Content to be Canadian
At my step-sister's wedding a couple of months back, I met a fellow named Richard, from London, England (the "real" London, he joked). It was enjoyable to talk with him, discussing the differences between Canada and England. For instance, he quipped, "The house we live in is older than your country."
He wasn't trying to be nasty. He was merely stating a fact.
We both were genuinely interested in each other's homelands, and we both were grateful for living where we do. Each of us was happy to discuss the other's country, and neither felt threatened or challenged in any respect.
As we talked, I admired how comfortable he seemed to feel inside his own skin. He answered everything enthusiastically and took no offense even to the questions I asked that were born of ignorance and generalities. Nor did he sound pretentious or cynical when he would ask me things in a similar manner. It was refreshing.
These days, many people become so automatically defensive that it's nearly impossible to have a discussion. They'll turn it into a "My dad's better than your dad" standoff (and, for the record, I can't say for sure if he's better than yours, but my dad is pretty good). Can't we just be happy with what we have and be proud of who we are, rather than stress about who and what we are not?
Gratefully, the chat with Richard helped me realize how content I think we're starting to feel, as Canadians, inside our own skin. We are proud of our strengths but take no great offense in someone trying to point out our weaknesses. We know we're not perfect. No one is. We'll work at it.
With Canada Day rolling around, I thought of that talk with Richard (who, I hope, is happy and healthy and enjoying the summer in England). Canada is about to celebrate "only" its 142nd birthday. If I let him know about that, I bet he would immediately raise a toast and say "Cheers to that and centuries more!"
He wasn't trying to be nasty. He was merely stating a fact.
We both were genuinely interested in each other's homelands, and we both were grateful for living where we do. Each of us was happy to discuss the other's country, and neither felt threatened or challenged in any respect.
As we talked, I admired how comfortable he seemed to feel inside his own skin. He answered everything enthusiastically and took no offense even to the questions I asked that were born of ignorance and generalities. Nor did he sound pretentious or cynical when he would ask me things in a similar manner. It was refreshing.
These days, many people become so automatically defensive that it's nearly impossible to have a discussion. They'll turn it into a "My dad's better than your dad" standoff (and, for the record, I can't say for sure if he's better than yours, but my dad is pretty good). Can't we just be happy with what we have and be proud of who we are, rather than stress about who and what we are not?
Gratefully, the chat with Richard helped me realize how content I think we're starting to feel, as Canadians, inside our own skin. We are proud of our strengths but take no great offense in someone trying to point out our weaknesses. We know we're not perfect. No one is. We'll work at it.
With Canada Day rolling around, I thought of that talk with Richard (who, I hope, is happy and healthy and enjoying the summer in England). Canada is about to celebrate "only" its 142nd birthday. If I let him know about that, I bet he would immediately raise a toast and say "Cheers to that and centuries more!"
Happy Birthday, Canada. Thanks for having us.
- Kevin
