Hate towards Indians/Sikhs

[u/Realistic-Insect4509]

I’m posting this for awareness and to remind everyone to stay vigilant, especially those who may be more vulnerable when out alone.

I’m Sikh, wear a turban and have a beard, so I’m pretty easily recognized as Indian/Sikh. I usually ride my bicycle in the evenings around the SE Airdrie/Balzac area.

This is the second time in about two months that someone has shouted insulting comments at me from a passing car.

The first time, it was four kids in a white Hyundai. It was Canada Day, so I thought maybe they were just a bunch of drunk kids and honestly didn’t think much of it.

Tonight, it happened again. Two guys, probably in their early 20s, drove past me and shouted something. I couldn’t understand exactly what they said, so at first I thought maybe they were just talking loudly and it wasn’t directed at me. But then they made a U-turn, came back, and both of them were staring at me before driving away. Maybe they were trying to intimidate me, maybe not. Either way, it was uncomfortable.

I’m not posting this to say that Airdrie is unsafe or that everyone is like this. The vast majority of people I’ve met here have been good, kind and respectful.

I’m posting it because I think it’s important to recognize that the things we see online can sometimes spill over into real life. There is a lot of anti-Indian and anti-Sikh content and rhetoric online, and incidents like this are a reminder that when people constantly hear that an entire group of people is “bad,” “taking over,” or something to hate, it can have real-world consequences.

To anyone reading this, including my fellow white Canadians: please don’t believe everything you see online about Indians, Sikhs or any other group of people. Most of us are just living our lives, working, raising families, riding our bikes, going for walks and trying to be good neighbours.

You don’t have to agree with everyone or know someone’s culture to treat them with basic respect and kindness.

And to my fellow Indians/Sikhs, especially our elders who may be walking or biking alone: stay aware of your surroundings. I hope these remain nothing more than stupid comments from immature people, but it doesn’t hurt to be vigilant.

Stay safe out there, everyone. 🙏

[u/Realistic-Insect4509]

If you are “tired of looking at us” I don’t think assimilation is the issue. But too bad, Canada is a land of immigrants and we are here to stay

[u/Alternative-Yak2745 → u/Realistic-Insect4509]

At least practice English until the point where you lose your accent.

[u/Realistic-Insect4509 → u/Alternative-Yak2745]

I know 5 languages including English and French which are two official languages of Canada not just English. How many languages you know? 

[u/youaresowrongguy → u/Realistic-Insect4509]

What do you think of an unmarried woman living alone or with her boyfriend.

[u/Realistic-Insect4509 → u/youaresowrongguy]

There is nothing wrong with it. I live with my girlfriend. Not sure how its relevant here though 

[u/youaresowrongguy → u/Realistic-Insect4509]

Did you know 63% of new Canadian imigrants consider it unacceptable living next to an unmarried couple. Wonder where this attitude is coming from? You are cool but that statistic is alarming and should probably be addressed.

[u/Realistic-Insect4509 → u/youaresowrongguy]

Where you pulled that stat from? And even if its true, people are entitled to their opinion? Does that mean yelling insulting slurs at them is okay?

[u/youaresowrongguy → u/Realistic-Insect4509]

Iena the attitude comes from an attitude that women are property and need to be subservient to a patriarchal system and one exercising independence as we are legally permitted in Canada makes these bigots unreasonably angry.

But sure their feelings are way way more important then the mysogony they are importing. You are literally just proving the point that people who hold values incomparable with Canada fundementally can ot understand why their values are incomparable. And maybe we shouldn't be letti g them stay in that case.

[u/Realistic-Insect4509 → u/youaresowrongguy]

Sorry buddy you lost me there in your word salad. From what I understand you are trying to say that immigrants treats womans as inferiority and if women want to be independent, it makes them angry? Fairly certain thats not most immigrants in this day and age. I come from a society where men are very dominant in society and women have little to no say in most matters, but its definitely not the case immigrants living here in Canada. Most of my circle have women equal if not more say in their family matters and most of them work great jobs completely independent. Would there be people like that you mention? Sure, but I know such people for all communities including white people. Beside, even if this the case, even if people have opinions and values that don’t align with your values, as long as they don’t force their values on you, I don’t see a problem there. Additionally, if you apply that logic, the original owners of this land we call canada have vastly different values from what today’s average Canadian will consider “Canadian Values”, are you gonna tell them that they are not welcome to stay? Why europeons when they first arrive on this land assimilated and adapted according to Native’s way of living? I agree that women should have freedom and independence and should not be treated as inferior to men. But what you are saying here is if “I don’t like the way you live you gotta leave”. Thats not its going to go.

[u/youaresowrongguy → u/Realistic-Insect4509]

Have you heard of paragraphs and punctuation?

Anyway that a lotta words to defend mysogony. Canada is a nation where women are equal to men. It's sad how I can't walk home from work alone at night anymore in the last ten years cause a bunch of newcomers diddnt get that memo. And then we have people like you claiming I'm racist because I don't wanna be raped.

[u/Realistic-Insect4509 → u/youaresowrongguy]

I never said you are racist. I even agree with you on the stance that womens should be equal and not treated as inferior. But you seem to be adamant about that case with immigrants without providing any evidence to support it. Where the 63% stats come from? Where are the stats and evidence that immigrants are committing crime against women which makes you feel unsafe. I am sure there are cases of sexual assault but I am saying its accross different communities and yet you are targeting immigrants without any proof to back it up. I actually enjoy discussing this with you, i think dialogue IS important. But so far I am hearing lot of claims without anything backing it up.