The latest update on the cultural inconvenience of people dying next door is in the Vancouver Sun today. The dubious complaint of condo owners, that a hospice lowers property values, sounds like a perfect reason to build more, given the fact an average home in the city costs $792,000.
Jung said supporters of the hospice have “logical” and “civilized” arguments, such as providing a haven for those near the end of life in a culturally- and resource-rich location. However, he also sympathizes with the Chinese residents protesting its construction due to cultural beliefs.
“The people who live next door are mostly newcomers from Asia,” Jung said. “This way of thinking is formed throughout our lives, especially in our childhood. Suddenly, you are asking them to accept Canadian culture.”
“Suddenly?” Uh, when you bought property in Canada you didn’t think that was the moment you should start accepting the culture?
Adrian, just how to these incomers handle their dying relatives? Of have they just left them behind, out of sight and out of mind.
I think the whole cultural taboo thing is more overplayed than it really is a factor, and they’re more concerned about NIMBYism.
This must be why Chinese have a public holiday for their dead
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qingming_Festival
We lived in China for 7 yrs so know all about this.
These Chinese are just pissed that the dying are white.
I’m not biting either. This sounds far, FAR more like some affluent whiners worrying about property values but trying to find a more appealing PR line. “My culture prevents you from doing that” I guess sounds more selfless than “but what about my property value?!”.
The fact that we associate dying under circumstances where someone actually cares with possibly lowering property values speaks volumes on the mindset of the self centered. Sad.
Actually, the more I thought about it, the more I realised that I would’nt want a hospice next to my house either. Not for any monetory reason but simply to be reminded of death and dying every time I looked at the building. In western society we applaud the noble goals of a hospice, but only from a distance. I guess it is all Nimby for various reasons.