This is just my personal insight of what’s happening within the Canadian Tamil community. As a Canadian born Tamil, I’ve always been at great disarray regarding our cultural issues. Growing up in Toronto’s east and west districts has enlightened me to many issues regarding our socialization procedures. In elementary school, a large portion of my class was Canadian born Tamils. Even though we were Tamil, none of us spoke a single word of it. It was just there as a racial reference of our origins. Origins we knew nothing about. It was not until high school, when we realized that Eelam Tamils were flocking in with issues regarding English. That is when the problem started, the culture shock effecting Eelam Tamils on their arrival at these high schools disturbed them greatly. They were confused with why the Canadian born Tamils were unable to have even the simplest conversations in Tamil. This created a huge void amongst the next generation Tamils. The inability of communication with the two groups caused a disturbance. The Canadian born would refer the Eelam born as “FOB” which meant “Fresh Off the Boat”. This small example is one of many that caused problems to the unification process. The Canadian born were labeled as corrupt and spoiled. The reason was merely because we were unable to communicate. However it is true that a majority of Canadian born are naïve and abuse the privileges they have been accustomed to. I am included in that spoiled majority; however I do everything I can to try to understand the youth whom migrated from Eelam. They are my only insight to how things really are. Unfortunately, just as how they are ridiculed by Canadian born (Regarding English and accent issues), I too am in the same boat of ridicule (with the lack of Tamil verbal skills). I am singled out and put aside for trying to link the cultures. If it continues to go the way it is now, then we will have a serious problem of unintended subcultural growth. This ultimately would create another divide amongst our people. Which is something that we do not need, and must prevent at all costs (If it hadn’t already have happened). I hope the Eelam Tamils understand that even though we are spoiled, we Canadian Tamils won’t leave you hanging. I will do everything I can to be that pillar for that bridge that unites us. Even if I have to spoil my name, be hated by everybody, and even die. I won’t give up!
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 22:33:19 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015