New English Review: The greatest problems facing Canada have nothing to do with gender equality, native rights, or the economy, all of which are in passable condition. They are chronic national ambiguity and economic complacency.
Justin Trudeau’s recent visit to India has been panned internationally as a disaster unlike any foreign trip by a Canadian leader since John Diefenbaker crashed a meeting between British prime minister Harold MacMillan and U.S. President John Kennedy at Canadian industrialist E.P. Taylor’s house in the Bahamas in 1963, and returned claiming that NATO had reconsidered its nuclear strategy and that Canada was rethinking its commitment to nuclear warheads for anti-aircraft missiles in the far north. This was debunked by everyone, and the Diefenbaker government fell. Justin Trudeau’s costuming exhibition and affability with a Sikh terrorist is unlikely to have, and does not deserve, such a radical denouement.
But this atonal passage to the sub-continent highlights the negative contribution this government is making to Canada’s identity problem. Let us not deceive ourselves that there is such a problem. Canadians have always felt an irritation and a vulnerability that the country has an indistinct personality. This was more tolerable when it was a dominion. Canada was symbolic with ample geography, wealth, healthfulness and the virtues as well as the rigours of the north, and was an exceptionable country in its political conduct, well-known for its civility and respected for its fidelity to alliances and its brave and disinterested contributions to just wars. In my lifetime it has emerged as a major nationality. The number of independent countries has tripled, but only a few of them, such as India, Israel, and Poland (benefitting from Moscow’s compliance with its Yalta pledges to liberate that country, 46 years late) have instantly become important countries. more here
This is really so true about identity. I have found Canadians tend to define themselves by what they are not, and in uni the topic of Canadian literature and its identity within was a huge portion of a Canadian Lit class – all the authors we read (deliberately chosen by the professor) wrote in English from Canada, but they all had complicated identities, e.g. born in India, raised in Uganda, immigrated to Canada. Even the two Canadians in the class couldn’t come up with what it meant to be Canadian (unlike Americans with their identity of Westerns [for lit], liberty and adventure and so on).
I thought they we’re happy being eh-holes who tell us how to run our country.
How about Loyalists?
My Canadian acquaintance has been suffering with hip pain for years (I see her in the winter). She keeps saying the National health is great, yet she gets no treatment, I should say, they offer nor give her any treatment, she is too old to matter.
They do have a choice when it comes to electing a leader…
I should add to my previous comment that these are just some starter thoughts related to my own experience. On bringing it to bear on a wider template, I think about how too often Canadians want to be liked rather than respected, and don’t demand of their populations – whether native born or immigrants who are citizens or residents only – that they contribute to Canada and not only what works for *them* or their interest groups.
Yes, the French separatists were defeated, but the “outreach” to placate them has what I think are some ridiculous effects: road signs, for example, in French “everywhere” in the country, matched to those in English right by them. First off, they aren’t everywhere as the funding just doesn’t exist; second, they *do* appear in Northwest Territory (NT as we call it). The official languages of NT, according to the “Northwest Territories Official Languages Act, 1988” are: Chipewyan, Cree, English, French, Gwich’in, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey, Tłįchǫ. WTF!? Are they serious? Most other territories and provinces list only English as official language (but still required to have French signs); I think only Quebec and New Brunswick are English and French listed.
Do the French-speaking Canadians think that they could, when they go to an upper far western area of the nation, populated by a lot of Natives, perhaps make the effort to freaking learn English? Or perhaps Cree, whereupon Canadian authorities can start erecting street signs in that language instead of French.
When I drove through YT (Yukon Territory) I saw a downed sign (there since the 80s or whenever they first switched to metric) that made me realize I always had vaguely assumed they always used the metric system, though the sign, announcing the start of all signs of distance (etc.) will on such and such a date appear, mark distance in metric measures – that sign made me realize they hadn’t been doing that all along. This and other examples made me also ask myself: Are these people North American or European? Which is it, Canada? Even the way they write English is indecisive: Tyre Center, for example (or it might have been Tire Centre; I just remember the disconnect on this and so many other signs).
I’m fully aware of their historical and continued connection to Britain, the apron strings of which, even having set up shop and home of their own on an entirely difference content, they can’t seem to let go of, and that leads I think to a closer focus on the problem of wanting to move forward while still being coddled, and you just can’t have it both ways.
And they seem to content with this – though the article indicates otherwise. It seems even *that* goes back and forth.
(Sorry this got so long.)
@rathaus. It’s the limp wristed left that define themselves by what they are not. Unfortunately there is lots of them.
I am canadian , I am also ashamed and extremely pissed off at this circus clown and his brood of yapping hoop jumping chihuahuas that are currently ruining this country with the help of hillary and obamas treacheruos aides (justin is clueless without outside help) ,I ,along with a few ( million ?) Are hoping for good change in our next federal election , though trudo and his handlers have begun to crack down on social and other media restraining and criminalizing descent of the official narrative many still hope change for better is possible
We ( through our media )are following and resembling many failed EU countries with muslum migration ( NEWCOMERS) with much rapr and violence that is not made public by media , and when citizen media report it they are hated and vilified by msm
Realise I’m rambling so I’ll stop here
@tom@drum, I hear you and agree. But what explains why so many who do that then? I can only think that even if they don’t necessarily agree with all lefty politics, many nevertheless go along with the talking points and carry on with “we’re not the 51st state” nonsense (and more).
Like in articles that set up the key discussion, then circle the wagons around that point (it was done in the article about the football player videotaping the kid at work), for example, people don’t seem to stop and determine if that really is the “key aspect” or whatever they want to call it, and so from there can’t find a way to disagree.
@Dave, you may feel like you’re rambling, but it’s your voice and you are entitled to use it, so I really encourage you to do. Don’t let them silence you.
Wasn’t Justin the I squeeze your head guy? or was he the I crush your head guy?
Rathaus (is it Rat-haus or Rath-aus?)
Not too long. I’ve enjoyed reading your thoughtful commentary on the subject.
As a life-long resident of Washington state and a frequent visitor to British Columbia, your comments about Canada’s relationship to England resonate. I don’t think I really have to visit Jolly Old England when all of her quaint customs are so devotedly practiced just a few miles north of here.
@AbigailAdams, thanks so much for your kind words, that is really nice. (Rat-haus, btw.)
I hear that! One top memory of driving through BC is the photo radar speeding ticket I had waiting for me at home that I subsequently lost.
I don’t know how they stand that confused spelling, gah! Slightly off topic, but I really hate when British (et al.) writers have things like “World Trade Centre” or “Pearl Harbour” in their text. I get that they spell ordinary words that way, but these are proper names and need to be spelled the correct way. It really grates on me.
My wife was French Canadian, she was funnier than Bob & Doug or Red Green and had way more balls than their current leader, madam trudeau.
I don’t remember the year — maybe sometime in the ’80’s or ’90’s — the agency in charge of Canadian tourism ran a campaign I thought was the shape of things to come for Canada in their continued quest to get out from America’s North American dominance. Beautiful aerial views of mountains, prairies, gleaming cities with the tagline: “America borders on the magnificent — Canada!” Then it all kind of petered out.
What filters into my awareness about Canada today — their seeming enthusiasm for mass immigration from certain areas of the world and the like — I’m not planning a visit anytime soon. Sorta like Europe. Canada has gone off the rails and I hope they can find their marbles again soon.
Voted into office by metropolitan women and cuckolds is what my Canadian friends tell me. His mother was a common gutter slut and dear ol’ dad an unabashed cuckold.
http://therunagatesclub.blogspot.com/2016/04/margaret-trudeaus-bum.html
In response to JDHasty at 5:58pm – our family always said that Justin Trudeau inherited his mother’s brains as well as her looks!
@AbigailAdams, uff, even their own tourist enticements have to relate to America. Can some Canadian PR firm think of something actually **Canadian** in order to market their country? I’m no expert but it seems like ads – like other media such as book and movie reviews – ought not to put too much focus on other than what is being advertised. It’s the advertised’s moment in the spotlight, let them have it.
Canadians already have an identity. AMERICAS LITTLE BITCH COUSINS.
Thank you little Canadians for care-taking all those natural resources. Our American descendants will find them handy.
They DO have a reputation: home of Dan Ackroyd, the 55 yard line, and the Assclown Prince of the Free World!
Elections have consequences, eh? 😳
Canadians gave us hockey! For that I am grateful.
how ’bout a ‘Canada Motto’ contest? …
“Canada – At Least The US Likes Us Better Than Mexico!”
“Canada – Protecting the US from the North Pole Since 1867 … or was it 1947 … or 1982?”
Well, too bad for them, eh?
Oh Trudoh!
Nelson sez: “Ha ha!”
Canadians…. join us before we take what is rightfully ours. Cast off the pejorative title of “Canadian” and become North Americans. Yes, you will be hyphenated Americans, but Americans nonetheless.
You have no historical reason for existence. Your future is forever doomed to be overshadowed if not completely absorbed by your more masculine cousins to the south.
Join us in securing a safe and prosperous environment for your children before it’s too late.
There. That ought to lull the foreign bastards into a false sense of security long enough to collar them all all with explosive rings around their necks.
There’s a story about (aboot) how Canada got it’s name. Has to do with some fur trappers and pulling letters out of a hat.
Soylent Canada.
Canadian identity? Pretty simple: America threw off the British yoke and fought to be captains of their own fate; Canukistandlanders are complacent and embrace being subjects of some self-appointed ruler, rather than the risks inherent in being free men.