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03/22/2004: "second class citizens"
music: Swiss national anthem sputtering followed by an embarassed silencemood: pensive...and somewhat grateful for Canada
I had never given much thought to Canada's human rights charter.Actually,I occasionnally had the
vague feeling that it provided overgenerous protection to criminal elements such as drug lords,murderers and a generous source of income for lawyers.Until these last few days when I got a glimpse of Switzerland's multi class system,which enshrines a second class citizenry which under current rules lasts up to 13 years.
The system is particularly harsh towards immigrants from Africa,who no matter what their actual qualifications are,must accept to wash dishes,and thus spend the most productive years of their life in
limbo,outright discrimination,and below minimal pay,while waiting for full citizenship .It is not uncommon at the end of the 13 year wait for these people to wait an additional 1 to 3 years for the red tape to
lift and the famous passport to be delivered...To make this system even more discriminatory,voters may be asked to accept or turn down the request,based on their personal prejudice,on the ground that they do not find these proposed new citizens to their liking.And of course the application is fairly expensive,proportionate to the previous year's income,and non refundable!
Now let us imagine our new and proud Swiss citizen ready to apply for a job finally on an equal footing with fellow applicants...The 13 to 15 years almost guarrantee that he or she will be past the optimal age required,and it will likely be back to filling the bottom job market positions.
Now why would they even bother to come in the first place?They are looking for better living conditions and are eagerly welcomed because their presence lowers the overall cost of running the swiss economy,a reasoning mildly echoing the slave eras of not too long ago.
The amount of pain these human beings withstand to offer their offspring a better chance,is unbelievable.It is happening on a daily basis,based on reactions to their colour,from the way they are being served at a restaurant,to hiring decision reversals,and the need to prove their status at all times,an unthinkable obligation for their first class counterparts.
A wide gap separates this Switzerland from the postcard version of milk chicolate and creamy white slopes.and Canada looks better every second,even doused in maple syrup. 
