Canadian Identity: un-American

[Sniglet]

I had an interesting conversation with some friends, in which we discussed whether the Canadian identity was primarily based on the ceaseless struggle to NOT be Americans. Even looking back to the revolutionary war, the war of 1812, confederation, and the settling of the west it seems as if Canadians have been obsessed with keeping the USA at bay. Is the Canadian identity nothing more than the never ceasing struggle not to be Americans?

[Smallc]

That's certainly a part of Canada's identity, but it isn't the entirety of it.

[JerrySeinfeld]

I had an interesting conversation with some friends, in which we discussed whether the Canadian identity was primarily based on the ceaseless struggle to NOT be Americans. Even looking back to the revolutionary war, the war of 1812, confederation, and the settling of the west it seems as if Canadians have been obsessed with keeping the USA at bay. Is the Canadian identity nothing more than the never ceasing struggle not to be Americans?

The problem with rampant multiculturalism as a policy is by definition it believes in everything, which means it believes in nothing.

We accept the gay lifestyle, yet we also accept fundamentalist muslims who, in their home country, would stone a gay man to death.

As a result of this odd irony, Canada has no identity, which goes a long way in explaining why muslim youths are attracted more so to the ideology of their original country than they are to the ideology of Canada, which is essentially a big vacuum. It might also explain the rise in gay bashing in places like amsterdam (further along the Islamification curve than Canada) and Vancouver. Next time you hear about gay bashing in Canada, make sure you get the name of the assailant, which the ethnically sensitive newsmedia is reluctant to give out. Good chance it will be some variation of muhammed.

As one observer aptly put it: "Canada is the world's largest hotel" - a pretty good commentary for anyone who witness the masses of lebanese-Canadian "citizens" who had suddenly found religion and patriotism as the Israeli tanks rolled into southern lebanon a couple of summers ago.

In came the Canadian evacuation planes, and, surprise, they all went back HOME to lebanon when the excitement subsided.

What's our identity? How about "International Lapdog"

Edited October 24, 2009 by JerrySeinfeld

[bush_cheney2004]

..... Is the Canadian identity nothing more than the never ceasing struggle not to be Americans?

The Americans certainly are a mainstay foil in articulating whatever that identity is.

[Michael Hardner]

That's certainly a part of Canada's identity, but it isn't the entirety of it.

It's a large part of it, which is understandable. It's hard to find two nations on earth that are more similar, unless you count things like North/South Korea.

[Smallc]

Alright. Our identity involves some of the very things that Jerry doesn't like. Canada is a nation of nations. It's a place that was largely founded by two different language groups on the traditional lands of aboriginal people. The country grew to eventually exist from sea to sea...to sea. To this day, two major language groups still remain with about a quarter of the population speaking both of the languages...but the principle has expanded. Canada, through this, has become a country of compromise.

Canada is a place to which anyone from any background and belief set can come. Those people can keep a part of their old identity while also absorbing some of ours. In turn, we absorb some of theirs.

Canada is a country that was always shaped by different immigrants groups. Though different areas started out mostly British or mostly french or mostly aboriginal, they quickly grew into multicultural areas with people of many different backgrounds mixing together and living together. That tradition has continued and been expanded.

Canada is a place where people tend to exist in the centre of issues. It has been said that Canada has a place in the old world with an address in the new one. The way we founded very much shapes that. Canada's government system is surrounded in huge amounts of tradition and history. It's an important part of who we are.

Canada is many other things too. This country, as one of the most decentralized federations in the world, is a very regional country. Not only does the state (Canada) as a whole shape who be are, but also the equal provinces within that state. They are an important part of our identity. Though there are some beliefs that many Canadians share, there are others beliefs that are very much shaped within the regions. This is a part of who we are, and is part of the compromise that I earlier spoke of

Canada is a country of winter and fall sports of all types, not just hockey....I don't like sports, so I can't expand on that much.

and on and on and on.

We have an identity, and you don't really have to look very hard to find it.

[g_bambino]

The Americans certainly are a mainstay foil in articulating whatever that identity is.

And vice-versa.

[bush_cheney2004]

And vice-versa.

...but more versa-vice. Shona Holmes was Canadian, not American!

[BubberMiley]

Isn't Shona Holmes that woman who was paid by the Republicans to lie and say she had a medical emergency but couldn't get health care in Canada?

Or is she related to John Holmes?

[Leafless]

The problem with rampant multiculturalism as a policy is by definition it believes in everything, which means it believes in nothing.

We accept the gay lifestyle, yet we also accept fundamentalist muslims who, in their home country, would stone a gay man to death.

As a result of this odd irony, Canada has no identity, which goes a long way in explaining why muslim youths are attracted more so to the ideology of their original country than they are to the ideology of Canada, which is essentially a big vacuum. It might also explain the rise in gay bashing in places like amsterdam (further along the Islamification curve than Canada) and Vancouver. Next time you hear about gay bashing in Canada, make sure you get the name of the assailant, which the ethnically sensitive newsmedia is reluctant to give out. Good chance it will be some variation of muhammed.

As one observer aptly put it: "Canada is the world's largest hotel" - a pretty good commentary for anyone who witness the masses of lebanese-Canadian "citizens" who had suddenly found religion and patriotism as the Israeli tanks rolled into southern lebanon a couple of summers ago.

In came the Canadian evacuation planes, and, surprise, they all went back HOME to lebanon when the excitement subsided.

What's our identity? How about "International Lapdog"

[g_bambino]

...but more versa-vice. Shona Holmes was Canadian, not American!

Maybe more, maybe not. There's a reason why Shona was hired by US insurance companies: to tell Americans not to be Canadian!

[bush_cheney2004]

Maybe more, maybe not. There's a reason why Shona was hired by US insurance companies: to tell Americans not to be Canadian!

No, she was hired to remind Americans what they already have....and why she was glad it was available to her.

Hiring her was a very American thing to do.

Edited October 25, 2009 by bush_cheney2004

[g_bambino]

No, she was hired to remind Americans what they already have...

That's what I said.

[bush_cheney2004]

That's what I said.

...but in a very un-American way. Good job!

[g_bambino]

...but in a very un-American way. Good job!

Thank you! Or.. should I be saying "sorry", as very Canadian/un-American as that would be?

_[+]

Edited October 25, 2009 by g_bambino

[bush_cheney2004]

Thank you! Or.. should I be saying "sorry", as very Canadian/un-American as that would be?

_[+]

Do as you must to emerge from behind the elephant's shadow.

[g_bambino]

Do as you must to emerge from behind the elephant's shadow.

Sorry, that bait's too stale and rehashed for me, BC.

[bush_cheney2004]

Sorry, that bait's too stale and rehashed for me, BC.

It worked wonders for PM Trudeau.

[g_bambino]

It worked wonders for PM Trudeau.

I think he's rather stale and rehashed, too.

[bush_cheney2004]

I think he's rather stale and rehashed, too.

OK...but the larger point was that PM Trudeau taught Canada to identify itself in such an Un-Cola way.

Edited October 25, 2009 by bush_cheney2004

[g_bambino]

OK...but the larger point was that PM Trudeau taught Canada to identify itself in such an Un-Cola way.

It would certainly seem that he ramped up the anti-American rhetoric; but then, he was generally anti-capitalist, anyway. He was, however, hardly the first Canadian PM to look to the US as an example of what not to do in Canada, in the same way US leaders have frequently pointed to Canada as example of what the republic should avoid.

_[c/e]

Edited October 25, 2009 by g_bambino

[bush_cheney2004]

It would certainly seem that he ramped up the anti-American rhetoric; but then, he was generally anti-capitalist, anyway. He was, however, hardly the first Canadian PM to look to the US as an example of what not to do in Canada, in the same way US leaders have frequently pointed to Canada as example of what the republic should avoid.

_[c/e]

Of course...during American presidential debates, constant references were made to PM Harper, Canadian policies, and Canadian media content. Americans would often quip...."Damn Canadians....I hate those bastards."

[g_bambino]

Americans would often quip...."Damn Canadians....I hate those bastards."

On Fox News they sure do.

[bush_cheney2004]

On Fox News they sure do.

That's what Fox News is supposed to do....just like the CBC.

[g_bambino]

That's what Fox News is supposed to do....just like the CBC.

I guess so.