The Other Anti-Semitism

Yesterday I blogged about the scourge of anti-Jewish sentiment and the lack of understanding of the Holocaust amongst Canadians, particularly those who are younger,

I suppose it makes sense to write about the other form of anti-Semitism, which is anti-Islamic words and actions.

I'm sure we've all heard by now about the arrests in nearby Kingston, Ontario of two young men on suspicion of plotting terrorism. There was a huge coordination of security agencies, including the FBI in the States and the RCMP here. We should all be grateful that there are such agencies which are vigilant on our behalf.

Within 24 hours one of these men, a 20-year-old Syrian refugee, was released without charges. While he acknowledges knowing the other, a minor, he says that he had no knowledge of a plan to build and place a bomb, and the police appear to agree. His family was sponsored by several church groups and they are convinced that this young adult who is working diligently toward a better education would not be involved in anything like this. His parents and siblings endured the trauma of having the police enter their home without warning to search everything. The father insists that the family came to escape terrorism and simply want to build a new, peaceful life here.

I am inclined to believe them because I have been involved with the sponsorship of several Syrian families, all of whom are grateful for new beginnings. I have seen them both struggle and flourish with the help and guidance of people from various faith communities, including Christians who respect their Muslim religion.

I am disheartened but not surprised to hear that this young man and his family have received hate mail and threats since the arrests were made. It's clear that Islamophobia does exist in this country, and I'm disgusted that the leader of the Conservative party immediately made a statement criticizing the federal government's vetting process for refugees despite having no knowledge of what had transpired. We need leaders who encourage calm and measured responses to threats, not fear-mongering.

I have no idea of the seriousness of the plot by the other young man, who some are saying is sixteen. Authorities say there was no immediate threat to the public, so we have to wonder if this was a sledgehammer response, to use the words of Toronto Star columnist Rosie DiManno. Her column is well considered, although I was baffled by her annoyance that the father of the 20-year-old was upset by police walking across their family prayer mats. Would she react the same way if police entered the home of devout Christians and knocked over religious objects such as a cross? Whatever the necessity of the raid, who are we to say what should or shouldn't upset this family?

When Canada welcomed forty thousand Syrian refugees, many of whom were already traumatized by displacement and torture, there was the risk, however small, that someone would eventually commit a crime or be radicalized. This was discussed in many sponsorship groups and in our area those groups received attended training about mental health issues. 

 Take a look at our history and you'll discover that there have been plenty of white Christians from European countries who emigrated to Canada but never left their national conflicts behind. Go into a courthouse on any give day in this country and you'll find people who are charged with crimes, some heinous, despite having every privilege of being born here.

I will both pray for and be vocal about supporting those who have come to this country to begin again and I'll resist any attempts to demonize refugees because of racism and fear or religious stereotypes.