By Karla Dieseldorff
By Karla Dieseldorff
New York – Canada has become one, if not the most, welcoming country that has expressed great acceptance of the resettlement of Syrian refugees.
Canadian social media users have been demonstrating their support to refugees and Muslims through messages, hashtags, tweets, images and videos.
Daim Khalid, a young Muslim Canadian-Pakistani marketing specialist, created a video titled “Welcome To Canada”. The has gone viral and touched the hearts of thousands around the world.
“The news has been a bit of a downer recently, so Mahdi, Nesa, Ali and I decided we’d go and capture something positive,” Khalid said on his Facebook profile.
“This one’s for the refugees. The extremist mindset knows of no borders, it exists everywhere. But know that with us, you’ll be in good company,” he added.
The touching video portrays Canadians from all walks of life, religions, cultures, etc. reassuring refugees that they are happy to have them in their country and will make them feel a part of them.
Dozens of Canadians were filmed saying, in their languages and their own words, words of hope, happiness, tolerance, integration, love, and peace, among others.
“I’m so excited that you’re going to be a part of our great community,” a young woman said.
“I promise you there are very lovely people here that will be very good to you,” another Canadian stressed.
Khalid is one of the thousands of Canadians who has found a home in the North American country.
“I don’t often showcase my pride in countries, as I feel it would limit me in my appreciation of everything else the world has to offer, but I’m as grateful to live in, and learn from Canada as I am to have been born and raised in Pakistan. I love our spirit,” he said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau personally welcomed the first group of 163 Syrian refugees at the Toronto Airport last week.
The Canadian government plans to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees, according to the Citizenship and Immigration (CIC) Office website.
The sentiment of tolerance and unity felt in Canada toward migrants of war-torn Syria and Muslims in general, is not expressed in the United States and in Europe.
Hate speech, fear, negative stereotypes and crimes derived from hatred and discrimination are flooding the news in the United States and other Western countries.
