Syrian refugee crisis exposes Harper's ideological choices –Haroon Siddiqui. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/09/09/syrian-refugee-crisis-exposes-harpers-ideological-choices.html I was surprised to see Mr. Siddiqui back with a column in today’s Star; and I must admit I agree with much of his assertions; yet I do have few disagreements and concerns. We have all experienced the tug of emotion and sadness witnessing the body of little Alan Kurdi. Yet; he is but one example. Mr. Siddiqui refers to the “Canadian tradition of bringing old warring factions together.” Really? There was no concerted and determined effort of the Canadian government to bring warring factions of Irish and Scottish here to continue their conflict. It was a side-effect of an open immigration policy. Ditto for Indian/Pakistani factions; and even more so; the Sikh feud with India; which culminated in the death of over three hundred innocent Indian civilians in the Air-India disaster. When you are allowing large numbers of people of any nationality, race or creed to enter without proper vetting and controls you are asking for trouble. I am not saying that Harper is right on this issue; he could have set in motion a system of controls that would allow a larger number of refugees to enter. The present backlog is also due to Conservative past reluctance on the immigration and refugee file. Yet; a helter-skelter intake of un-vetted people is dangerous. As well as the many women and children; there is a majority of young men who could become a fifth column in Canada. Whether they are pro-Assad fighters or part of the opposition rebels; they are still potentially violent young men. Be careful what you wish for… Mr. Siddiqui displays his Pakistan/India and Muslim/Hindu bias when he writes about “Hindu bigots who want to continue their ancestral animosity towards Muslim”. This; Mr. Siddiqui, is patent nonsense and an insult to Indians both here and in India. You might benefit from a bit of unbiased history teaching on this subject, and I highly recommend –for your edification – a recent book on the subject of the Partition in 1947/48, by Nisid Hajari: “MIDNIGHT FURIES”(Hughton Mifflin Harcourt 2015). Murder and mayhem was perpetrated on both sides –Hindus and Muslims with Sikhs bringing up the rear. As far as I can determine; the book is unbiased and well documented. Read it, and we could have a more enlightened discussion on this issue. Ethnic hatred is nothing to be taken lightly; be it domestic or imported. This is where I say: “I have many Muslim friends; Sikh friends and Hindu friends”. Hey; I even have some Christian ones. But; it does appear that at this time; Islam is in a upheaval; comparable to Christian conflicts five or six hundred years ago; with the Sunni/Wahabi /Shia duking it out as did the Catholic/Protestant factions of yore. Religious strife is tribalism writ large. Welcome to the human race. I am no Harperite; even Conservative; but I do think it is important to try to be fair and open-minded and receptive to other ideas on all subjects; it being politics or religion. Alas; on the latter; Mr. Siddiqui is found wanting. Sigmund Roseth