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharia
One definition of Sharia law.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
13 Jan 09
Thank you so much for the site to obtain this information. My views are the same. Accept the laws of your adopted country or leave. Blessings
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
13 Jan 09
Immigrants have to learn the langiuage and abide by the rules and regulations of their new country. This should be the norm. If they do not learn the language then they move to live with other immigrants where they can get by without speaking English (whatever language) and these places lead to 'hot spots' eventually of crime and violence. Or I should say they could lead to hor spots etc. Many things happen like people clinging to their old ways and not adapting as citizens to the new ways by not learning the language.
Don't get me wrong, I respect all cultural traditions; religious or otherwise but immigrants must be assimilated into the culture and laguage of their adopted country.
1 person likes this
@mansha (6298)
• India
30 Jan 09
I feel that pain too, I miss people who have migrated form here in search of better conditions, and those who have immigrated here for better life mainly from Bangladesh. The borders a re porus and people keep popping in and out all the time at that side. Not ony it has led to increased incidents of thefts and slums here but alos crime. Our country as it is has so many problems and now its added, I undersatnd everyone wants a shot at better life but at what cost, they loose everything by coming here illegally and also create many problems for the host country.
1 person likes this
@monkeykingaround (896)
• United States
14 Jan 09
My parents came to the US because they want a better life. I am too little to object. hehehehe...
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
17 Jan 09
It must have been the opportunities and the freedom. I was too young to object as well.
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
13 Jan 09
luckily, i have never been uprooted from my country for any reason at all. i am happily settled here. my eldest child though has ventured going someplace because, she wanted to give it a try. she wants the experience. she told me that she has no idea at all as to how it would be like if she will live in a country which is so different from ours.
now, my daughter is settled in a country where she can experience ice and snowfall. these are climatic conditions which we do not have here. until this day though, she has remained single. maybe, after a few more years, she will have to decide on this one.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Jan 09
I know at the end of the Second World War there were a lot of people moving to Canada. Now my family were city dwellers and it was easy for us to adapt to life in Vancouver when we moved, but I guess there were some Londoners (from England, not Canada) who found they were moving out to the country. And know many who had to leave their country because times were hard and every year or two they go back to visit their relatives.
@Frederick42 (2024)
• Canada
14 Jan 09
There could be any number of reasons why a person wishes to leave his country and move to some other country.
One is the social problems faced in certain countries. This is so in the case of those countries where orthodox religions are being followed. These type of orthodox religions drain the happiness of men and they wish to run away. It could also be the case as in war. The refugees move to some other country.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
I do not think that being Greek or Russian Orthodox, or following the tenets of your beliefs like me being a good Christian and following Christ means that I am putting someone in danger. NOw if it were the opposite, if the government decides to make churches go against the Bible, then that would be a good reason to leave that country. So I would say religious persecution would be why people leave a country as well as wanting a better life.
@TheCasualReporter (283)
• France
14 Jan 09
I moved to France because I got a job here. Then I got married to an English woman and we have two boys, born here in France. Neither of us are native here, so we feel like guests who have long-overstayed our welcome, but it's a nice place to live in most respects so we don't know where else we'd go. If we go to either England or the States, one of us would have to immigrate.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
14 Jan 09
That sounds exciting. Going to France and then meeting this nice lady and falling in love. Sounds very romantic. 
