UPDATE (March 2nd, 2018): Toronto Police have responded to Marci Ien’s allegations/opinion piece. Check out an article from The Star here.

I am a caucasian woman. I started to understand the existence of “white privilege,” and how I benefit from it in my teens, but the positive impact that it has on my life still creeps up on me from time to time. In this blog post, I write about understanding double standards from my perspective/cultural viewpoint.

Reading Marci Ien’s opinion piece titled, “The double standard of driving while black – in Canada” in the Globe and Mail today opened my eyes to a problem that Canadians seem to ignore. Racism exists- not only in Canada in general, but likely in our most respected institutions. Upon reading Marci Ien’s article, I think many will agree that we must address this issue as a society- regardless of ethnicity.

I’m aware that there may be people who wish to continue to ignore this problem; in fact, it’s possible that some people may believe it’s unpatriotic of me to deviate from the seemingly nationally-held notion that Canadians are fair, tolerant and devoid of racism. (As a people, we’re known to be friendly. We say “Sorry!” all the time, eh?) I don’t. Canada has a history fraught with racism and prejudice against many, including: the Aboriginal, French, people of Jewish faith, Japanese, Chinese and black Canadians. Without conversation and unbiased examination, we do a disservice to society and our national values. By sweeping it under the rug, we perpetuate the unfounded notion that Canadians and our institutions are always fair and unbiased. Depending upon who you are, it’s an idea that- at best, provides one a view of the world as though looking through rose-coloured glasses, and at worst, is a lie. (A lie that acts as a cushion that may not be examined because, well, it’s convenient for some that that stone remain unturned.)

When compared to Marci Ien, my experience with the police is radically different.

Experience 1:

I was driving with a friend late this past summer when a police car passed us. My friend (also caucasian) said, “It’s nice to see the police driving around.” (Her sentiment: they’re around to keep us safe.) I agreed, then (thinking of the protests/media coverage of racial discrimination and unarmed black men shot by police officers in the USA at the time) I said, “I wonder if we’d think that way if we were black Americans?” Then I asked, “I wonder if black Canadians would agree with us?” (Of course, this is not my question to answer.)

Experience 2:

Just the other day, I was driving with a family member. We were stopped by a police officer from the RIDE program. (For those of you unaware, the RIDE (an acronym for: Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) program is an initiative where police officers stop each car on the road to ensure that no one is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs). My family member was driving, but I, too, smiled and said, “hello” when the police officer approached the car. He was a gentleman; greeted both of us, completed his check, and sent us on our way.

Marci Ien (a Canadian woman and a well-known public figure, living in what I can only assume is a beautiful, safe neighbourhood) reported that she was stopped by police 3 times in her own neighbourhood in 8 months. I (a Canadian woman and NOT a public figure, living in a nice, but not well-known-journalist-nice neighbourhood) have had the above two lovely experiences with police in the past 8 months.

I’m obviously not saying that police are bad (in fact, under different circumstances, I probably would’ve asked out the police officer from the RIDE program the other day), nor am I saying that all police officers are racist. I AM saying that Marci Ien is not an individual who inspires fear (she seems kind and affable; I’ve seen her on television many, many times). Why was she pulled over (and not issued a ticket) 3 times in 8 months? Had she been pulled over once in the last year, we could discuss whether or not race had anything to do with it, but three times in eight months is a lot. Therefore, it is my opinion that we must discuss the possibility that racism impacts our institutions and therefore, our citizens. Why does it exist, and how do we stop it so that every citizen feels safe and protected by those professionals who continually put their lives on the line throughout their career?

I wonder if the police officers that pulled Marci Ien over will ever weigh in? (I’m thinking not.)

Unfortunately, I don’t have a solution to this problem, but I suspect that being aware that it exists, while encouraging better education of the issue (as Marci Ien wrote), is a very important first step. We must plant and repeatedly nurture the seeds of understanding and tolerance, so all Canadians can feel safe, as they live their life with liberty and security.

I’d love to know what you think, if you’d care to comment.

Give your life the green light. It’s A Go!

Amber Green