Dear readers,
This is an important article on racism in Canada: http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/Racism+alive+well+Canada/5466155/story.html
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”. – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
To Whom It May Concern,
This is one of Dr. King’s well known quotes and now one of my favourites. When it came across my desk the other day it had renewed meaning for me. Over the past several months my family and I have been speaking out in our community about a local business called Hire-A-Slave. We have reached out to our civic leaders at City Hall, our business leaders at the Chamber of Commerce and the community at large. Unfortunately, other than loving words of support from some close friends, it saddens me to say that our concerns have been received with an overall sense of disregard and unimportance.
The business name approval process is the responsibility of the provincial government so our City Council members do not believe it’s “their problem”. The proprietor of this business sits on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce so it is quite clear that the silence we have received from them is in support of this business owner. And in regard to the community at large, I believe that there is a lack of awareness and sensitivity that could possibly be changed with some education.
The provincial authourity that approved this business name received our complaint and concern with a reasonable level of empathy and understanding. They apologetically claimed that they do not have the legal authourity to rescind this business name, however they did inform us that they have now placed the word “slave” (used in this context) on their restricted list. Even though the provincial government did not tell us exactly what we wanted to hear, we at least felt heard. This is at the very least what we expected from our local officials. We understand that at the municipal government level they do not have the authourity to force this proprietor to change his business name. However, I do strongly believe that with some positive dialogue and influence they could encourage him as a member of the Chamber of Commerce and a director that sits on the Board, that for the betterment of this community he should change his business name.
This community is where my parents have lived for almost 40 years, where I grew up as a child and where I have chosen to return to raise my children. As you can imagine my whole perception of this community has been altered and I am now increasingly concerned about raising my children here. I have gone from feeling “safe”, living a simple life in a small town, to feeling vulnerable and untrusting. I know that I have the choice to leave this town and call somewhere else home, however regardless of whether we stay or go I still feel a social, moral and parental responsibility to create some sort of change in the attitudes of the people living here and the leaders who purport to want what’s best for their community.
One very positive outcome so far during this journey has been my introduction to Safe Harbour. After feeling as though I had hit the wall trying to be heard by the leaders in my own community I turned to the outside. In a casual conversation with someone at a luncheon I was told about the Safe Harbour program. I jumped and immediately contacted the program. The support, encouragement and validation I have received so far has been incredibly empowering. I am living first hand what Safe Harbour is needed for. I am so grateful for all of you out there that are supporting this program and working toward making our communities welcoming and respectful for everyone.
I truly hope that I will be able to write again soon and tell you that this business name has been changed and that my community has gained some understanding and sensitivity. Thank you.
~Name Withheld, Port Alberni
*As of Sept. 26, 2011, the business name still exists according to the Chamber of Commerce website. http://www.avcoc.com/cms/modules/weblinks/search.php
I agree wholeheartedly with the ideas expressed in the above post. It is the responsibility of each of us to be aware of how we use language. We need to stop being self-excusing and to pay attention when someone says that they’ve been offended by our use of words, to listen and to understand that language, when used carelessly, may convey ideas and evoke feelings in an unexpected and painful way. The fact that it was unintentional doesn’t make it okay. To say that we didn’t mean to give offense isn’t good enough. To excuse or defend other people’s use of offensive language is to participate in the offense.
My parents, along with many others of their generation, were taken into Nazi Germany as “forced labour” during WWII. Let me be clear about this: that’s slavery by a more palatable, less shocking name. It’s a phenomenon that still exists today in some parts of the globe. For this 21st-century, first-generation Canadian, the word “slave” doesn’t belong in the name of any business that wants to preserve its credibility. Nobody who offers a service willingly and who is compensated adequately for it is a slave — not even close. The word isn’t cute, funny, or “catchy” for a lot of people; on the contrary, it summons up whole histories of oppression in many places and times. I’m saddened by this letter-writer’s experience, and even more by the way his/her concerns have been trivialized and dismissed by people who should know better. It’s proof that as a culture, we still have a lot of growing up to do.
http://www.antislavery.org/english/slavery_today/forced_labour.aspx