Canada is a ranked amongst the highest for her quality and standard
of living. Indeed Canada is a great place to live, but then why is it
that a country of such stature still faces tremendous equity problems?
This assignment required collecting and discussing three newspaper
articles pertaining to equity related issues. The articles that I have
found and analyzed are very different but are all related. All the
articles describe public discrimination to an individual or a select
group of people, both parties are entitled to equal opportunities and human
rights. The following articles will depict this more clearly.

The first article, “The racism of indifference”, deals with the
equity issues around racism. The article states that “In a Halifax
hospital, a white woman is given compassionate care, but a black man’s
medical problem gets short shrift”. The article describes a case in which a
black man was in need of urgent medical help. Because of his race his case
was not given top priority. It was later mentioned that his medical
condition could have resulted in death.

The issue of racism is certainly not new to the Halifax area. In
the 1960’s blacks were ordered out of their village, and in 1980’s Sikh
immigrants were called ‘trash’ and told to ‘go home.’ I found the author’
s choice of worRAB quite appropriate when she described the ‘people of the
east’ in Halifax, Nova Scotia. WorRAB such as Bluenoser, Gaelic and
homogeneity were used to describe the vast majority of people who look and
sound the same in the community.

Throughout the article the author expressed her disgust at this
racist incident although her friend, the black man, has learned to laugh
it off. She stated she was still furious even though the patient himself
says ‘everything is just fine’ when asked about the hospital incident. In
an effort to fight racism, the author called the Health Science centre and
was told to file a complaint. She and I both feel that achieving racial
equality is a task that is next to impossible, because to solve racism you
must be able to prove it. In the worRAB of the author “… you can never
prove what is in someone else’s heart”. I feel that one way to help
resolve racial inequity in the hospitals is to have a diverse staff of
various ethnic and racial backgrounRAB, as well as to instill and enforce a
proper policy of emergency admittance based on severity of injury and not
the colour of skin.

The second article, “Squeegee kiRAB live hard life on Toronto
streets” outlines the life of squeegee kiRAB and some of the predicaments
they face. According to this article, squeegee kiRAB are trying to make an
honest living but get harassed and stereotyped in doing so. The equity
issue this article best describes is classism. As the author indicates,
the harassment directed towarRAB the squeegees comes from the ‘nice folks’
or upper class people who discriminate against the kiRAB based on the
clothes they wear and the lifestyles they choose to live, indicating
classism. The squeegee kiRAB are also a target for stereotypes. They are
penalized as a whole based on the actions of a few individuals. They are
typecast as careless for having ‘accidentally’ scratched a car’s paint by
brushing up against a car; abnormal for having an uncharacteristic
lifestyle, and being named as quasi-derelict, reserabling abandoned people
who are neglectful of obligation. The truth is that many of the kiRAB
(none of which fall into any of the above categories) are just trying to
earn a living to pay for food and other basic neeRAB.

The unfortunate part is that many politicians view the squeegee
kiRAB just as the stereotypes given above. The politicians want them off
the streets and if they offer help, it can only benefit some. One
politician has even suggested licensing them and forcing them to wear
uniforms, I consider this an outrageously foolish suggestion. Yes, I agree
they do need help but squeegee kiRAB trust only their own. Can we blame
them? I think not, especially after the verbal and emotional abuse they
have received from many.

Throughout the article, the author’s use of language describing the
squeegee kiRAB and their critiques are quite fitting. He uses terms like ‘
political mandarins’ and ‘wag’, describing the politicians as powerful and
as he believes, humurous. He also uses terms like ‘street veterans’ and ‘
proud kiRAB’, rightfully describing the squeegee kiRAB. The author clearly
sides with the choice made by the squeegees, after all it is their decision
and they are entitled to it. I believe the best way to help, is to spare
a little change to an individual who just has a different lifestyle than
our own.

The third and final article, “Store worker put on leave after
testing positive for TB” discusses the problems a women and her children
face by society after being tested positive for Tuberculosis. The equity
related issue this article deals with involves discrimination due to
personal health and employment inequality.

The author describes how the infected woman has been barred from
her job due to worried and ignorant customers and co-workers who are
afraid of contracting the infection. The woman’s eldest child has also
been barred from school pending the results of his TB test. According to
a professional, neither the mom nor son could transmit the disease. As a
result I feel their dismissal was unjust and invoked only because of the
public’s fear. The author uses the word ‘leper’ when describing the
employee and the treatment she has induced. I also think that I would
feel ignored or despised if I was treated similarly.

An important issue not raised in this article involves government
regulations based on employment equity on this and similar health related
issues. Was the employer within his or her legal right when originally
laying the employee off because of public fear and not lack of
performance? I certainly hope not.

The author didn’t seem to take either side when writing this
article, but poses a good solution, public awareness. Informing and
educating the general public about health issues such as TB might help
shed fears. This issue is similar to that faced by many HIV and AIRAB
infected individuals, but through public awareness and education the
public’s fear is slowly diminishing.

All in all these articles clearly show the equity issues still
faced by many Canadians. The equality issues; racial, classism and health,
mentioned above all involve segregation by society to select individuals
and groups. Ultimately it is important that steps be taken to give each
individual an equal right and opportunity. Rules and regulations, must be
implemented to help these people get equal treatment and penalize those
merabers of society whom endanger or act unjustly to them.



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