Cana-nese?
I have a problem with this past summer's evacuation of Canadian citizens from Lebanon. Specifically, my problem is with those who hold dual citizenship. When the hostilities began, they began demanding that the Canadian government take immediate action to get them safely out of the country. There was much criticism of how the evacuation was handled, and the perceived lack of speed with which it was accomplished.
OK, so whether it was done exactly to their liking or not, it was done. The bill came to a total of $85 million, and it's being paid out of your pocket and mine. Although the usual procedure is to ask citizens to reimburse the cost of their evacuation, for some reason this is not being done this time. That leaves us stay-at-homes emptying out our wallets to save people who seem to feel that Canada is not quite good enough for them. You see, approximately 7,000 of them have gone right back to the region since the weapons have been laid aside.
If any of those saved from the fighting were holders of sole citizenship, I'm glad we got them out. I feel bad for anyone caught in the middle of such a situation, but we can not save the whole world, so if any of them hold dual citizenship my sympathy begins to stretch a little thin.
No. I say - one or the other, folks. Are you Canadians, or aren't you? If you really feel a need to retain your Lebanese citizenship, then take up permanent residence there, and forget Canada. If you really want Canadian papers, however, then I think it's time to kiss Lebanon good-bye.
Before you start accusing me of hating the Lebanese, I should tell you that I feel that way about absolutely everyone who comes here. Welcome to our shores. Stay and make yourself a better life. Become part of us, but don't try to be a chameleon, changing your colour whenever the mood strikes. Make a decision and jump down on one side of the fence. You can't walk the railing forever.
If someone feels the need for Canadian citizenship, then I would assume they would also feel the need to contribute to the society on an ongoing basis. What about paying taxes, people? I'm sure the deal could be worked out with other governments to facilitate the tax collection.
Suggest that to most dual citizenship holders and the screams of protest will deafen you. Suggest to them that they can't reasonably expect the full services afforded to taxpayers without paying the ante, and the screams will probably even go up a decibel.
I just don't think you can have it both ways. I don't think it should be allowed. Be Canadian, if you want. Be Lebanese, if you want. Just understand there is no such thing as a Cana-nese.
OK, so whether it was done exactly to their liking or not, it was done. The bill came to a total of $85 million, and it's being paid out of your pocket and mine. Although the usual procedure is to ask citizens to reimburse the cost of their evacuation, for some reason this is not being done this time. That leaves us stay-at-homes emptying out our wallets to save people who seem to feel that Canada is not quite good enough for them. You see, approximately 7,000 of them have gone right back to the region since the weapons have been laid aside.
If any of those saved from the fighting were holders of sole citizenship, I'm glad we got them out. I feel bad for anyone caught in the middle of such a situation, but we can not save the whole world, so if any of them hold dual citizenship my sympathy begins to stretch a little thin.
No. I say - one or the other, folks. Are you Canadians, or aren't you? If you really feel a need to retain your Lebanese citizenship, then take up permanent residence there, and forget Canada. If you really want Canadian papers, however, then I think it's time to kiss Lebanon good-bye.
Before you start accusing me of hating the Lebanese, I should tell you that I feel that way about absolutely everyone who comes here. Welcome to our shores. Stay and make yourself a better life. Become part of us, but don't try to be a chameleon, changing your colour whenever the mood strikes. Make a decision and jump down on one side of the fence. You can't walk the railing forever.
If someone feels the need for Canadian citizenship, then I would assume they would also feel the need to contribute to the society on an ongoing basis. What about paying taxes, people? I'm sure the deal could be worked out with other governments to facilitate the tax collection.
Suggest that to most dual citizenship holders and the screams of protest will deafen you. Suggest to them that they can't reasonably expect the full services afforded to taxpayers without paying the ante, and the screams will probably even go up a decibel.
I just don't think you can have it both ways. I don't think it should be allowed. Be Canadian, if you want. Be Lebanese, if you want. Just understand there is no such thing as a Cana-nese.
2 Comments:
With all due respect, I am both Canadian and Lebanese. However, having said that, I will state unequivocally that those who have chosen to go back to Lebanon after the government spent my tax dollars and yours to get them out should be charged the cost per person that it cost.
The whole complaining thing was a joke. A stupid bunch of ingrates who don't know how lucky they are to have a government who cared enough to get them out. Our government did the best they could with what they had. It is unacceptable to me for people to complain. Especially those who have returned.
So really, you can be both. You just have to be smart enough to realize how very lucky you are to be both.
I'm Canadian ... but I also have Guyanese citizenship ... because I was born there. I suppose I could renounce my citizenship to Guyana … I think that’s possible … but I don’t think it would change the fact that I was born there. The fact that I was born there however, also doesn’t change the fact that I am Canadian – have no interest in going back to Guyana – even for a vacation.
I suppose there are those who can reconcile two loyalties to two countries, but there are situations where those loyalties can be tested. I’ve read about Canadians who have gone off to war in other countries – fighting for the country they were born in, only to come face-to-face with Canadian soldiers on peacekeeping duties – or part of NATO troop deployment. I know this has happened in Afghanistan – and I remember a Canadian soldier being taken hostage in the Balkan conflict by a Canadian citizen who was there fighting for one of the sides.
This is where I have problems with the dual citizenship. If you go off to fight a war in which you face Canadian soldiers on the other side, you should lose your Canadian citizenship. If you preach war against Canadians, you should lose your citizenship – even if you were born here. Other than the First Nations people, who live in a nation within a nation, the “privileges” of having two loyalties shouldn’t extend to anyone else.
That is not to say you shouldn’t be proud of your heritage or the culture from where you came. It’s such richness that makes Canada, Canada, and separates us from a whole lot of other countries. That richness however should be protected from erosion divided loyalties pose.
The Lebanese rescue in the summer had the good and the bad. There were people who were returning for a visit – but there were also others there, who were there in residence – on a semi-permanent basis. They are not Canadians. There is a difference between extended vacation, traveling, visiting family and friends, and home. If you’re a Canadian citizen and Canada is not your home, we have a problem.
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