Re: Tamil Protest / Riot in Toronto
 

No, they came as refugees and asylum seekers. White and born in South African to South African parents born to South African parents. No nationality other than South African, and no rights to any other passports or rights of residence anywhere else in the world. Why would a person have an automatic right to residency somewhere else just because of the colour of their skin?

As for the rest, I'm not even bothering as you're not after answers, you're not after another world view. As noted previously the bulk of these issues arose in the last ten years in a country considered to be extremely corrupt for a modern industrialised nation.

As for coverage, well there's plenty of it. From the farm attacks to force white people off the land, to the racist police forces. You just need to be willing to look.

Just remember, there is no such thing as positive discrimination. Now the state of South Africa 15 years ago was unforgivable, the racism and legislation was completely unacceptable and had to go.

Re: Tamil Protest / Riot in Toronto
 

There certainly is. Whether or not you agree with them the following are examples of postive discrimination:

- afro-centric schools in Toronto
- tax breaks for native Canadians resident on reserves
- ethnic hiring quotas in quangoes, Ontario Hydro for example
- more conteniously, I would say that the policy of the Family Court in Ontario is to favour female parties to litigation and that this is an example of positive discrimination
- scholarships offered on the basis of ethnicity

Any policy which advances one group ahead of others in order to attempt to redress systemic discrimination against that group is one of positive discrimination.

Whether or not South Africa is a country with such policies is another matter.

Re: Tamil Protest / Riot in Toronto
 

What I mean by that is positive discrimination for that, is negative for others.

- afro-centric schools in Toronto
Preventing children of other ethnicities from joining and experiencing other cultures.
- tax breaks for native Canadians resident on reserves
Increasing the tax burden on those not getting tax breaks.
- ethnic hiring quotas in quangoes, Ontario Hydro for example
Preventing those of other ethnicities getting the positions, potentially turning positions from those most suited to the actual role to those who meet a certain appearance.
- more conteniously, I would say that the policy of the Family Court in Ontario is to favour female parties to litigation and that this is an example of positive discrimination
Again, not a balanced system if they do favour one over the other without a neutral viewpoint to the individual cases
- scholarships offered on the basis of ethnicity
Shutting them off from all

Everyone should be equal. I know that's a bold statement, and real life comes over and gives it a wedgie on a regular basis, but positive discrimination is always negative for others.

Re: Tamil Protest / Riot in Toronto
 

It's the word 'positive' that is causing the problem here.

'Guilt discrimination' might be a better choice.

Re: Tamil Protest / Riot in Toronto
 

An empty truism. Progressive tax rates are negative for the rich, elimination of polio is negative for crutch manufacturers, the introduction of the metric system is negative for numeracy and yet governments currently pursue these policies.

Is it your position that the government should never take measures to redress inequalities within society?

Re: Tamil Protest / Riot in Toronto
 

It should redress inequalities certainly, but not by creating more inequalities on the way. That being said, I know we don't live in such an idealised society, and ideas on paper always sound good.

Re: Tamil Protest / Riot in Toronto
 

An excellent phrase. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Re: Tamil Protest / Riot in Toronto
 

Come again?

Er... and again?

A better question might be, do you trust your Government to take measures to redress inequalities within society?

Re: Tamil Protest / Riot in Toronto
 

Not to get bogged down in poking fun at metricism but it used to be that people had a fair idea of day-to-day weights and measures. For example how many miles per gallon they could get from their car, not with precision but a reasonable estimate, now the commonly used measure is "clicks per tank" which is fine for your own car but makes comparison with other cars tricky as, of course, tanks vary. Similarly, when people speak of a pound of butter, do they mean a metric pound as used in the UK or a proper pound as used here, the difference is a bit over an ounce and a half. The introduction of metric measures has resulted in a muddle, it's bad for the public, but it's a policy the government pursues for the greater good (what greater good has yet to be revealed but I'm sure there is one, we must trust them).

Re: Tamil Protest / Riot in Toronto
 

How many hands is your hobby-horse?

Re: Tamil Protest / Riot in Toronto
 

I dozed off in the middle of counting.

Re: Tamil Protest / Riot in Toronto
 

Generally, the 'clicks per tank' value is usually very close in every car...cars with big tanks get lower mile/kilometreage so it generally all evens out.

Metric is a system, whether you like it or not, used in every country bar the USA and Liberia...even the UK is quasi-metric (weather reports, building code issues, weights and measures in shops but not road distances, speed limits etc) and I assume Canada wanted to be in line with the rest of the world.

At the time of conversion in 1977 there were some grumpy Canadian cradle people who complained about the metric system but most of them have disappeared to the world of right wing phone in shows and farm co-ops.

Re: Tamil Protest / Riot in Toronto
 

Rather perverse to be in line with India while functionally a subsidiary of the US, wouldn't you say?

Re: Tamil Protest / Riot in Toronto
 

I don't think one can describe Canada as metric. Other than roadsigns, gasoline and the contents of my fridge, most things appear to be imperial. Even the weight of many foodstuffs isn't really metric, apart from the numbers.

Re: Tamil Protest / Riot in Toronto
 

You'd be a great lawyer the way you can twist things to your advantage.:thumbsup: