Canada, and being Canadian (191)

No I do not feel we have a national identity. Canada is a melting pot for all kinds. When we came we had no welcoming committee, or free money or handouts. From what I have learned from people who immigrated here yrs ago, ones my age, and older, they came here to make a better life, and worked hard to get it. They had very little to start with, and for some, a suit case with a a change of clothes if they were lucky.

I see the farmers who came over from Europe, who lived in shanties, and lived off the land, through disaster after disaster. I listen to the ones who went to war etc. If I want to know what being Canadian is... I look at them. People who never gave up, and kept on going to build Canada which is still a new country compared to others. I see our Ukrainian neighbor growing his vegetables, and flowers, speaking his language, and on the other side, our German neighbor speaking this language and growing a garden but with some differences in what they grown. And then I see my parents and friends who came from Ireland growing and different garden. All three neighbors help each other, or show up at the door when they have an abundance of things and share it. I see them talking over the fence, different music playing. Did you ever see 3 men from 3 different countries discussing their love of hockey to each other? My parents had a friend from Africa. He was also included in this group. I always found it fascinating to watch all of them talk with their different accents, patting each other on the shoulder, laughing and sometimes disagreeing (but not in a bad way).

The women were strong. All four worked outside the house, raised kids, houses were decorated differently, but their door was always open.

If I had to choose what is Canadian... to me that is it.

My parents and I were not born here. I grew up here. I loved the arts of all types. The group of 7, jmo is unique and Canadian as far as I am concerned. Canada has beautiful sea coasts, lakes and mountains (not including the polluted ones.)

this is the basic national identity question .... we have a greater mulitiplicity of nationalities in Ireland than ever before, and I work in an area where there would be constant interaction with new people ... every time I go to interview someone, I think that it is really important to remember how the Irish were welcomed into new communities in the past .... our identity does not dilute but may actually improve???? JMO

Gee, I am sorry you feel the need to apologize. Canadian beer is superior to American beer any day. You talk about your beaver, while I could eat your beaver (tail) cause it is so sweet. And as far as peameal bacon well you can have that one. I much prefer Canadian Maple Syrup right from the source, oh so sweet to taste.

The syrup is sweet but it comes to the mouth via a feminine root, eh! Your beaver seems to have a mind of its own. Maybe I should pin it down.