Candle In The Wind (October 20, 2019)

Need to know

If my existence

Moves the needle

Positively.

As transphobic darkness

Spreads globally.

Waging hatred

Through legislation

And the judiciary.

Even liberal

Tolerant countries

Like Canada

Danger persists.

Often

Underreported.

Even worse

If you're non-Caucasian

Or non-Christian.

Sadly

No one knows

True level of violence

For its trans-communities

As no official stats exist.

A justice system

Long in denial

About reality.

Far cry

From the American transgender

Experience.

To date

Eighteen trans-Americans

Been murdered

In 2019.

Ranking

Third deadliest country

Behind Mexico

And Brazil.

Often

Victims are

Non-Caucasian.

Their deaths

Crime of passion

In their viscous nature

Speaks of hate.

As I light my candle

For Day of Transgender Remembrance

On November 20th

Offering love and light.

Therisa © 2019  

Author’s note: A poem for Day of Transgender Remembrance (November 20)

Welcome To Canada, Eh? (January 9, 2016)

TheStar.com. Designed by Elise Gravel.

Am

Not surprise

Someone has targeted

A gathering

Outside

Of a Muslim centre.

Given

Canada's long history

Of Xenophobia

And racism.

Myself

The child

Of an immigrant.

Who came

To Canada

During the 1950s

As a teenager.

Anger

And frustration

Grips my soul.

Naively believing

Things would be different

For the newly arriving

Syrian refugees.

Being able

To call

Canada

Their home.

Without any fear

Of being attacked

For their religious beliefs.

In leaving behind

All the violence

Of the Syrian civil war

And the refugee camps.

How I do say

"I'm sorry

For the ignorant actions

Of a few bigots?"

As this

Is your first exposure

To life

In Canada.


Therisa © 2016

Author's note: On Friday, January 8, 2016, a group of 30 Syrian refugees, where pepper sprayed, by a passing cyclist, which included children. Under BC law, pepper spray is considered a weapon, and this cyclist will be charged with assault, causing bodily harm. I do hope that this person, has the guts to step forward and take responsible, for his misguided actions. Am, including an link, to the assault.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/pepper-spray-attack-1.3396899


Earlier today, a planeload carrying the 10 000th Syrian refugee arrived, in Canada, twelve days later that the Liberal government had originally projected, after realizing the logistic nightmare that faced them. I do hope, with the increase refugees, the Federal and Provincial governments increase the money that spent on mental illness, from its pitiful levels, at the moment. Also, increase their involvement, with affordable housing, for all Canadians, new and old. Thus, everyone benefits from the arrivals of the Syrian refugees.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-canada-syria-migrants-idUSKCN0UQ2HS20160112