Sudbury historian says Syrian refugees not unlike Germans, Italians who faced discrimination

Sudbury'sflag-crested "Bridge of Nations" might seem like a sadirony to one local historian these days.

As one Sudburianof Syrian decentreports episodes of discrimination in the last few weeks, retired history professor Dieter Busesayswe needn't look very far back inhistory for examples of newcomers settling in Sudburyand facing racism and xenophobicattitudes.

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Busesaid Italian, Germans, Finnishand Chinese people were all saddled with the derogatory name"foreigner" when they arrived decades ago but today, are an integral part of the city's fabric.

"People here don't understand their own history," he said. "They haven't gone back to look at how their own ethnic groups [were immigrants or refugees]."

"I think that we as a society are capable and strong enough to integrate all newcomers."

Listen to the complete interview with historian and child of refugees Dieter Buse here.

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