Dear Editor:
Too many Ukrainians – mainly women and children – have fled their homes for safety in countries which border theirs. The media has been there covering the war between Russia, the instigator and the Ukraine, the defender of its territory from the aggressor.
Once again, we are reminded of war, and other more recent asylum seekers, those who receive sympathetic media coverage and those who don’t.
Several months ago, we were glued to our devices, watching the Taliban sweep into Kabul while thousands of Afghanis were promised safe passage out of their country if they could make it to the airport on time. They too were leaving a country and a family they loved, hoping for asylum elsewhere.
They watched as Canada and other NATO countries closed their borders to Afghani doctors, lawyers, women soccer players, veterans and too many others, while at the same time, making false promises of accepting them promptly. It hasn’t happened!
As refugees, Ukrainians are the lucky ones. They are being welcomed by the Polish – remember the barb wire along the Polish border keeping “less worthy” refugees out? If there is one thing the world has too many of, it is refugees.
They are the unfortunate and their numbers fill refugee camps in the millions around the world. Many of them have lived in them for a lifetime. Western countries – Canada is good at this – accept those refugees and immigrants who are seen as being easily assimilated. “We need you. We don’t need you.” Simple pragmatism.
Let’s not fool ourselves. The double standard of freedom loving democracies takes my breath away.
Janet Calderwood,
Rockwood