"When Canada Said No"This video provides an understanding of what happened at the time that the SS St. Louis was turned away from Cuba and the role that Canada played in forcing the ship to return to Europe.
One scholar claims that the SS St. Louis received a "Serial episodic coverage" of this event and it would be an important aspect to explore. What made this particular event stand out? The video explains the story of the people on the boat by including survivors who were passengers on the ship. The focus on the passenger allows viewers to sympathize with her experience which then forces the viewers to question the actions of the people who rejected those who were trying to escape. The video explains the anti-Semitism that existed in Canada at the time, and even includes specific examples that occurred in Canada. The scholars in the video explain the immigration policies of the time and the people who were directly connected to creating those laws, including FC Blair, who was the Minister of Immigration at the time. Marvin Sigler (Jewish Community Activist) discusses his father's experience with Minister Blair as he rejected the immigration of his father's family. The way he speaks of Blair is extremely personal which makes the story much more emotional, rather than strictly speaking to the policies of the time. Sigler very evidently expresses resentment fuelled by heartbreak. His account provides a first-hand example of how those policies directly affected the lives of people at the time and shows how a top official like Blair could have an effect on a family all the way in Germany. This video also discusses regular citizens' responses to the government's denial of the SS St. Louis and touches on the story of those who tried to change the government's mind. The Globe and Mail published articles and editorials asking the government to change their mind. Including this aspect in the video causes me to think about whether this response to the SS St. Louis was overall respected by the Canadian people, or whether it is simply Blair who would not stray from his convictions. The video criticizes the Canadian government's actions at the time and touches on the idea that we should learn from our mistakes and make sure that things like this do not happen again. The video covers the story of the St. Louis from a variety of perspectives including the Canadian government, regular citizens, people on the ship, as well as the captain. The focus on the Canadian government itself on explaining why Canada rejected the St. Louis from coming to Canada demonstrates the fact that the higher authorities in the country had a large role to play in why there were no Jewish sympathies at the time. It focuses on the immigration policies and proves that Mackenzie King and Frederick Blair had a significant role in shaping the fate of this ship. |
|