Headscarf Rage

"Racially motivated crimes are indicative of a lack of respect.  The respect of which I speak is the essence of Canadianism.  A country where we foster diversity, we recognize diversity.  We do not require that every Canadian be the same, whether you are from Newfoundland, Nunavut, British Columbia, or any place in between.

"We do not require of people in this country that they forget where they came from when they arrive, no matter how far they have moved ...   We don't ask them to leave their clothes behind; we do not demand of them that they leave their religion behind.

"About the only thing we ask them to do is respect other people when we tell them racial intolerance in this country is not acceptable."

Justice Ted Scanlan, Nova Scotia Supreme Court

How can someone described as a grandmother, raising three grandchildren in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, 51 years of age, be considered as anything other than a normal, everyday, respectable Canadian citizen?  Trick question, that.  Because, obviously, that woman can also be a foul-mouthed bigot.  And there are repercussions for socially intolerant behaviour.

Her name is Katherine Feltmate, an innocuous enough name.  At a Walmart in New Glasgow, Ms. Feltmate, who, it appeared, had been drinking, turned to a complete stranger, a university-educated mother of two, who happened also to be a doctor's wife, out shopping, buying diapers.  A normal enough activity for any young woman.

Her name is Alizah Khan, and that also is an innocuous name, albeit a little unusual in formerly white-bread Canada.  Ms. Khan grew up in the United States, and is of Pakistani descent.  She happened to be wearing a pashmina headscarf.  It isn't all that unusual for strangers to pass civil comments between themselves in public.

Ms. Feltmate asked Ms. Khan why she would wear her headscarf on "such a hot day", a day when other people happened to be wearing coats and sweaters.  Ms. Khan's response, that: "I don't comment on what you are wearing  Why are you commenting on what I am wearing?" appeared to enrage her interlocutor.

Who shrilly called the headscarf-wearing Ms. Khan an "Iraqi bitch, whore, Muslim bitch".  In her excited state, shoving the woman against a wall, and pushing a shopping cart around.  A Walmart greeter rushed over and made an attempt to rescue the situation, whereupon Ms. Feltmate called him a racist, then screamed at Ms. Khan to "go back to her own f------ country."

In a victim impact statement, Ms. Khan stated she no longer feels safe, was fearful to be out with the children alone, and felt frightened at home alone at night when her husband was working at the local hospital.  She said, however, that she would eventually get over it, it would take time.  And doubtless she still wears her hijab. 

As for Ms. Feltmate, no longer inebriated, she expressed remorse, pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 60 days in jail, 12 months' probation.  So much for civil relations in a civil society.