Quebec soldiers asked to leave a bar #QcPoli

A Montreal bar turned away roughly two dozen military uniformed personnel from a bar this past Sunday because of concerns that their attire might intimidate other patrons. The soldiers had just left their annual regiment ball and it was one of the only times when they were allowed to wear their military dress uniform in public. This is just one other incident of discrimination in Quebec, in this case a bar takes offence to the way someone (or a group) is dressed.

As Canadians, we should all feel troubled by this. These soldiers deserve the respect of our nation for their dedication and sacrifice, not to be asked to leave an establishment due to the way they dress. The bar at which this incident has occurred has since issued an apology which was accepted by the regiment. This does bring to light however, the question as to why the individual who asked the soldiers to leave felt emboldened enough to do so.

 

The famous poem written by Martin Niemöller comes to mind.

 

 

So long as problems like this continue to be dismissed as one off incidents, the underlying issue of discrimination will persist. We live in the most beautiful nation on earth. So much of that beauty lies in our diversity, our acceptance of one another and the mosaic of our people. 

 

[bctt tweet=”The beauty of our nation lies in our diversity, our acceptance and the mosaic of our people. “]

 

 

Rania El-Alloul a single mother of three was seeking to exercise her right to be heard in a court of law when she was denied by a Quebec judge, based simply on a piece of cloth she donned on her head. While the motivating factors in both instances may differ, the similarity remains the same. Incidents of discrimination in Canadian society should be decried by every citizen. This incident goes against two basic Canadian fundamental principles governed by our Charter of Rights and Freedoms; the right to be heard in a court of law and freedom of religion. The incident swiftly drew responses from the three major political parties yet apart from expressing their displeasure at the situation nothing further has been done about this case. 

 

El-Alloul presented herself in front of the judge to ask for her car back after it had been seized. She cited that she was a single mother and the frigid temperatures made transportation for her and three sons difficult. Judge Eliana Marengo lacked both a compassion for this woman and her circumstances and a disregard for her freedom to practice her faith; comparing the women’s hijab to sunglasses and hats which are not permitted to be worn in a court of law. Nearly any reasonable minded Canadian can tell you the difference between these items and a hijab. It is not, nor should it be considered any different than a Jewish man wearing a kippah or a Sikh person wearing a turban. It is safe to assume that it was not the first time a visible person of faith entered a Canadian courtroom.

 

 

A few weeks earlier, four cars in a West End Montreal parking garage had swastikas painted on them and were left with threatening notes accompanied by a bullet. The Jewish community was understandably rattled. 

 

“You’re not dealing with a bunch of individuals who had a can of spray paint and decided, ‘Why not? We’ll have some fun.’ These guys or girls planned this. They specifically set out with bullets in their pockets, with envelopes, with notes and obviously with spray paint,” said Steven Slimovitch, national legal counsel for B’nai Brith Canada in an interview for CBC.  Nobody deserves to be a victim of hate. It goes against the Canadian values of peace, acceptance and diversity.

 

A few days before that incident, a Muslim school in Montreal’s community of Nôtre Dame de Grâce had its windows shot out. The children and teachers along with their families were rattled by the incident and concerned for their safety. These incidents which some may dismiss as isolated crimes are all linked in the sentiments they sow in their respective communities and surrounding areas. Our Muslim and Jewish neighbours were united in feelings of insecurity, fear and concern for their safety. 

 

Many blame these acts of discrimination as being fanned by the flames caused by Bill 60 which the majority of Quebecers rejected. The proposed Charter of Values, though not carried through to law, helped propel discriminatory tendencies into the mainstream. 

 

The outpouring of support for these cases has been fierce however incidents like these continue to occur. As Canadians we must remember that our beautiful nation was built upon the values of inclusion, acceptance and diversity. It is what adds richness to our culture, strength to our character and makes us loved the world over. We must not forget that, lest there be no one left to speak.