immigrantscanada.com

Independent topical source of current affairs, opinion and issues, featuring stories making news in Canada from immigrants, newcomers, minorities & ethnic communities' point of view and interests.

ralph goodale: Jasmine Abdullah was convicted but she can be pardoned by Governor Jerry Brown of California, according to Rabble. Sign the petition here They are demanding No more political prisoners! No more prisoners! Support hunger strikes by incarcerated people across Ontario! Overturn all charges against BLM Pasadena Freedom Fighter Jasmine Abdullah! ASL Interpreting available and children programming includes writing letters to incarcerated people in the community If you can't make it, you can still call for an end to immigration detention by contacting Ralph Goodale and ensuring the end of immigration detention here. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

release period: The group wants Goodale to limit detentions to 90 days and to stop putting immigration detainees in maximum security prisons. "My understanding from people on the inside that I have talked to is that a number of the longer-term detainees are determined to stay on the strike until they get the meeting with Ralph Goodale," Scott said. "Right now, it a ripe time for us to be pushing for Canada to obey international law and put in a release period." Scott said the detainees want the government to ensure if detainees are not deported to their country of origin within 90 days, then they are released from detention, according to CBC. The detainees currently refusing food are being held at the Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, Ont., and the Toronto East Detention Centre in Scarborough. Immigration consultant Mac Donald Scott, who represents four detainees who have stopped eating, told Metro Morning that some of the immigration detainees are prepared to continue the strike until they are able to meet with Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale. Immigration detainees in Canada are held at immigration holding centres, but transferred to provincial prisons when they are considered high risk. They are not eating anything at all' Scott said the detainees are beginning to feel the effects of the hunger strike. "They are not eating anything at all. That includes detainees who have criminal backgrounds, outstanding charges, a history of violence, are an escape risk, or pose a danger to themselves or others. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

security official: The Islamic State group claimed responsibility, according to CTV. It was the fourth attack to shake Germany in a week -- three of them carried out by recent migrants. He was turned away and blew himself up outside a wine bar instead, injuring 15 people, authorities said Monday. The 27-year-old, whom authorities have not identified, set off a backpack laden with explosives and shrapnel Sunday night after being refused entry to the nearby festival in the Bavarian city of Ansbach because he didn't have a ticket. Germany top security official, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, had said it was too early to rule out terrorism as a motive, but noted that the suspect had twice attempted suicide and had been receiving psychological care. "Or it could be a combination of both," de Maiziere said. Bavarian authorities said a video found on the Ansbach bomber phone showed him pledging allegiance to the Islamic State. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

vermont senator: At a raucous meeting with his most loyal supporters, the Vermont senator implored his hundreds of delegates to defeat Donald Trump in November, calling the Republican candidate a "bully and a demagogue." He said it was imperative to elect Clinton and her running mate, Virginia Sen, according to Metro News. Tim Kaine.___ The FBI said Monday it is investigating how thousands of Democratic National Committee emails were hacked, a breach that Hillary Clinton campaign maintains was committed by Russia to benefit Donald Trump. Finance Minister Mike de Jong unveiled the tax as part of legislation aimed at addressing low vacancy rates and high real estate prices in southern B.C. "For example, the additional tax on the purchase of a home selling for $2 million to a foreign national will amount to an additional $300,000," de Jong told members of the legislature.___STRONG SANDERS' With boos and chants of "Feel the Bern," die-hard backers of Bernie Sanders signalled Monday that they just aren't ready to coalesce around the presidential bid of Hillary Clinton despite his pleas. A statement from the FBI confirmed that it is "investigating a cyber intrusion involving the DNC," adding that "a compromise of this nature is something we take very seriously." Wikileaks posted emails Friday that suggested the DNC was favouring Clinton over her rival Sen. The 30-minute discussion took place Monday in the tiny country of Laos, where Dion and Lavrov were attending an annual meeting of Southeast Asian nations. Bernie Sanders during the primary season. ___ The Liberal government turned the page on two years of acrimony between Canada and Russia as Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion sat down for his first formal meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

wasserman: The Florida congresswoman was angrily heckled by her own home-state delegation Monday morning, and Democratic officials feared a similar scene in front of a far bigger TV audience, according to CTV. Wasserman Schultz is leaving her post following the publication of thousands of emails suggesting the Democratic National Committee favoured Clinton during her primary contest with Sanders, despite vowing to remain neutral. Clinton escaped one potentially ugly moment when outgoing party chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced she would not take the stage. Sanders and his supporters have long argued that the party was on the side of the former secretary of state. The statement was signed by DNC leaders, though Wasserman Schultz name was notably absent. As the convention began in sweltering Philadelphia, the DNC released a statement apologizing to Sanders and his supporters "for the inexcusable remarks made over email." The party said the comments do not reflect the party values or commitment to neutrality in the primary process. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

germany ability: It was the fourth attack to shake Germany in a week, and the second claimed by the Islamic State group, according to Brandon Sun. Three of the attacks were carried out by recent immigrants, rekindling concerns about Germany ability to cope with the estimated 1 million migrants registered entering the country last year, an influx that has since dwindled as the flow of newcomers slowed. The assailant set off a backpack laden with explosives and shrapnel Sunday night after being refused entry to a crowded music festival in the Bavarian city of Ansbach because he didn't have a ticket. Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said a laptop with extremist videos was found at the apartment of the suspect, a 27-year-old Syrian identified only as Mohammad D in line with German privacy laws. Germany is not involved in combat operations but has contributed reconnaissance aircraft to the effort. A video on his cellphone showed him declaring loyalty to the Islamic State group and announcing a "revenge act against Germans because they are standing in the way of Islam."The suspect also declared Germans "won't be able to sleep peacefully anymore," Herrmann said. "I think after this video there no doubt that the attack was a terror attack with an Islamist motivation."In its claim of responsibility, the extremist group said the attack was carried out by "one of the soldiers of the Islamic State."The IS-linked Aamaq news agency said the attacker acted in response to the extremist group call to target countries of the U.S.-led coalition fighting it in Iraq and Syria. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian refugees: The fun and games at this day camp are more than just a rite of passage for these new Canadians, they're a key step in easing their transition into a strange country with unfamiliar customs.H.appi Camper founder Mazen El-Baba says he tried to design a getaway that would offer the staples of any typical North American summer camp: drama, arts and crafts, and sports, according to National Observer. But it would also offer much-needed lessons tailored to the specific needs of young Syrian refugees: intensive literacy classes, a crash course in Canadian cultural norms, and self-esteem exercises. It takes a moment for the middle-schoolers to grasp this peculiar game, but three tries later, they gel into a more-or-less unified chorus."Five! Six! Seven! Eight! Weeeeeeee're great!" they holler, letting loose with exuberant cheers. That last goal is possibly the most challenging, given the fact that most of these war-weary children — 75 in all, ranging in age from five to 15 — have been through horrific traumas. But they clearly bear the scars. El-Baba says it hard to know exactly how these kids are suffering because they have not been formally diagnosed with behavioural or mental-health issues. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

vermont senator: At a raucous meeting with his most loyal supporters, the Vermont senator implored his hundreds of delegates to defeat Donald Trump in November, calling the Republican candidate a "bully and a demagogue." He said it was imperative to elect Clinton and her running mate, Virginia Sen, according to Brandon Sun. Tim Kaine.___ The FBI said Monday it is investigating how thousands of Democratic National Committee emails were hacked, a breach that Hillary Clinton campaign maintains was committed by Russia to benefit Donald Trump. Finance Minister Mike de Jong unveiled the tax as part of legislation aimed at addressing low vacancy rates and high real estate prices in southern B.C. "For example, the additional tax on the purchase of a home selling for $2 million to a foreign national will amount to an additional $300,000," de Jong told members of the legislature.___STRONG SANDERS' With boos and chants of "Feel the Bern," die-hard backers of Bernie Sanders signalled Monday that they just aren't ready to coalesce around the presidential bid of Hillary Clinton despite his pleas. A statement from the FBI confirmed that it is "investigating a cyber intrusion involving the DNC," adding that "a compromise of this nature is something we take very seriously." Wikileaks posted emails Friday that suggested the DNC was favouring Clinton over her rival Sen. The 30-minute discussion took place Monday in the tiny country of Laos, where Dion and Lavrov were attending an annual meeting of Southeast Asian nations. Bernie Sanders during the primary season.___ The Liberal government turned the page on two years of acrimony between Canada and Russia as Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion sat down for his first formal meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

grocery store: Order this photo Ali Alzoubi grabs crayons to write while Mohammed AlCaccouni looks at the chalkboard to write his shopping list prior to heading to the grocery store, according to Toronto Star. Order this photo Mohammed AlCaccouni, Abdel Rahman Obeid and Kusai Alzoubi lead the group up an aisle in Metro looking for key ingredients. Order this photo Kristen McGinn, a teacher with SAIL, reads out the ingredients that the Syrian refugee class will be purchasing at the local grocery store. Order this photo Abdel Rahman Obeid shows off a cucumber, one of the ingredients he had to find in the grocery store. Order this photo Shahed Saad Al Haj, Malak AlNajar and Mohammed AlCaccouni were asked to find olive oil in the Mississauga Metro store. Order this photo Mohammed AlCaccouni inspects tomatoes. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

favoured hyphenation: But when their daughter, now two, arrived they faced a dilemma — what last name will she get Gladstone and Semchuk were both ruled out and neither favoured hyphenation, according to Metro News. The pair decided to blend both to create Semstone. And her husband, Brody, 30, didn't want her to give up that recognition just to take on his last name, Semchuk. Now the family has three different last names. But dig deeper and a status quo and stigma still persist: In Canada, eight in 10 women take their husband last name, either at marriage or when kids are born, according to a 2016 survey commissioned by I Am A Mrs, a company that helps women change their surnames. She part of a small movement of families bucking the trend of adopting the husband last name in favour of gender-equal alternatives, because in this post-feminism era why should the man surname be the default In today modern family world, it more accepted than ever that a woman might have a different last name than her husband, says Donna Lillian, a linguist scholar at the North Carolina-based Appalachian State University and president of the Canadian Society for the Study of Names. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

islamic family: In one week alone in late May at least 880 people drowned, according to CBC. For many refugees here in Canada that, unsurprisingly, has translated into a fear of water. According to figures released by the UN Refugee Agency, the current count for the dead and missing in the Mediterranean sits at 2,951 for 2016. The fear is particularly prevalent among younger refugees, says Ghada Ageel, a refugee support manager with the Islamic Family and Social Services Association. Watching people trying to flee for their safety, for their life, and getting into boats and unfortunately, many of those people, thousands, did not make it and drowned," said Ageel. "Water has become a symbol for loss of life, a symbol for death." Important to take that step' To combat that fear the association partnered with the St. Water has become a symbol for loss of life, a symbol for death.'- Ghada Ageel "Those kids have been glued to TV screens watching the horror of the war. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

ottawa: Police located the 37-year-old man, and shortly afterwards there was a "confrontation" outside a building at 55 Hilda Street, a few blocks away, said Gennaro, according to CBC. SIU called to investigate arrest on Hilda Street in Ottawa. Around 10:30 a.m., officers with the Ottawa Police Service were called to Wellington Street West and Fairmont Avenue after getting reports of a man causing a disturbance, said Special Investigations Unit spokesman Jason Gennaro in a statement. Man taken to Ottawa Civic Hospital. Sunday he was listed in critical condition. More details to follow.— @SIUOntario The man suffered "medical distress" during the confrontation and was taken to the Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus, where as of 6 p.m. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

person i: The person I know best in Munich described the mood in the Bavarian city Friday as "surreal," so it seems fitting the Tweet from the Munich Police that night notifying the world the crisis sparked by a mass shooting at a fast-food restaurant was finally over had the surreal quality of found poetry: We found a man,who killed him himself, according to Rabble. We assume,that he was the only shooter. Chip in to keep stories like these coming. By yesterday, assumptions had started to give way to knowledge, offering us the opportunity to learn something useful from this tragedy. The first lesson is the obvious: While Friday events were terrifying, they were not terrorism. It is important to do so while the knee-jerk responses by some of our fellow Canadians -- who used it as an instant excuse to defame Muslims, portray refugees as dangerous and, bizarrely, demand less-effective gun control laws at a time virtually no solid facts were known -- remain fresh in our minds. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

pride festival: The parade is part of the city 29th annual Pride Festival, according to The Chronicle Herald. For some people, it was an opportunity for parents to teach their children about diversity and acceptance. Thousands of mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters traveled downtown Saturday to watch or march in the Halifax Pride Parade. Keri Ottway brought her three children to the parade as in previous years. I think that we're moving to a more open-minded society and I try to teach my kids that people can love everyone, said Ottway, who identifies as bisexual. She said the increase in families at pride is a sign of changing attitudes. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

schoolmates: They said medication for his problems had been found his room, according to Metro News. But toxicological and autopsy results were still not available, so it not yet clear whether he was taking the medicine when he went on his shooting rampage Friday, killing nine people and leaving dozens wounded. Law enforcement officials piecing together a portrait of the 18-year-old shooter said he was seeing a doctor up to last month for treatment of depression and psychiatric problems that began in 2015 with inpatient hospital care followed by outpatient visits. The 18-year-old German-Iranian, identified only as David S. due to Germany privacy laws, had earlier been described by investigators as being bullied by schoolmates at least once four years ago and being fascinated by previous mass shootings. Late Sunday police said they had taken in for questioning a friend of the shooter who might have known of the attack plan. But none of those killed were known to him, investigators said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian refugees: The fun and games at this day camp are more than just a rite of passage for these new Canadians, they're a key step in easing their transition into a strange country with unfamiliar customs, according to CTV. H.appi Camper founder Mazen El-Baba says he tried to design a getaway that would offer the staples of any typical North American summer camp: drama, arts and crafts, and sports. It takes a moment for the middle-schoolers to grasp this peculiar game, but three tries later, they gel into a more-or-less unified chorus. "Five! Six! Seven! Eight! Weeeeeeee're great!" they holler, letting loose with exuberant cheers. But it would also offer much-needed lessons tailored to the specific needs of young Syrian refugees: intensive literacy classes, a crash course in Canadian cultural norms, and self-esteem exercises. El-Baba says it hard to know exactly how these kids are suffering because they have not been formally diagnosed with behavioural or mental-health issues. That last goal is possibly the most challenging, given the fact that most of these war-weary children -- 75 in all, ranging in age from five to 15 -- have been through horrific traumas. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

wasserman schultz: The resignation of Debbie Wasserman Schultz as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee made for a rocky start on Sunday, as the Florida congresswoman heeded Sanders' longstanding call to leave as party chief, according to Metro News. Her departure comes a few days after the publication of 19,000 hacked emails, which Sanders said confirmed his belief the national party played favourites for Clinton during the primary."The party now needs new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people," Sanders said. To do that, she must overcome lingering bitterness among supporters of defeated rival Bernie Sanders and clean up a resurgent political mess of the party own making. Wasserman Schultz abrupt departure was undoubtedly an effort to keep the Democrats' gathering from devolving into the tumult that marred last week GOP meeting, when runner-up Ted Cruz pointedly and publicly refused to endorse nominee Donald Trump. Never one to miss an opportunity to poke at his rivals, Trump appeared to relish the Democratic chaos Sunday, writing on Twitter: "The Dems Convention is cracking up." His campaign chief, Paul Manafort, went further and called on Clinton to drop out of the race altogether. As he demanded Wasserman Schultz resignation, Sanders made clear he wants to see Clinton in the White House."I'm going to do everything I can to defeat him, to elect Hillary Clinton and to keep focusing, keep focusing on the real issues facing the American people," Sanders said on CNN. Clinton and President Barack Obama both quickly praised the departed party chief, hoping to move past the ugliness and onto Monday launch of an optimistic celebration featuring high-powered elected officials and celebrities who will try to re-introduce Clinton to a general election audience. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

whitehorse: One has registered almost 250,000 views, and Pandher said it helping promote the territory. "People are talking about the Yukon, people are talking about Whitehorse, even many, many people who didn't know that area," Pandher said. "This video spread across Europe, South America and people are wondering about this place." The video was taken at the Canada Day celebration in Whitehorse, according to CBC. It begins with Pandher and Haemmerli dancing, with many more people gradually joining in. Gurdeep Pandher has been posting videos online of himself and dancing partner Manuela Haemmerli at locales in the Whitehorse area. Pandher says he moved to Yukon because of the friendly people he encountered on a visit in 2011. That what multicultural is all about." The dance style began centuries ago in the Indian state of Punjab, performed in farming communities as a way to celebrate and relax after the completion of the harvest. Pandher said it works perfectly with his goal of showing the world Canada diversity. "We are one Canada, and we can bring people together and we can dance together. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

syrian refugees: The fun and games at this day camp are more than just a rite of passage for these new Canadians, they're a key step in easing their transition into a strange country with unfamiliar customs, according to The Waterloo Record. H.appi Camper founder Mazen El-Baba says he tried to design a getaway that would offer the staples of any typical North American summer camp: drama, arts and crafts, and sports. It takes a moment for the middle-schoolers to grasp this peculiar game, but three tries later, they gel into a more-or-less unified chorus. "Five! Six! Seven! Eight! Weeeeeeee're great!" they holler, letting loose with exuberant cheers. But it would also offer much-needed lessons tailored to the specific needs of young Syrian refugees: intensive literacy classes, a crash course in Canadian cultural norms, and self-esteem exercises. El-Baba says it hard to know exactly how these kids are suffering because they have not been formally diagnosed with behavioural or mental-health issues. That last goal is possibly the most challenging, given the fact that most of these war-weary children — 75 in all, ranging in age from five to 15 — have been through horrific traumas. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

wasserman schultz: The resignation of Debbie Wasserman Schultz as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee made for a rocky start on Sunday, as the Florida congresswoman heeded Sanders' longstanding call to leave as party chief, according to Brandon Sun. Her departure comes a few days after the publication of 19,000 hacked emails, which Sanders said confirmed his belief the national party played favourites for Clinton during the primary."The party now needs new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people," Sanders said. To do that, she must overcome lingering bitterness among supporters of defeated rival Bernie Sanders and clean up a resurgent political mess of the party own making. Wasserman Schultz abrupt departure was undoubtedly an effort to keep the Democrats' gathering from devolving into the tumult that marred last week GOP meeting, when runner-up Ted Cruz pointedly and publicly refused to endorse nominee Donald Trump. Never one to miss an opportunity to poke at his rivals, Trump appeared to relish the Democratic chaos Sunday, writing on Twitter: "The Dems Convention is cracking up." His campaign chief, Paul Manafort, went further and called on Clinton to drop out of the race altogether. As he demanded Wasserman Schultz resignation, Sanders made clear he wants to see Clinton in the White House."I'm going to do everything I can to defeat him, to elect Hillary Clinton and to keep focusing, keep focusing on the real issues facing the American people," Sanders said on CNN. Clinton and President Barack Obama both quickly praised the departed party chief, hoping to move past the ugliness and onto Monday launch of an optimistic celebration featuring high-powered elected officials and celebrities who will try to re-introduce Clinton to a general election audience. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

campaign promise: And of them, about 60 per cent thought there would be no change to the terrorism threat facing Canada in the next six months, according to Hamilton Spectator. However, 35 per cent of respondents didn't support the plan were concerned, and 55 per cent of them told pollsters they thought the threat of terrorism in Canada would increase in the next six months. About 44 per cent of those surveyed in November were in support of the plan. Overall, the results suggest that while people around the world may directly link immigration with terrorist threats, that generally not what is happening in Canada, said one expert. The poll was carried out just before the Liberals revealed how they were going to meet a campaign promise to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2015. The telephone poll of 1,512 Canadians was carried out by Harris/Decima between Nov. 18 and 24, 2015 and had a margin of error of 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

giant fraud: It one giant fraud, according to Toronto Star. A fraud perpetuated on the American people. Melania speech symbolized the whole Trump campaign and his candidacy. As you point out Donald Trump is so out of sync with the Republican Party from foreign policy to social issues and Republican values such as they are that many luminaries of the party did not show up at the convention, including the Republican Ohio governor in whose state the convention is being held. The party has become a nutty right-wing fringe operation, something Trump was easily able to hijack. Article Continued Below But as the Star and others have noted, the Republicans deserve what they get. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

government officials: The government new pay system, Phoenix, has not been working properly, and this week officials acknowledged that more than 80,000 government employees — about a quarter of the work force — had had serious problems with their pay, according to Metro News. In scenes more often associated with emerging markets on the brink of debt default, government officials apologized, pointed to emergency funding and promised to make employees whole — all while admitting to breaches of private information. But instead of gabbing about the weather like usual, the small talk is all about who is getting paid and who is not. Meanwhile, the rest of the country reeled with the thought of Donald Trump as U.S. president; received brand new cheques from the federal government to spend on their children; and seemed to pay little heed to the handful of politicians left behind in Ottawa to discuss what else they can do for desperate refugees in the Middle East. But Donald Trump provokes such strong reactions that it was not too shocking to hear Canada defence minister issue some words of caution. Here how politics touched us this week: It a rule of thumb that even a rookie politician knows by rote: don't get involved in other countries' politics. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

hazara community: In a statement late Saturday, the ministry, which controls the police, says "any kind of public gathering and demonstration is banned," starting immediately, according to Metro News. The ban follows an attack on a protest march by members of Afghanistan ethnic Hazara community that killed at least 81 people and wounded hundreds. Afghanistan Interior Ministry has issued a ban on public gatherings of all types for the next 10 days. The ministry announcement — which may be seeking to address concerns about sectarian violence — cites Afghan police law and the international covenant on civil and political rights.___11:30 p.m. White House spokesman Josh Earnest says Saturday the "heinous" attack was made more "despicable" because it targeted people at a peaceful demonstration in Kabul. The United States is condemning "in the strongest terms" the deadly attack in Afghanistan capital. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

hillary clinton: Clinton said Kaine cares more about making a difference than making headlines, everything that Donald Trump and Mike Pence are not, according to Toronto Star. Clinton offered Kaine the vice-presidential spot on the Democratic ticket in a phone call on Friday night. By Ken Thomas Associated Press Sat., July 23, 2016 MIAMI — Hillary Clinton introduced running mate Tim Kaine as a progressive who likes to get things done, joining the Virginia senator in the crucial battleground state of Florida to help kick off next week Democratic National Convention. His selection completes the lineup for the general election. Kaine, 58, was long viewed as a likely choice, a former governor of politically important Virginia and mayor of Richmond who also served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Clinton and Kaine will face Republican Trump and his running mate, Pence, the Indiana governor. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

magazine commentary: I was waiting for something "official," -- a newspaper article, an editorial or magazine commentary, and not just the random Facebook memes and posts that called Melania anywhere from a "Slovenian immigrant with a thick accent," to a "dumb bitch with big boobs" and "only good for blow jobs." I did not have to wait long, according to Rabble. On Wednesday, a Washington Post article written by Monika Nalepa, an associate professor of political science at the University of Chicago, was quick to draw the link between Melania hyped up plagiarism act and the so-called culture of cheating in Eastern European schools. Or, should I say, until the ready-made Eastern Bloc stereotypical rhetoric would tease out through the North American gaze. And here is Nalepa logical reasoning: since Melania is from Eastern Europe , and everyone cheats in Eastern Europe, Melania is, by extension, a cheater -- hence, no wonder she plagiarized. In other words, Melania act of plagiarism had nothing to do with a personal behavioral tendency to "borrow" content, nor with the volatility of Trump campaign, nor with in-house staff writers' predispositions , but rather with the fact that Melania originates from, and studied in the former Eastern Bloc. According to Nalepa, in the educational system, learning implied: a) memorization ; b) lack of critical questioning, since this went contrary to the state supported ideology of communism ; and c) systematic support for cheating ; hence d) the memorization practice coupled with cheating generally led to an easy appropriation of intellectual work, also explanatory for Melania fraud. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.