Am I Canadian
Canada is very open when it comes to allowing foreign peoples
across its borders. We have a vast amount of people living here
who were not born here, and I think it's great. I am all for
putting an end to segregation, even though the immigrants here
often segregate themselves, at least we're working towards
something. Toronto alone has Chinatown, little Italy, little
Korea and a host of other 'little' neighborhoods. Why we all
live in little pockets instead of all mixed up is another
article, for now I want to investigate where I fit into Canada,
and where we all should be fitting into Canada.
I was born in Canada, my parents were born in Canada, their
parents were born in Canada, and of my great grandparents two
were born in Canada and the rest in various other countries, one
in Ireland, one in England, one in Italy, and I don't even know
where the others were born. As a result I have no ties to any
country other than Canada. Should I cheer for Italy at the World
Cup? Just because a family member I never met once hailed from
Italy? If my own father were born in Italy, then maybe I'd see
it differently. I don't practice, or even know the traditions of
the countries my family once called home, nor do I really want
to know them. I am Canadian, or at least I thought I was.
I was on a message board the other day and I noticed a thread
asking everyones nationality. The asker stated that they wanted
to know where everyone was from; I of course intended to put
Canada, until I noticed a little disclaimer. "Unless you are
aboriginal you cannot put that you are from Canada." Are you
kidding me? I have absolutely zero ties to any country other
than Canada and someone is saying I can't say I'm native to this
land unless I'm aboriginal? I'm sure in this case the question
asker was just confused, or maybe they worded the question
wrong, but the thought that someone may think that way, baffles
and upsets me. Yes the white man stole land from the aboriginals
of this land, yes they committed murder and theft and rape. Do
you really think that the white man is evil because of that? Can
you successfully argue that warring tribes didn't do that exact
same thing? Humans throughout the course of history have fought
for land and wealth; the white man taking North America is no
different. Don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying what happened
was ok, it was evil and something that should not have happened.
It's also our nature to do such things, but we're trying to
right old wrongs, that's good. It's hundreds of years later, I
did not kill, steal, or rape, I did not come over from the UK on
a boat. I was born here, just like every single aboriginal; I am
native to this land. I am Canadian, nothing less, nothing more,
and I have the tattoo to prove it.
As far as the immigrants who may not care about Canada as much
as I do I say; that's ok. You don't have to care as much as I
do, you have a home country, care about that one as much as you
care about Canada, more if you want. What I do hope happens in
the future, is every citizen of Canada, whether they are landed,
native, and aboriginal, even visitors, stop segregating
themselves. Canada is supposed to be a multicultural country.
You don't have to lose your old traditions, but lets make some
new ones, lets give Canada a personality. Quebec: stop caring
about separating yourselves from us politically and socially, be
a part of Canada, be yourself, but be a part of Canada too.
Bring your differences and together we'll make a brand new type
of country, one that actually doesn't care what your skin colour
is, or your religion, or your eating habits. There are lots of
good things in each society, each culture, lets bring them all
together and make Canada's culture a mix of all the best things
from around the world, then maybe the rest of the world will see
that we can all get along.