Italians have worked hard to build Quebec
Re: “An ad that’s insulting to Italians” (Letters, Sept. 14)
The 14th clause of the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards states that “advertisements shall not condone any form of personal discrimination, including that based upon race, national origin, religion, sex or age.”
Clearly this clause was not contemplated when a local television station chose to run an ad produced by an independent organization, which, with Italian background music, the obvious cash-in-sock reference, and the closing tag “nettoyons Montreal,” pointed the finger of blame concerning local corruption directly at Italians.
Then again, after our provincial government in effect declared open season on ethnic and religious communities by proposing legislation that abrogates rights once believed to be inalienable, it was only a matter of time before other groups embraced the public vilification of some of Quebec’s subcultures.
The Italian community has a long rich history in Quebec. Many of the eldest members of this hardworking, robust segment immigrated to Canada with one asset: the ability to work. With no knowledge of English or French and with limited formal education, Italians worked very hard, dedicated to making a better life for themselves and their families. Talk to Italian octogenarians and prepare to be astonished by the work they were asked to do, the hours they were asked to contribute, the rate of pay they earned, and the abuse to which they were sometimes subjected. Even more astonishing, these same people rarely if ever took a sick day, they shunned public assistance, and they were always upbeat and hopeful, appreciative for what they had. The offspring of these proud, wonderful immigrants became respect- ed, educated professionals, hard-working labourers, or skilled craftspersons. As well, they became committed parents, community leaders, and meaningful contributors to Quebec society.
In short, the Italian community is one of the bedrocks of this province, and has been for generations.
There is good and bad within every segment of the population. Any message that assigns unscrupulous traits to an entire community should be called out for what it is: xenophobic and racist.