Canada bashing is misplaced—LETTERS; TORONTO STAR “Mr. Kurdi is precisely the kind of refugee that Canada does not need: the ones who make “demands,” criticize everything and think that the world owes them a living”. ---Letter writer Claude Gannon. “It would have been ludicrous for me to somehow blame Canada for any untoward event occurring to me or my family, if Canada had denied my immigration application. Every sovereign country, based on its economic and social conditions, has a right to decide who it will admit”. --- Letter writer Rajeev Chopra These two –diverse –letter writers are saying exactly what I have tried to say –in letters –to The Star in the past; but been ignored. Kudos to you, for printing their letters. I am incensed at the blatant temerity and arrogance of this man, Kurdi; who was, probably; partly the author of his own misfortune; but now has the gall to blame Canada; and at the obsequiousness of the main media for going along with him. There are multitudes of people with personal stories and reasons for escaping their dysfunctional homeland –some more empathically justified than others; and as such should be individually vetted before allowing into Canada. In this matter, I am in total accord with the Government’s current position on this issue; and immigration in general. I say this, not as a rightwing radical; but as a former immigrant myself. In those days of yore when I immigrated; things were different; and I accept that today we are more fair and compassionate. Yet, it seems to me, in order to right the ship; we have tipped excessively to the other side and in peril of sinking. Allow me to give a personal example: In 1960 I arrived on this shores as a (very) young man. I was given an address to an “Immigration Office” who I was told would assist me in seeking work. In a small office there was a man sitting at a desk, with his feet on the desktop and reading the newspaper. After haltingly –my English was very limited –telling him I was looking for work; he handed me the newspaper, showing me the “Help Wanted” column. “There”, he said helpfully; “just look in those columns; you will find a job there”. That was the extent of my “immigrant assistance” experience. I should, of course, have gone to the “Human Rights Commission”; and sued the Immigration Officer for dereliction of duties. Oh; wait; there was no such thing then. It was “swim or sink” for “DP”s (– “Displaced Persons” –as I was often incorrectly called). I swam; and I did not sink. I have never considered myself “hard done by” here; nor expected Canada to adjust to my “habits”; mores nor my “old country” culture. Once; in a university discussion group; I listened to a woman from the West Indies complaining about discrimination here. Being a staunch diplomat; I asked her how she got here form there; and she answered “by airplane, of course.” “Well”; I said; “that plane also flies the other way”. I was given a stern lecture in diplomacy by the group tutor; but my opinion is still the same.