A photo of Canadian Mounties encountering people crossing the border from U.S. into Canada has gone viral:
Here's Canadian Mounties greeting refugees from Somalia who walked across the border into Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS photo by Paul Chiasson pic.twitter.com/CBAiKxHSSd
— The Canadian Press (@CdnPress) February 17, 2017
We ran out of characters: This photo was taken near Hemmingford, Que., on Friday, February 17, 2017. #refugees https://t.co/emSkK45vjk
— The Canadian Press (@CdnPress) February 17, 2017
Predictably, it’s being implied that Canada’s border is wide open to anybody who wants in while the U.S. has become a fascist state:
Refugees *fleeing America.*
History will judge us harshly for this. https://t.co/xn49zsNNpF
— Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) February 18, 2017
THIS is why Canada is so much better than the US right now. https://t.co/LkyP9z6ZFh
— POTUStweets (@POTUS_Tweets) February 18, 2017
This is how a moral, compassionate country greets refugees fleeing their neighbor to the south, run by a despot & his fascist quislings. https://t.co/JSI0KzxoJr
— A Once Great Nation (@USARedOrchestra) February 18, 2017
This is beautiful. But for the United States, it is SHAMEFUL–families fleeing the U.S. because they're afraid.
Shame, .@realDonaldTrump! https://t.co/ZMpnCW39uz
— Nasty Old Mom (@omyc_blog) February 18, 2017
What kind of America are we now, when Canadians openly accept refugees/immigrants escaping our land. #Ashamed https://t.co/yqgZDTEtdN
— Renee Urso (@reneeurso) February 18, 2017
The difference between Americans and Canadians is astounding. https://t.co/FMpCTTyK0f
— TheRebelliousSister (@TheRebelliousS1) February 17, 2017
But, as Paul Harvey used to say, here’s “the rest of the story”:
These photos are going global-viral without people understanding the Mounties are (politely) arresting the refugees. https://t.co/RQn3w6RjP4
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 18, 2017
Yes – Crossers aren't detained long; can then seek asylum; process is humane. But far from certain Canada will grant their requests to stay.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 18, 2017
Well that’s a little different than the open door, no questions asked approach that is often implied by those praising Canada’s policy.
#BuzzKillhttps://t.co/YOZDW3cPGn
— Adam Baldwin (@AdamBaldwin) February 18, 2017
Thanks to @ddale8 for this much needed context. Stop sharing the mounties/refugee photo. It ain't a happy pic. https://t.co/AsNyC9SHYi
— Amar Wala (@amarwala) February 18, 2017
Cdn media created misunderstanding by falsely describing this arrest as a "greeting." Credit to @ddale8 for correcting the record #cdnpoli https://t.co/wOXTjaDonp
— John Bowker (@bowker_john) February 18, 2017