I have no idea how often it happens but I’m sure it does. Both Muslims and locals clashing over personal beliefs and customs. Not too long ago I read an article from a Montreal paper where a young Muslim student complained that the local swimming pool was co-ed. She wanted a separate day for female students because here religion did not allow her to swim with males. This is not assimilating, it is demanding we change the rules to suit her beliefs. If this sort of thing continues then we will continue to have serious issues with new immigrants to Canada. This country has long traditions and customs and for the most part I believe we are a very tolerant society. However, if newcomers arrive on our shores and tell us to change this or that, problems will occur. I have not experienced someone telling me they are offend because I wished them a Merry Christmas. But PEI is a small island and we do not have a large immigrant population. Nevertheless, I’m sure we have bigots just like the rest of the world so lets not give them the ammunition to make nasty comments against others. We must live together in harmony and with tolerance, we must accept differences but not try to force our beliefs on others. If something does not suit or fit with ones beliefs then look for alternatives elsewhere. This is Canada and we need to fit in not demand. I’m an immigrant from Ireland, I love this great country and have for the most part assimilated??? well not quite completely I still don’t like hockey (sorry) but in my favour, I have not been offended by Hockey Night in Canada, I merely change the channel. So folks Christian-Muslim etc lets get along together and when something upsets us change the channel and not attempt to change the rules. Do this and we will see the poor taste jokes that often pop up on social media disappear.
A devout Arab Muslim entered a black cab in London. He curtly asked the cabbie to turn off the radio because as decreed by his religious teaching, he must not listen to music because in the time of the prophet there was no music, especially Western music which is the music of the infidel.
The cab driver politely switched off the radio, stopped the cab and opened the door.
The Arab Muslim asked him, “What are you doing?”
The cabbie answered, “In the time of the prophet there were no taxis, so piss off and wait for a camel..”
Jokes like this may make some people laugh and will offend others, so why do we continue to have them appear on F.B etc. Just be grateful you live in Canada and please fit in, if you, like me, don’t like hockey don’t watch it. Pretend you are a Maple Leaf fan, no one will be offended they will just think you know very little about the game.
God Bless and keep reading
irishroversbooks.wordpress.com 