Dear Editor:

I was surprised to see P.E.I.’s provincial election mentioned on the national news a few nights ago.  I was even more surprised – and upset – to hear one of your reporters saying Joe Ghiz’s ethnic background could be an important factor in the outcome of the election.

Like Mr. Ghiz, I’m also Lebanese-Canadian.  My father experienced many years of discrimination when he first arrived on the Island as a country peddler almost 85 years ago.  My brothers and I were also teased for many years because our background was different than most Islanders.

I thought Islanders put that kind of discrimination behind them years ago.  Everyone in our neighbourhood has bought groceries at our family’s store for as long as I can remember.  When I married a non-Lebanese man, his parents remembered how much they loved seeing my father peddle goods when they were children.  When my parents died, the church was filled with people, both Lebanese and non-Lebanese, with nothing but fond memories.

I can’t remember my children, nieces or nephews ever being discriminated like my brothers and I were.  I teach English to some of the immigrants who came to the Island after the Lebanese civil war and they were shocked to learn I was Lebanese, too.  That’s how well my family has assimilated into this city.

My daughter is writing an essay about her grandfather and our family’s store.  She believes things have changed a lot since our family first came to the Island.  I only hope she won’t be proven wrong.

Mona

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