Racism is a refuge for the ignorant. It seeks to divide and to destroy. It is the enemy of freedom, and deserves to be met head-on and stamped out.
Pierre Burton

I never, ever thought that I would be in a position to write such a post as this. I am, after all, on what is normally the privileged end of the equation – white male, successful, English speaking, Canadian born. ie. safe, boring and probably as close to the definition of a white bread male as you can get.

As some of you may know I run LotteryCanada.com – Canada’s leading lottery results website. But I also have a company based in Hong Kong. I use this company for various and sundry computer consulting tasks – one of which is sending out the daily emails to thousands of LotteryCanada subscribers.

All seemed normal, until I got this email yesterday (from someone who proudly calls themselves ‘X X’):

Your office is in Hong Kong – what business do you have listing yourselves as Lottery Canada

I JUST UNSUBSCRIBED – YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING HERE IN CANADA!!!

I see. Canada, the home to the cultural mosaic, the birthplace of the League of Nations ideal. And I am a Canadian.

I thought maybe X was wrapped up in this whole ‘my god everything comes from China’ thing. So I thought I would reply:

Normally I wouldn’t answer an email like this, but, for what it is worth LotteryCanada was started 12 years ago in Canada by two born and raised Canadians (white, English speaking Canadians, if you must make a distinction) – I am one of them! For all of this time we have been offering the most comprehensive lottery results service for Canadians. Free of charge, I might add.

The fact that 5 years ago I moved to Asia and have started using my own company (100% Canadian owned!) to provide auxiliary information services (mailing, etc) to Lottery Canada does not change the fact that we are Canadians, our staff are Canadians and of our half million monthly readers 95% are living in Canada.

If you wish to live in an all Canadian island I salute you, but also note that you will find it impossible to buy groceries, clothe yourself, drive a car or do pretty much anything else.

Ok – I was in a mood last night, so I sent the email. I know, never get involved in a flame war with a raving nut job, but, I did.

Here is X’s response:

Really, I’ve been alive 60 years and as I recall Canadians did just fine before foreign trade flooded our market with cheap, counterfeit products. orientals cheat lie and steal…. consider Tibet – chinese swarmed in killed the monks and overwhelmed the country. This is happening right now in Vancouver – a big slow ugly infestation. Oh and why does your site not say it’s already in china – huh! What a phony you are.

No way I’ll ever do business with you – or ever visit your site. I don’t buy anything sourced or fouled by orientals. Look what you’ve all done to your air – disgusting! You cannot be trusted.

so take your indignation and shove it!

X clearly missed the salient points of my email

• I am not oriental. Stop saying ‘you’.
• Canada has forever been a welcomer of foreigners and indeed was built by them! (CP Rail anyone?!)
• How many Canadian-grown oranges have you eaten in your life?

Furthermore:

• Not all products from Asia are cheap and counterfeit. Ironically, I would imagine that whatever device this flag waving ignoramus is using to write his manifestos if probably made there! He should quickly throw it away.
• I don’t think Orientals (really? we still use that word?!) cheat and lie to a higher degree than anyone else.
• Yes, Chinese politics is a not nice thing. Nothing like Stephen Harper.
• I don’t really think that what is happening in Vancouver can be compared to Tibet!
• ‘Fouled by orientals’. sigh

I see no point in replying to this racist old bastard.

But I am saddened to get this kind of thing from my homeland – the nation that prides itself as being kinder and gentler. A nation where everyone gets to keep their identity and their language and if they are lucky even gets streets signs in their language!

I don’t know much about ‘X X’ – apart from the fact that he is 60 and lives in BC. Maybe he’s not even a ‘he’. But I feel sorry for him. And for Canada.