Alpha Blondy photo: courtesy Alpha Blondy

So to help fight racism, Montreal - along with Quebec City, Geneva and Brussels - is hosting the 7th annual Action Week Against Racism. Here are Hour's choice picks of events being held in Montreal:

Unity in Diversity Show, theme workshop, discussion and multicultural dinner at Côte-des-Neiges Community Centre (5347 Côte-des-Neiges Road), March 20-25 from 7 to 9 p.m. Info: 733-1478.

Nuit de L'Ireland A play by Marie Jones, translated and directed by Jean-Guy Legault, about one man's unsettling reflections on the hate and intolerance that divide his native Ireland, at Salle Fred-Barry (4353 Ste-Catherine St. East), 7:30 p.m. nightly until April 1. $25. Info: 253-8974.

Comic Strips Against Racism An exhibition of plates on the theme of intolerance and racism by Quebec comic book artist Jimmy Beaulieu. Plus 30 comic book artists from Quebec and Europe share their ideas on the theme. For location and info, call Images Interculturelles at 842-7127.

Montreal Holocaust Museum The world-class museum (5151 Côte-Ste-Catherine Road) hosts an open house March 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and again on March 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Info: 345-2605.

Solidarythmé: 12 Hours of Music Against Racism Two six-hour shows. The first, at Club Soda (1225 St-Laurent), features France's Syncop and La Mine de Rien, as well as the homegrown Tomas Jensen, Manouche, Dibondoko and Zuruba among many others. The second show, at the Medley (1170 St-Denis), features several reggae artists opening for legendary African headliner Alpha Blondy and the Solar System. Doors open at 7 p.m. at the Medley and 6 p.m. at Club Soda. Tickets available at Ticketpro and the door; $45 (both shows) and $20 (French music show only). Part of the profits will be donated to Médecins du Monde.

For all Action Week Against Racism events, surf to www.inforacisme.com.

 
 

		Write your comment on this article!

Change comes from within     Actually the comment that I made about the article titled "Racial Profiling: Our National Shame" should have been made here (my regrets). Anyways getting back to the article at hand, I think that this series of events which try to fight "racism" (like I said this use of this term, to me, by those who are opposed to this form of prejudice are as guilty as those who perpetuate this kind of behavior) is a good idea. The idea of trying to educate people, and therefore lessening (if not eliminating) one's level of ignorance, not only benefits those who are being educated but those who are victims of discrimination. According to Pedro Eggers, everyone has been discriminated against at one time or another, thus, we are all bigots. I think there's some truth to that statement because even if everyone doesn't act upon their preconceived notions, everyone HAS a preconceived notion in their head about a certain group of people. Think about Tom Cruise's behavior last year and how much attention it drew to Scientology. Virtually all of the attention this religion garnered was negative and I am just as guilty as anyone else about feeling that way towards Scientology. I'll also admit that I know very little about that religion. However, a distinction must be made here as to what discrimination/"racism" is...is it the actions taken by some against others? Is it the ideas some have about others? Or is it both? Although no one can be forced to go to any of the upcoming events mentioned, those who attend any or all of the events will be enriched in ways that one cannot possible imagine. If there are those who want to go but can't then maybe doing some soul searching will be just as beneficial. In the immortal words of Yoda, "you must unlearn what you have learned" in order to become a better person.
Basil James	{30 votes}	March 17th, 2006
News flash!     Ultimately all ignorant insular malcontents, whatever badge of hate they proudly carry, understrand this deepest of all truths--that if you strike down the other hard enough you will hurt them, that if you strike down the other hard enough you can scare them, that if you strike down the other hard enough you can break them but more importantly than any of this, that if you strike down the other hard enough you can make them bleed...and if you can make them bleed you can make them die. ~ Scary thought? Welcome to the world of bigots. As disturbing as this might seem to you, narrow-minded hateful individuals exist but what's more disturbing is that you might one yourself. Go on, take a close look at yourself and listen to yourself sometimes, listen to your friends and family and be honest with what's there. I'm not saying that you secretly yearn to wear bedsheets at night and burn crosses or that actively commit something truly heinous against someone because they look different or believe in something you don't. No, what I'm saying is that each of us sometimes act and say things that we shouldn't. We might know it in our heads that it's wrong but somehow in the right circles we find ourselves letting the mask slip. No one wants to admit being flawed, it's always easier to think that other people are racist and intolerant but the problem is *everyone* thinks that! If all we do is point fingers at each other then that means someone must necessarily be pointing one at *us*! ~ Discrimination is a hall of mirrors with each of us looking at other people for the solution. You can't change others, only yourself. Start there. I've been discriminated against but odds are whether by choice or perception I'm guilty of the very self thing in someone else's eyes. You can go to the places listed in this article or you could stay home and take a hard long look at who you are. Any step in either direction if heartfelt will do you a world of good.
Pedro Eggers	{44 votes}	March 16th, 2006
If you want to get rid of racism     you gotta find another planet, unfortunately. Sure, it seems like there is little racism, but due to ignorant parents and their equally ignorant child, many younger generations seems to be very racist. I take the metro and the bus everyday, and manage to hear at least 3 or 4 racial insults every week or two. It's all good this talk about "stopping racism" , but that's impossible,so how about we set a smaller objective of "minimising racism?", and yes, i know this sounds familiar, but racism does feed off ignorance. I think something we should all think about is that not everyone is happy about the whole "multiculturalism" thing going on here in montreal. Many people claim to "love it", but most of the time (i have discovered, unfortunately), it's to avoid the Taboo of being marked as a "racist", and unless you really, truly understand the consequences of racism, and how it really really hurts and makes you feel inferior and angry to receive a racial slur, racism will go on ...
Noeuhl Kang		April 5th, 2006
Racism Here to Stay     Racism is always present. Sometimes shit hits the fan when a white policeman calls a black woman ignorant for no apparent reason and then one can only imagine what we already know: it is very difficult to change prevailing attitude of law inforcement people towards cultures they have never had to directly experience. That is until they took on the job of applying city or state laws. Cops are there to apply certain rules, that doesn't make them gods but sometimes I wonder about how much of their superior air goes unchecked and someone innocent gets stepped on. Whether they wear badges or not doesn't keep them from thinking of the those that don't follow the rules as just objects to be scorned. Interesting to note that where we think we are superior to one people, they in turn think of themselves as being superior to another.
Martin Dansky	{8 votes}	March 22nd, 2006
Graphic Exploration     Hmmm, Comic Strips Against Racism sounds like an interesting forum to explore this incredibly thorny issue. Somewhat suprised that this avenue hasn't been mined locally before but I'm definitely intrigued to see what kind of graphic exploration of race issues this exhibition depicts!
Mark St Pierre	{3 votes}	March 20th, 2006
Breaking the Cycle     Children as great imitators learn early on from their parents to despise certain ethnic groups and not to interact with neighbours outside their own group. This segregation fosters hostility that will be passed on to future generations. It is up to the schools to have integrated classrooms where students must cooperate with each other to accomplish their assignments. It is this non threatening contact that will eventually defeat the cycle of racism.
Stephen Talko	{6 votes}	March 20th, 2006
We are all the same species, namely Homo Sapiens     It's stupidity that fosters racism. If people would study anthropology/evolution/cosmology they would realize that we all evolved from a common ancestor. This study should start in kindergarten and progress onward at a higher level in high schools. Unfortunately, none of this done. All schools should be secular and public. We should not have the governments subsidize religious schools. This is a free country so folks are allowed to teach their religion at home and at mosques, temples, synagogues, churches...this is more than sufficient to continue their children's education in their beliefs. One of the best changes in our schools was the discontinuation of the lord's prayer. Immigrants to Canada need not parade their religion in the streets. Keep their religion at home or in their places of worship. I may be critical but I have discovered that so-called religious folks do not practice what they preach. If one believed in god and an after-life they would not steal, kill, hurt others, lie, take illegal drugs, gamble and drive through red lights.
Lewie Miya	{12 votes}	March 19th, 2006
Each Nationality of any country thinks it is the best in the world; thus this breeds racism.     Racism is part of the entire world's attitude to others of different nationalities and religious beliefs; and since each country's population thinks they are the best it breeds racism. It is a pride of one's individual self; an inflated ego that causes the individual to strongly belief he or she is better than another. God created us all equal but because of this ultra egocentricity we think and are convinced we are far superior than for example a 'black' from Africa. His or her poverty gives rise for 'us' to think he or she is much less than us as a human being. He or she become a 'dirty' illiterate who is subhuman and does not deserve the right to live. But the 'white' individual concludes this as fact and does not see that all life created by God is equal (even animals, insects, birds, plants etc.). He or she has forgotten God's first Commandment 'Thus Shalt Not Kill'; so in truth this lessor human from Africa is just as human as you or me but his or her only problem is he or she was born very poor and does not have the same advantages as you and I; so we label this misfortunate as a filthy African and dismiss him or her to die because his or her only 'fault' was to be born into proverty. This is one acute form of racism; but there are others just as bad; for instance religious believes; when one religious group think that their religion is the only true religion and they kill in the name of their religion. This is a very facist dangerous attitude of dictators like Adolf Hitler who used religion as a tool to exterminate over 6 million Jews, the Ayatola Kommeni; and all the Tallaban terrorists who believe they are fighting a Holy War of their undisputed God 'Allah'. Label it what you will; racism is very dangerous and deadly but it is here to stay because of countries with nationalistic pride and prejudices sometimes which they use only as an excuse to obtain power and wealth. In my opinion racism will never be completed eliminated because of all this.
Maria Jankovics	{10 votes}	March 17th, 2006
We must be the change we wish to see in our worlds...     i suppose most people have accepted racism as part of a diverse culture...but racism is unacceptable and the only way to rid this society of this sick poison is to make it such a taboo that even those that think racist thoughts think twice before saying their mind, it starts with one mind , one individual to change his thoughts and the world can change. zero tolerance may not lead to elimination of racism but it will definetley not allow it to be an attitude. every living being has the right to be on this earth and if we can remember that...then every week should be and can be Action Week against Racism.
Livleen Rehal	{10 votes}	March 17th, 2006
For the Archie Bunker's of the World     Ignorance is what generally breeds racism. All the events listed above look informative and interesting, however, unfortunately the people you really want to reach are so closed-minded and ignorant that they wouldn't even attend to try to learn more about people who are different from themselves. It would be nice to think we can change people, but I think racism is something we are always going to have to live with.
Heath Abram	{7 votes}	March 16th, 2006

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