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Scot in Canada

Having been brought up to have never known racism, to never have experienced it and to never have witnessed it in all its forms – from the extreme to the hidden, the racism that creeps into jokes and conversations disguised as humour or curiosity – racism simply didn' exist in my young Scottish world. Living now in Canada and having educated myself here to advocate against racism and discrimination, my eyes were opened to the effects and the destruction it can create.

I lost the peace I had with my friends because I refused to tolerate racist remarks or laugh at racist jokes in any form. Most of my opinions are regarded as extreme because I stand so alone against the cutting stereotyping and belittling of a person simply because they have walked on different soil or have different traditions and lifestyles.

If I refuse to speak up I condone it with my silence. If I speak out, I mostly stand alone when I discuss what I know with regards as to how people feel when they have been discriminated against, hated, feared or insulted because of ignorance.

My wish for this world is that we educate our children to embrace people. When we suggest that we should tolerate people, we suggest that people of other cultures, including my own, should be tolerated as a better option for kindness. I don't want to be tolerated. 'Tolerating' means 'putting up with'. I want to be embraced for my inside heart, not tolerated for the colour of my skin, my traditions and roots.

My wish for Scotland is that education should be from a young age, which highlights the good embracing and understanding people creates, rather than the bad, should be a priority.

I am not quite as alone as I thought I was.