Old Story, New Grievance

I put this story up on my last blog and am re-posting do to yet another issue, so first here it is:

"Daniel Isakov is your typical 11-year-old. He enjoys sports, and has an abundance of energy that he burns with his many friends. But he's currently involved in a not so typical struggle. After calling Canada his home for more than half of his life, he's a day away from being ousted from the country.Daniel and his mother are distraught after learning that their efforts to stay in Canada have been denied and they are now facing deportation to Israel on Wednesday.I can't believe it. One day left, that's it. I can't imagine it happening, Daniel said Tuesday. It will be hard for me if it actually does happen.The quest to become Canadian citizens has been a tough six-year battle for Daniel and his mom, Irina. When they initially arrived they applied for refugee status. That was denied. They then applied on humanitarian grounds and that was also turned down since they don't meet the criteria of a refugee in Canada. In other words, they can't prove they'll face persecution in Israel and can't prove their lives will be threatened.In desperation, Daniel wrote a letter to P.M. Paul Martin.I'm good in school and have lots of friends, he wrote. I'm also a good soccer player and want to play for the Canadian team. I hope you can read my letter and give me a chance to stay here, to study and be a good Canadian.They've also contacted their local M.P., but so far they haven't heard back from anyone. In the meantime, they're hesitantly packing up their belongings. My main concern is Daniel, said his worried mom. Because he has spent more than half of his life in Canada, and he's truly a Canadian child.
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November 30, 2004 "

And if that was not bad enough, now we have deported Saadia Hetaj and her young son, leaving her husband (Suad) behind. Despite her and her husbands' pleading with the government, she was deported yesterday, with her son, back to Morocco and fears an "honor killing" from her father.

What a great country we live in.............