This is me ... "Just Wondering"

“We Canadians live in a blind spot about our identity. We have very strong feelings about who we aren’t but only weak ones about who we are. We’re passionate about what we don’t want to become but oddly passive about what we should be.”

- John Cruickshank -

I read this quote the other day and it got me wondering - how did I define "being Canadian"?

The more I thought about it the more I realized that John Cruickshank is right - I usually define being Canadian in terms of what being Canadian is not! 

Surprisingly - I never think of myself as a hybrid, a CanAm - I always define myself as one or the other and it is more often than not .... a Canadian!  People will often ask, "how long have you lived here?" "21 years", I say.  Then they'll ask why I never became an American citizen and I'll say ... "oh, I did, but I am still a Canadian by birth & I still consider it home and I became an American only so I could vote."

How does the Canadian culture Here is my take on what makes us so different:

Canada Vs. USA:

1. A Social Democracy Vs. a Republic (This is Biggest difference which creates substantial cultural & economic differences)
2. Peaceable Co-existence  Vs. Occupation (policing) & Control of Resources ( It is a mutalistic relationship - Canada is considered one of the safest countries to live in because of it's proximity to the USA & we are each others largest trading partners)
3. The Salad Bowl Vs. The Melting Pot (I think in reality we are each a bit of both - I'm torn on this one)

I think that these are the three biggest differences between the USA & Canada - when people ask me (and many have) what is the biggest difference between the two countries I always say:

"If someone falls down on your patio and needs medical attention but has no money to pay for it and asks for help - the American would say, "why should I help pay for you - but would start passing around a can to collect money anyway! and the Canadian would say, "Why wouldn't I help - and turn to the government  to cover the hospital costs and then all go visit them in the hospital and offer to come over, cook dinner and cut the grass when they got home and start passing the can.  Kinda the same - but very different!

Here are some interesting differences and similarities between Canada and the United States:

• Canada has more fresh water than the US
• Canada is 1.6% larger in area but the USA has 07% more land
• The USA has 29% more protected land than Canada
• The US population is about 10 times more people than Canada
• Our literacy rates are the same - 99%
• Canada has a larger & more costly government than the US (per capita)

I am curious at to what everyone else thinks?  What makes a Canadian - Canadian?

And don't get me wrong - I am proud to be a CAN-AM!!!

- N -