Editor:
One Canadian’s point of view, with apologies to Wallace Stevens and his well-known poem “13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird”.
1. You think peace order and good government are a sounder basis for society than liberte, fraternite, egalite.
2. You are proud and in awe of Canada’s natural wonders.
3. Recognizing Canada’s relatively small place in the world keeps you open and curious about what happens elsewhere.
4. Feeling Canadian is an unconscious, misleading accident of birth generated by the innate need to feel part of a tribe.
5. Your social ethos is one of respect and politeness toward others.
6. You feel blessed to live in a country which is so safe, tolerant, wealthy.
7. You subsist on American culture without being subsumed by it.
8. You are aware that national identity is an unwarranted distraction from the moral obligation to give equal weight to all people regardless of where they live.
9. You’d cheer for any Canadian team that makes the Stanley Cup finals.
10. You feel privileged to live in a country where multi-culturalism seems to be working.
11. Your assessment of Canadian social, cultural and legislative dimensions almost invariably involves a comparison with the USA.
12. You feel a part of Canada’s unique First Nations/French/English heritage
13. There’s no question about it, you will always come back home to Canada.
Alan MacFadyen,
Canmore
