I always used to be proud of my citizenship, proud of my country and proud of what it stood for. The more I learn about Canada's past, present and future the more I doubt my country. I used to brag that I was Canadian, that we were the best country and I would take offence if someone insulted Canada. I once got in an argument with a friend because she would not stand for the National Anthem. At that point in my life I believed in standing for Oh Canada! because of what it stood for, a country that fought for it's rights, that helped others and did good. Now I realize how naive I was, I don't have pride in my country.
To many, being Canadian means; freedom of speech, unity, multiculturalism, friendship, justice, safety, decency, honour, etc.
To me, being Canadian means; infringing rights, denying aid, turning a blind eye, racism, ignorance of heritage, secrets, etc.
The Olympics put Native Americans on everything, which should be done since it's their land, but was it for the right reasons? Are they trying to show the world that Native Americans are a huge part of Canadian culture? In reality Native Americans are a minority, the government shoves them in a corner and many people believe they don't belong here.
I think too many Canadians, and any other citizens in regard to their country, are patriotic for no reason, they do it just to do it. Should we really be proud of our athletes when we are not proud of another country's? Is it really our country that made them as they are? Could they not have turned out the same somewhere else? Could they not have immigrated here or there?
The land is breath taking, from coast to coast there is something to be in awe of. Is it the physical land that makes up a country? Or the people who fill it? I think it's the people who fill it, their decisions, actions and what they do with the land they are on. I think there are many beautiful people who are living in Canada and I do believe Canadians are very friendly but I think that trend is dying out.
What does being Canadian mean to you? And I want details "_______ because...", I want to know what has made you proud because I do think people should take pride in their country. However, I think they should do it for a reason and not because it is expected.
**I could go much more in detail of many of these things but I don't wish this to be rant.
**I could go much more in detail of many of these things but I don't wish this to be rant.
Say you posed the question as; "I'd rather be a (insert nationality here) than a Canadian.
ReplyDeleteWhat nation would you pick? Australia? Pakistan? Sweden? Germany?
Nations are the sum of the people, the land, the history, culture, etc. of that land.
If you were going to pick one, you have to take it...wonders, warts and all.
I'm proud of my country because relative to other countries in the world, it is one of the best. I may not be proud of everything my country has done, or is doing, but overall I tend to think of it as a good nation striving be become a better one.
I would not rather be anything other than Canadian. Our country has always been the first to help others (we even entered the world wars before the U.S) When Haiti happened, the military took crew away from the Olympic security to help out in Haiti. Canada is also sending military to Chile. We were also a safe spot for runaway slaves in the past.
ReplyDeleteOur country may have been first to help but how much of it is for show? Look at Rwanda, Sudan & Yugoslavia. Is Canada not choosing to help the countries that will profit them? Is entering a WW early really something to brag about?
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying that Canada does nothing, in the case of Haiti they've done a lot. Since you brought up the Olympics, what about not having the proper safety equipment on the luge run? People are calling these games the Glitch Games because of how much went wrong.
We may have been a safe spot for runaway slaves in the past but look what we did (and are still doing) to Native Americans.
I've never gotten the sense that Canada is helping nations as part of a global power struggle.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, we often tend to get stuck between the neo-imperialist nations jostling in their turf wars. Rwanda, Sudan and Yugoslavia are all examples of old colonial powers still maintaining political influence in former colonies (France, Belgium, USA, Russia, etc.)
If we were truly mercenary about aid and peacekeeping, we should have jumped on the Iraq war as a money grab. Instead, we recognized that it was an illegal war motivated by oil profiteering. UK, Australia, and others participated and were rewarded with engineering and supply contracts, political dispensations. I'm proud that Canada maintained it's integrity in spite of enormous political pressure to join the invasion.
Okay so Tori all ready knows where I stand. I happen to be an anarchist. I can not say that I stand for the people in my country. If it came down to a Japanese scientist and a Canadian serial killer hanging off a cliff, I wouuld reach first for the scientist. National pride- pride in ones country for the sake of pride... has never led to positive things. Its why 20 000 cherokees were murdered in the US. Its why thousands of Japanese Canadians were imprisoned in the US, it's why members of the RCMP in the prairies have been allowed to take the clothes from drunk aboriginals and drop them off in the middle of no where at midnight to freeze to death. Its why hundreds of French were forced to relocate, why entire German cities were suffocated by allied troops, killing all women and children within miles of them.
ReplyDeleteYes there are parts of Canadian history too that I am proud of: I am proud of Michele Jean (sp?) who was not afraid to cry publically for her people, and her home. I am proud of Romeo Dallaire who ignored orders to pull out. I am proud of my cousin who went to Baghdad on contract to establish water for American troops.
I am proud of the preservation of parts of Canada. But of Canada I am not proud. We have the same government system in place as Germany did when Hitler was first establishing power.