It's immigrants that make a country interesting. Toronto a century ago must have been a pretty bland place compared to today. I have a Chinese doctor and a Czech dentist and an Arab shrink. There's just been a big international soccer tournament, and street pedlars have been selling flags representing dozens of nations! I wonder if you see that in New York and Los Angeles too?
A few weeks ago I went on a march between Jane and High Park stations in support of Moslem refugees. (It was in response to a march by an anti-Moslem group the week before.) We were chanting, "Say it loud! Say it clear! Immigrants are welcome here!"
Someone said that Toronto is the most multicultural city in the world. If you ask me, true multiculturalism goes from the bottom up! The United States has been called a "melting pot" for immigrants, but that's always struck me as a simplistic take on the complex, gradual process of assimilation. Even the log cabin was introduced to America by German immigrants!
I think that the Americans should give their Columbus Day the new name Immigrant Day. After all, Columbus was the first immigrant to America!
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