A poem about how I see Canada and what it means to me.
Canada – what I see now, and my hopes for the future
Canada.
Often viewed as “the good country”, it is a political state that governs my homeland.
While I may not be able to vote yet, nor can I resonate with everything the government does, I do feel a very strong affinity for the land I call my home.
Why is this my home?
My family lives here; at least, the ones closest to me do.
This is where I was born and raised, and I love my house and the land on which it sits.
Politics have always bored me; but now I realize some of the demographics that I fit into are “controversial”, so I will always have to contend with it.
Being me is a political statement. I hope that, soon, my identities will become normalized and accepted.
Canada is good; it could be great.
What if we started tracking the real suspicious people, like the ones who threaten violence online or harass others, instead of targeting people of colour who “look shady”; A.K.A., standing on a street corner or wearing a hoodie?
Canada is my home. No doubt about that. But is it really safe for people like me?
Will I ever be able to exist in a Western or West-influenced society without fear?
I’m glad we have laws like the Greenbelt Act, which protect the parts of the land that I feel most connected to. There are so many people who cherish the green spaces in our country, and including the First Nations people in this conversation is especially important.
I hope that Canada can become a role model for the rest of the world in the subject of human rights. I want everyone to feel safe and have a sense of belonging, wherever they may be. All people deserve the freedom to express themselves in a safe and celebratory manner.
As an opinionated young man who is part of marginalized groups, I believe that I must protect other members of marginalized groups who cannot protect themselves. I will join the fight for all of our right to exist in peace and comfort.
I am Indian, and Trinidadian, but I was born and raised in Canada.
Does that make me Canadian?
