Touchy subject and colossally painful stuff, friends. Ouch, I'm still smarting after the morning's read...

Among other sources, The Toronto Star was reporting over this weekend how Canada (my former "home and native land") is reconsidering slapping a visa requirement back on our hapless Czech citizens -- yet again! Their crime? An apparently "overwhelming flow" of Roma "asylum seekers" to the constitutional monarchy on the other side of the Pond, in excess of certain so-called pre-agreed "acceptable limits."

Some immediate questions arise after reading the bare bones news coverage, likely the bleakest of sources to get informed by (take it from me -- I practice journalism in the Czech Republic, where if your cellphone has the gumption to ring while giving an interview to His Hipster Highness, you don't have the gall to write anything other than fawning praise for the Government and its policies because he's scared the living crap out of you. Not mentioning any names, of course!).

Here 'goes:


1) What's the problem with more Roma in Canada?

If the Canadian government is worried about too many gypsies on its territory (for practically similar reasons the rest of the Continent seems to be, then why can't Ottawa just come out with it -- down and dirty? Canada, you've got some stinkin' double standards there -- thank goodness I surrendered my passport earlier last year).

The opinion of one of my Prague-based former Canadian mates (MK, you so rock, kamos!) is aptly quoted here: "Canada has become so g.oddamn diverse, so g.oddamn multicultural, that the Prime Minister's official statements are so drippingly politically-correct, they border on the obscenely banal."

I couldn't agree more.

Jeez, if The Land North of 45 is so burned about Roma, why can't it just come out and say so? If you've got a selective immigration policy, Canada, then plainly say so. Don't faff about. Czechs obviously don't, don't we Mr. Cunek and Ms. Janackova and humble citizens of Vsetin?


2) Are Roma more guilty than certain other ethnic groups in Canada for so-called "societally-objectionable" behaviour?

If we're already talking about the Canadian example, then I can name-drop at least three (though I won't) existing "cultural communities" in Canada who likely have even more notorious reputations than Roma for certain societally-objectionable things! In fact, considering what I know and have experienced myself as a former Canadian -- born, raised, and university-educated -- Canadians would likely be pleased as maple syrup to have more Roma residing in their country, at the very least because of how they'd richly add to the cultural fabric of the nation.


3) If all 2004 EU joiners don't require visas -- then why do Czechs?

The PR horizon for Cesko doesn't look too rosy right about now, kids. With the brouhaha swirling about on Missile Defence (MD) and with our current governing "coalition" dogpaddling in uncertain waters come Fall 2008, do we really need yet another stake through our part-time satanic hearts?

Here's another question for you: are the Czech authorities doing a capable-enough job of enforcing Canada's visa-free stipulations and quotas? If not, why (the heck) not? If Canada's already giving you a "gimme," then why in Tarnation can't the Czech immigration poobahs hold up its end of the bargain?

Or perhaps this is part of a ticha dohoda -- a "silent agreement" -- between certain clandestine forces to rid the Holy Republic of a sizable minority of its native citizens?

Personally, I think a majority of Roma who decide to emigrate and situate themselves in Canada will not merely survive, but thrive. If not in the present generation, then certainly by the next.

Canada is a "make money-make money" nation. If you don't pull your own weight, you don't enjoy the cream. Roma peoples wouldn't be able to sit on laurels. Just like any other citizen (gosh, this sounds so Napoleonic, doesn't it? So French Revolutionary, actually).

And we all know: "No money, no honey."

So, does that make the tri-lettered (and charactered) ADM discriminatory (g.od forbid)?

Something tells me someone up on the Castle Promontory wouldn't think so...welcome to the new Czech Arithmetic...