(Fighting against New Crown Pneumonia) Chinese Canadian Scholars: Discrimination, hatred cannot help us overcome the virus
China News Agency, Toronto, May 17 (Reporter Yu Ruidong) "We need to call for what is needed to fight the epidemic is compassion, empathy and solidarity. Fraud, blame, discrimination and hatred cannot help us defeat the virus," Carleton University, Canada Chen Xiaobei, a professor of sociology in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, said in an interview with a reporter from China News Service recently.
After the outbreak of the New Crown epidemic, racial hatred against Chinese and Asian people occurred frequently in Vancouver, Toronto and other places. The mainstream TV media "Universal News" in late April in its television and online text reports, slandered the Chinese government's instructions to the Chinese Canadian community to snap up medical supplies when China fought against the epidemic, resulting in a shortage of medical supplies in Canada. Chen Xiaobei initiated an online petition on behalf of the Association of Chinese Educators in Canada in early May, expressing high concern and deep concern for related reports, and asking the media to retract its reports and publicly apologize.
The petition says that these reports have deepened the racist fear of Chinese Canadians (including other Chinese) and exacerbated the rise of anti-Chinese and anti-Asian racism. These news not only did not help the public to gain a clearer understanding, but confuse the audio-visual, provoked and exacerbated racial prejudice.
After the online petition lasted for a week, more than 8,000 people signed and supported it, and many people left messages, expressing resentment and anger at the discrimination and prejudice reflected in the report. Chen Xiaobei said that this number has exceeded expectations and is a proud victory. Due to multiple reasons such as culture and language, most overseas Chinese are reluctant to express their political ideas and voices in public. "This online petition has achieved a breakthrough and inspired everyone to discuss some issues that are sometimes unwilling to discuss, such as racism."
"Racial prejudice and discrimination are political weapons. In times of crisis, the dominant groups in society tend to use minority groups as scapegoats to cover up their responsibilities." Chen Xiaobei bluntly stated that in Canadian society, racial discrimination starts from white people. This piece of land exists, regardless of party. The recent arguments and the anti-Chinese riots that occurred in the 19th century both reflected prejudice against the Chinese and even regarded the Chinese as a foreign threat.
In recent years, discrimination incidents have been staged in Canada from time to time. For example, Chen Xiaobei said that before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, anti-Chinese ethnicity, especially racism against mainland Chinese immigrants, had a clear rise. She also voted for the Ottawa English newspaper for this, refuting prejudice. In 2010, a report in a mainstream magazine preached that some universities were “too Asian” and described Asian students as having no fun and only learning.
She said that since the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, Chinese and even Asian Canadians have felt the increase in discrimination, and some politicians have irresponsibly worsened the situation. Reports like "Global News" have exacerbated unreasonable attacks on Chinese Canadians. Its report distorted humanitarian aid and regarded it as the reason for the allegations of Chinese Canadians' infidelity towards Canada. However, the Chinese community organizations did not mention the activities of actively purchasing and donating medical supplies for hospitals and other institutions in Canada.
Chen Xiaobei said that Chinese individuals and communities should have the courage to speak up and let Canadian media, society and the government understand the problems of misreporting and the real situation through action.
She admitted that the stereotype is difficult to change day and night. But Canada has learned a lesson from history. Citizens have the right to be protected from racial discrimination by law, and many Canadians are clearly against racism. The Chinese should make full use of these resources to resist racism.
In addition to the online petition, Chen Xiaobei said that in the future, the Chinese community will also need to vigorously promote the contribution of Chinese Canadians to the fight against epidemic disease in Canada through different channels and methods. Groups, including academics, can use their bilingual advantages and expertise to promote communication between the Chinese community and mainstream society, and reduce irresponsible and distorted facts.
Chen Xiaobei also hopes to strengthen cooperation with community organizations in the future and conduct more civic education for new immigrants to let everyone know more about immigration history.
She said that the legal rights and protection enjoyed by Chinese and other ethnic minorities in Canada today are won by successive generations of overseas Chinese through a series of struggles. "We need to learn from them." (Finish)