Mark Steyn’s Column, Maclean’s Nov.30th.

Though I have no issue with the gist of Mr. Steyn’s position regarding “political correctness”, I do have a point to make regarding the issue of “honour killings” –surely an oxymoron if there ever was one.

While Muslim “honour killings” have been in the news lately, as mentioned by Mr. Steyn; such killings have also been perpetrated by non-Muslim immigrants in the past; in particular new Canadians from the more traditional cultures of southern Europe. Their cause was also the problem of their daughter wanting to dress as and emulate the native Canadian women in their social circles and schools. The parents try to shield and “protect” their children from unwanted (by them) intrusion on their old world habits, culture and beliefs, but feel they are losing a degree of control over their children as they grow older and mill with the general population, as they inevitably must.

From the point of view of Canadian society, this integration process is a good thing; but a stressful one for the “old country” generation with “old country” mores; particularly where the cultural gap is wide, such as between southern and northern Europe; or South Asian or Middle Eastern cultures; regardless of religion. Disobedient children combined with the lack of identity and control they feel in a foreign land, lends itself to friction and stress within the family unit, and in the extreme, to violence and mayhem, even murder.

There should be a requirement for better preparation of immigrants from such cultures, before they are encouraged to immigrate here. They should understand that in accepting our economic and social benefits, they must also be ready to make some adjustments for Canadian culture and social mores; lest the cultural divide become an unbridgeable schism.