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PrintHey, we have a right to be proud of what Canada represents to world
The notion that more than one nation, more than one people, more than one language, can create a single country is a compelling model for peace.
OTTAWA—Once a year, we get a chance to reflect on our blessings as a country. One hundred and forty two years together and still counting.
The past year has been an economic rollercoaster ride for most Canadians. The auto sector is in state of permanent flux. The jobless numbers have reached their highest levels in years. The net worth of most Canadians has taken a hit. But in the overall scheme of things, the problems of this past year pale in comparison to what Canadians have managed to accomplish in our shared history.
Canada boasts one of the healthiest populations in the world. With a low infant mortality rate, we live longer and better than just about any other country on Earth. By most indicators, our quality of life ranks higher than just about any other place on Earth.
We have a peaceful, democratic system of government where even those committed to breaking the country up are granted full status in our national Parliament. We take that for granted. But in many places on Earth, those basic democratic rights are non-existent.
Our citizens do not have to take to the streets to seek justice and freedom. Indeed, our streets are rightfully open to protesting Canadians expressing views on events in such far-flung locales as Sri Lanka and Iran.
We are by no means without fault. The continuing hardship inflicted on aboriginal peoples is a blight on our collective conscience. There are still too many Canadian families going hungry. The fact that white men are still better paid by a large margin than women or visible minorities is an ongoing cause of concern.
Canadians are certainly not perfect. And we have many more challenges ahead. But in the scheme of things, we have a right to be proud of what Canada represents to the world.
The true reflection of cultural diversity, expressed in the populations of major cities across the country, is worth celebrating. The capacity of people from different religions, languages and cultures to come together and create one country is a beacon to the world. Canada is a much-needed success story juxtaposed against a backdrop of global political battlegrounds based on religious and cultural dominance.
Canadians are not, by nature, flag wavers. Our political elites recoil from the notion; fearful of the danger that nationalism could pose for our own survival. When I launched a one-time flag giveaway more than a decade ago, I was excoriated for political jingoism.
Despite the backlash, 1,040,000 families took up the offer, including 140,000 from la belle province. Flag-waving recipients were encouraged to start celebrating some of our collective accomplishments.
Nationalism, and pride in what we have accomplished together, are not incompatible with diversity. Nationalism should not revolve around superiority over others. It can celebrate the uniqueness of what we are.
I am an unabashed nationalist because I believe deeply in the model of diversity we have embraced. The notion that more than one nation, more than one people, more than one language, can create a single country is a compelling model for peace.
The belief that countries succeed through the dominance of a single language, religion and culture is so 20th century.
In this millennium, we should be moving toward a world where global migration dovetails with real cultural diversity. When Tamil Canadians peacefully block our streets to express political views, respect for their rights is a part of the Canadian DNA.
Some of us, including some Members of Parliament, will continue to fight for the right to leave Canada, convinced that a French-speaking nation cannot survive in a bilingual country. Luckily, those numbers are dwindling as the world, and our own citizens, better understand the Canadian experience.
One only has to contrast our lives with the bloodshed in societies where a single language and culture is the dominant raison d'être of existence. From the Middle East to Afghanistan, the challenge of this century is to convince different people, languages and cultures to live peaceably together.
For all our warts, Canada has already figured this out. Setting petty quarrels aside, we have managed to carve out a unique place on earth where different languages, religions and cultures cohabit in relative peace.
Like any family, we have our differences, rancorous rivalries and economic and social disparities. But when all is said and done, we have managed to create a country where diversity is a badge of honour.
That alone is worth celebrating.
This is one great country!
Happy Birthday Canada!
The Hill Times
- 1
Hey, we have a right to be proud of what Canada represents to world
The notion that more than one nation, more than one people, more than one language, can create a single country is a compelling model for peace.
OTTAWA—Once a year, we get a chance to reflect on our blessings as a country. One hundred and forty two years together and still counting.
The past year has been an economic rollercoaster ride for most Canadians. The auto sector is in state of permanent flux. The jobless numbers have reached their highest levels in years. The net worth of most Canadians has taken a hit. But in the overall scheme of things, the problems of this past year pale in comparison to what Canadians have managed to accomplish in our shared history.
Canada boasts one of the healthiest populations in the world. With a low infant mortality rate, we live longer and better than just about any other country on Earth. By most indicators, our quality of life ranks higher than just about any other place on Earth.
We have a peaceful, democratic system of government where even those committed to breaking the country up are granted full status in our national Parliament. We take that for granted. But in many places on Earth, those basic democratic rights are non-existent.
Our citizens do not have to take to the streets to seek justice and freedom. Indeed, our streets are rightfully open to protesting Canadians expressing views on events in such far-flung locales as Sri Lanka and Iran.
We are by no means without fault. The continuing hardship inflicted on aboriginal peoples is a blight on our collective conscience. There are still too many Canadian families going hungry. The fact that white men are still better paid by a large margin than women or visible minorities is an ongoing cause of concern.
Canadians are certainly not perfect. And we have many more challenges ahead. But in the scheme of things, we have a right to be proud of what Canada represents to the world.
The true reflection of cultural diversity, expressed in the populations of major cities across the country, is worth celebrating. The capacity of people from different religions, languages and cultures to come together and create one country is a beacon to the world. Canada is a much-needed success story juxtaposed against a backdrop of global political battlegrounds based on religious and cultural dominance.
Canadians are not, by nature, flag wavers. Our political elites recoil from the notion; fearful of the danger that nationalism could pose for our own survival. When I launched a one-time flag giveaway more than a decade ago, I was excoriated for political jingoism.
Despite the backlash, 1,040,000 families took up the offer, including 140,000 from la belle province. Flag-waving recipients were encouraged to start celebrating some of our collective accomplishments.
Nationalism, and pride in what we have accomplished together, are not incompatible with diversity. Nationalism should not revolve around superiority over others. It can celebrate the uniqueness of what we are.
I am an unabashed nationalist because I believe deeply in the model of diversity we have embraced. The notion that more than one nation, more than one people, more than one language, can create a single country is a compelling model for peace.
The belief that countries succeed through the dominance of a single language, religion and culture is so 20th century.
In this millennium, we should be moving toward a world where global migration dovetails with real cultural diversity. When Tamil Canadians peacefully block our streets to express political views, respect for their rights is a part of the Canadian DNA.
Some of us, including some Members of Parliament, will continue to fight for the right to leave Canada, convinced that a French-speaking nation cannot survive in a bilingual country. Luckily, those numbers are dwindling as the world, and our own citizens, better understand the Canadian experience.
One only has to contrast our lives with the bloodshed in societies where a single language and culture is the dominant raison d'être of existence. From the Middle East to Afghanistan, the challenge of this century is to convince different people, languages and cultures to live peaceably together.
For all our warts, Canada has already figured this out. Setting petty quarrels aside, we have managed to carve out a unique place on earth where different languages, religions and cultures cohabit in relative peace.
Like any family, we have our differences, rancorous rivalries and economic and social disparities. But when all is said and done, we have managed to create a country where diversity is a badge of honour.
That alone is worth celebrating.
This is one great country!
Happy Birthday Canada!
The Hill Times
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