Canada The Rolling Pin
In our resolve to preserve old country atrocities, that brought us to Canada, we forget to say thank you, for the shade provided by your tree.
Immigrants, both European and recent, find fault with Canada from time to time. We forget that we came here because we lived on cabbage and potatoes all year round in the old country; couldn’t sleep at night dreading that knock at dawn when secret police came for a member of the family never to be seen again; scared that jealousy will brand us witches if we are successful or couldn’t marry certain girls because we were regarded as untouchables.
We also fled to Canada because we were at war with ourselves over politics and religion. Unfortunately, we still harbour these differences despite Canada being a rolling pin.
You roll it over the dough when making pizza, cookies or scones. Canada is like that. The evidence is there in the cleaning industry: shopping malls, hotels, hospitals everywhere.
People who tortured each other in the old country push the same broom or drive the same taxi in Canada, because immigration authorities see newcomers as one egg.
The government breaks all eggs to make an omelette. It doesn’t care that you were a religious head or a higher ‘class’ in the old country because your skin was lighter than the majority.
What was the point of going to Canada if we still cling to feudal, class and religious beliefs that brought us here?
By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.
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