Posted on: 03-05-04 12:05:53
Thank you Massood, Beauty Saloon & Ugotmail for your wishes.
Beautysaloon, let me respond to the two issues you raised.
Yes, you are quite right. There is a stigma attached to the word 'immigrant'. Sad isn't it? We apply to come here as immigrants and then become ashamed of that word!
I have after doing extensive research come up with this name for several reasons:
1. It's about time we stood up with pride and said "I AM PROUD TO BE AN IMMIGRANT' WHy? Because we CHOSE to come here. Because we will be giving generations of talent and taxes to this country. Why should I be ashamed of the word IMMIGRANT? When you think about the fact that 15% of Canada's population is immigrant, why should I be ashamed? Let's dust off that phrase and bring it out in the open and yell 'I AM A CANADIAN IMMIGRANT AND AM PROUD OF IT!'
2. I have seen so many tragedies arising out of the urban ghettos that Immigrants tend to create. The Elders do not accept the younger generation and the rebellion and revolt that follows, usually ending in tragedy is a direct result of immigrants wanting to replicate their own hometown here. I am all for retaining our heritage. However, it cannot bode well to do this and reject all that is 'Canadian'. The refusal to adapt to a new land creates bigger issues for the next generation. Caught between two cultures, they rebel against their own! Clearly, a balance is required. And that is one of the tenets of the magazine. To help immigrants understand and achieve that median point.
Ugotmail, you raise some very interesting points. As mentioned, the magazine is not for any one ethnic group. It is for all. Additionally, extensive research shows that immigrants have information needs for the first ten years of their settlement in Canada. We hope to be able to address their needs by providing them with tools and resources to succeed.
Above all, it is a forum, a platform for immigrants. For the first time immigrants from all over the world can feel they have a unifier. A magazine that understands them and helps them in their goals of succeeding in their adopted country.
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Quote:
Orginally posted by The Canadian Immigrant
Yes, you are quite right. There is a stigma attached to the word 'immigrant'. Sad isn't it? We apply to come here as immigrants and then become ashamed of that word!
1. It's about time we stood up with pride and said "I AM PROUD TO BE AN IMMIGRANT' WHy? Because we CHOSE to come here. Because we will be giving generations of talent and taxes to this country. Why should I be ashamed of the word IMMIGRANT? When you think about the fact that 15% of Canada's population is immigrant, why should I be ashamed? Let's dust off that phrase and bring it out in the open and yell 'I AM A CANADIAN IMMIGRANT AND AM PROUD OF IT!'
I cannot agree with you more. Being an immigrant in no way reflects on our right to call Canada our own. Nor does doing so indicate any loss of love for where we originally came from. Our contributions to society(directly or indirectly) speaks louder than any prejudiced notion.
Congratulations on your Magazine Naeem!!
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Thanks Jake!
You can now view the magazine in it's entirety on the website!
http://www.thecanadianimmigrant.com" rel="nofollow">LINK
Naeem Noorani
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Naeem, Congrtulations !! what a great start ...this magazine will bring a much needed voice of the immigrant community on print.
Becoming am immigrant is an act of great courage and we should never feel bad about it ...
I feel a Canandian by choice is a better "Canadian" than a Canadian by birth. ( this is another topic for another discussion)
We all should feel proud to be an immigrant. An irish friend of mine once took me to immigrant registry at staten island in New York to show the names of his great grandparents who came to America in 1890s. And he was proud of his grandparents to take that brave step because of which he was born as an American.
At that point I felt the same kick, that we as first generation immigrants are taking the same brave step , which future generations will feel proud of later on. We are responsible for moving our family tree from our native lands to this new land for all the times to come.
If we take a moment and look beyond our immediate day to day problems and and look at ourselves in this light , it is a matter to be proud of. This thought itself gives me the strength to move on despite the immediate day to day struggles.
Congratulations on the new effort Naeem, Wish you the very best... we are all there to help you in whatever way we can.
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What can be imagined, can be achieved.
Congratulations, Naeem. This is truly good stuff!! It is great to see that our minds meet when we don't as immigrants.
And absolutely, let us strive to reshape the "immigrant" word if we feel people despise it. The cross-continent move isn't easy at all, rather than make us feel inferior somehow, it should make us feel extremely proud like you correctly pointed out. Its no big secret how much immigrants contribute to a vibrant and culturally dynamic Canadian society, and our contributions and stories should not go unheard. Your magazine gives us that much needed "voice", like Mishtar India correctly pointed out.
Wish you all the very best for the future!!
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