Advice V4NO2
I fully support the arrival of the Syrian refugees here in Canada. However, my family members seem to think otherwise, and are very irritated about the entire situation. How do I convince my family members to see the positive side of things?
— Confused
Why might your family be uncomfortable with the situation at hand? Let’s break it down into several possible reasons and address each one.
Some general concerns with Syrian refugees are the amount of money that is going into the project, the security of Canada, and the number of people immigrating to Canada.
In terms of security, the project has already been delayed due to screening processes that are required before any refugees are given the green light to move to Canada. They are also given an additional screening in Canada, at the airport when they arrive[1]. These checks include health and security, as well as their permanent residency status, as the first six thousand refugees arriving in 2015 are also privately sponsored. Furthermore, Canada’s refugee plan for 2016 is limited to families with women and children.
While there is a lot of money going into the project (an estimated $876.7 million for this first year alone), remind them that we are talking about a human’s life, a life that we cannot put a price on. We are opening our borders and sharing our freedoms and values with those around the globe. But most importantly, we are demonstrating our Canadian values to these people, and showing them the kindness and hospitality which have defined us for so long. Canada has received praise from all over the world for providing care to its refugees. If your family does not believe in the intangibles, a study done by Giovanni Peri of University of California and Devis and Mette Foged of University of Copenhagen show that an influx of new immigrants tend to raise wages for everyone else[2]. Although it is a long term investment (with a big starting cost), it pays off as it boosts the economy.
While 25 000 may seem like a lot, it is merely a drop in the bucket, as 10 million Syrians, and counting, have been driven from their homes. We are merely helping out by providing shelter. Moreover, other European countries have been doing much more than Canada to aid Syria. Sweden has accepted 670 000 since last year. Germany? 450 000. Even Finland, which has one seventh the size of Canada’s population, has accepted 30 000 refugees[3].
If your neighbour’s house was on fire, wouldn’t you rush to put it out, rather than sit and think about whether the fire would spread to you?
Canada is part of the global community, and we should all be glad to be part of the solution.
[1] http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/refugee-screening-areas-set-up-at-toronto-montreal-airports-1.2691806
[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/09/10/the-big-myth-about-refugees/
[3] http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/matthew-fisher-time-for-a-reality-check-on-canadas-generosity-toward-refugees
I keep on thinking that I put my sock on backwards, inside out, or some combination of the two. I would like to check and correct it but it is socially unacceptable to do such a thing in public. Help?
– Hopelessly Worried
Your problem can be solved in a variety of ways. Firstly, consider placing small sharp hooks on the outside of your sock. This way, if they’re truly inside out, you’ll feel them digging into your skin. Alternatively, you can wear really big boots and a gown. This way you can nonchalantly stretch your arms down and feel your socks without looking too weird. This also has the added benefit of allowing you to discretely invert them inside the boot. If all else fails, you can find a tall friend and hide behind him/her while you check and adjust your socks.
How long would it take for a giraffe to throw up?
– RealQuestions
It takes approximately 3.4561849 seconds for a giraffe to undergo emesis, give or take ten millionths of a second. “How?” you may ask. Well, housed in the intricate, complex anatomy of the giraffa camelopardalis is a specialized organ, called the vomaris convictum. It is composed of tightly coiled smooth epithelial cells in a helix formation that exert constant tension released only when bile builds up in the vomaric cavity. When in action the vomaris convictum unleashes its power, acting like a spring device that thrusts the bile up the esophagus and through the mouth. The vomit, travelling at speeds equal to 50 mph, has the power to knock out the giraffe’s teeth.
