Who Are We?

The history teacher dims the lights in the classroom before turning on the overhead projector. "Great," we think, "another class learning about the Plains of Abraham and the establishment of Canada... How exciting. Not." At some point in any high school Canadian history class, I am sure that most of us have felt bored or at least slightly exasperated with the material that the teacher was presenting. After all, how many Canadians today can actually trace their roots back to those French and British soldiers who fought for the establishment of this country? With the exception of the white population descended from the French settlers in Québec, these past events seem distant, non-relatable, and free from any vested emotional currency. So, if we cannot even emotionally proclaim our country's history, what makes us, us? What makes us Canadian?  

Growing up in the lower mainland of Vancouver, British Columbia has conferred some unique views of Canadian identity upon me. In my school and among my peers, the safest response to the question, "What is a Canadian?" is to curly rebuke, "not an American." Many Canadians, interestingly enough, hold paradoxical views about our identity. We defend our culture from external criticism; yet, have no troubles insulting it ourselves. I, recognizing myself as someone with occasional internal struggles with this, cannot be exempt. What makes me a Canadian? Surely, we who reside in the "True North" that extends a mari usque ad mare have a more complex notion of self than just being 'not American.' In fact, be it through politics or religious practices, Canadians have an identity so fundamental to our nature that it may even seem too obvious and difficult to vocalize at times.

Canadian grade school students who complain about our 'boring' history or politics have to keep in mind that our country, founded in 1867 by white settlers without the consent of the first nations people, has grown into a land that welcomes diversity. To learn about the history of the modern Canadian demographic is to learn about the history of Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East at the same time. Perhaps this is one of the reasons for the problematic lack of enthusiasm for 'our' history. The eclectic mixture of our people cannot necessarily relate to a history that is largely homogenous and dichotomous. Although Canada has been plagued with bouts of racially-motivated policies of discrimination in the past, it is one of the few countries in the world that has never had race riots in the latter half of the 20^th century. Respect of diversity and a willingness to harmoniously live with others not of our own skin colour is a marked trait of Canadian culture. In our willingness to accept the 'other,' we are invariably one: Canadian.

Another distinct marker of the Canadian psyche is a rejection of extremism, in most senses of the word. Ironically, in our culture of acceptance, we vehemently reject anything that disturbs the peace of our people. For example, despite having a largely two-party federal system, Canada's liberal and conservative parties are much closer to the centre of the political spectrum compared to the republican and democrat divide of our neighbours down south. You only need to imagine how any Canadian would react if a politician threatened to revoke medicare! In another vein, although Canadians guarantee the freedom of religious practice, anyone who adheres to beliefs too liberal or conservative (more the latter than the former) is met with a raised eyebrow. I speak from personal experience, having straddled a fine social border. Let me explain: being a 'liberal Mormon' presented me with some interesting experiences in high school. On the one hand, I had deviated away from the 'norm' - Vancouver is Canada's most atheist major city and, socially, extremely liberal. On the other, I was the strange liberal boy at church, refusing to unquestioningly accept conservative vitriol masked as doctrine.

I can understand how Canada is often seen as the forgotten younger brother of the United States. In fact, 75% of Canadians live within 161km of the American border! However, our unconscious that is so reinforced by the structural support of moderation and acceptance is what makes us so unique, so Canadian. We may not have a Great Wall or a 'Tour Eiffel,' but we have our basic principles, something that will follow us beyond geographic boundaries. Our country has brought together people from different lands, put them in one place, and used every unique patch to make up our quilt. How many other places can claim the same? I would not trade the 'boring,' laid back, and accepting mentality that comes with my citizenship. Who in their right mind would want 'exciting' if it meant a completely homogenous demographic, racial strife against minorities, and extreme closed-mindedness? Not me. So next time you think about our boring politics or history, think about them with a fierce pride. We are Canadian and our fundamental qualities as a people, not any superficial markers, are what makes us a nation. 

Image source: Flickr.