To the Editor:
(Re: “Canadians are refugees, and welcoming others is a privilege")
It’s with great reluctance that I submit this letter but since I have been singled out as a refugee I feel I must object.
Lets first examine the Oxford Dictionary as to the meaning of the word: “A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.”
Now I shall relate my family background briefly. My great-grandfather from my mother’s side was Henry Thomas Lockyer, who came from England, worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company and ended up being the manager of all the Hudson’s Bay Company operations for B.C. He was also at one time the president of the Vancouver Board of Trade. I really don’t sense much persecution here but let’s move on shall we.
My grandfather from my father’s side was John Joshua Morris, who immigrated from Ireland around the turn of the century, served in the First World War and was wounded twice, but lived to carry on. He went on to run whiskey during prohibition and bought several farms in the Fraser Valley. Once again, I fail to see that falling under the definition of refugee.
However ,I personally have suffered persecution. Born in Port Alice, B.C., and been very familiar with small boats, I had been removed from Anglican Church Sunday school at the age of three and my mother was informed I was not welcome as I was a disruption to the rest. My sin was that I had insisted that Jesus had not walked on water as was the lesson of that particular Sunday. To this day, I still remember that and the revelation that came to me: that most people are stupid and gullible, and that’s been reinforced throughout my life experiences. Now there you might have an argument about my being a refugee but it would be a damn weak plank to be left standing on since I wasn’t forced to leave Canada.
Now I could go through the rest of Mr. Willicome’s letter, but I don’t believe in kicking someone when they are down, and, furthermore, I don’t believe this paper would print it, so here is my bottom line:
Don’t generalize as it quite often comes back to bite you, and don’t you dare ever presume to speak for me again, sir.
Donald J. Morris
Creston