I used to think I knew what it meant to be a proud Canadian. No, I mean, what it really meant. Beyond the usual platitudes to the maple leaf, hockey, peacekeeping, and the odd beaver - I really thought I knew in my heart what most frequently swelled my pride in the "true north strong and free". However, after eight plus months in Australia and with fresh insight from the Victorian bushfire tragedy, I continue to build a better appreciation for what makes this land "down under" unique and worthy of so much Australian pride. And, like all good travel does, I am now questioning my own experience. Do I really know what it means to be a proud Canadian?
It's definitely a question fraught with peril. We often seem to feel strangely comforted by the somewhat unsatisfying conclusion that to be a true Canadian, one must always worry about what it means to be true a Canadian! Indeed, my first few attempts at crafting my own distinct definition fails to offer anything remotely satisfying or more enlightening. Canadians are peace loving - yes, for the most part - though our ongoing participation in Afghanistan could call that into question for some. We are a culture or community that opens its arms to all citizens of the world - yes, that I think we do better than most, but the sad state of our own aborginal nations is a definite black mark on that reputation. We are a nation defined by our land and its vastness - yes...but that's a point where I think I begin to have a bit more trouble. True - we have incredible resources, but they are no more "mine" or appreciated by me than they are by a tourist from Germany and I would bet that many tourists from Germany have seen more of our country than the average Canadian! I think we like to think we have land, fresh water, access to oceans and a few mountains for skiing and photo ops - but I am not sure we, as a nation, define ourselves through our geography, say the way Australians do. Unfortunately, because of our apparent wealth of natural resources, a majority of Canadians do very little to conserve or protect the riches that we do have. As long as it's not in my backyard, how much do we really care?
While I could go on to further make my case, I want to bring in Australia, our chosen "home away from home" for one year, to try to explain the difference I have begun to appreciate in how Australian's see themselves and their place in the world - relative to my own sense of my "Canadianness". All of this navel-gazing, I must admit, comes after sniffling my way through a very emotional national day of mourning ceremony for the bushfire victims. If ever there is a time to see a nation at its best, one need only to watch as it tries to deal with its worst. To this end, Australians have rallied behind their fellow citizens incredibly. The tasteful and moving ceremony, though perhaps in danger of becoming maudlin or even political, struck all the right chords - and I think it did partly because there is much in this country that unites people.
If it's not a natural disaster - it's a national success story' like the Beijing Olympics. If it's not the failing economy it's the fragile environment. If it's not a venomous animal it's famous sports hero. Regardless of the cause or concern, Australians' emotions seem to ebb and flow as one. In almost mythical proportion, everyone shares a firm belief in their can-do spirit, pioneering courage and resolve, and the immutable desire to define who they are by how well they have managed to craft life out of such a challenging environment. Life in Australia can be hard wherever you go and I think, in their minds, there have been no great superpowers at their southern border helping to make this good life possible. They are, quite literally, an island unto themselves, but with aspirations and the availablity of resources to be great; on their own terms. And though they and many others would admit it hasn't been a perfect run, the sense of commonality surrounding their past and collective destiny is quite inspring.
When I think back to Canada and all that I know and love about it - this commonality seems to be missing - at least, to the same degree. Whether its the states, Quebec or even Ontario the common and unfortunate cliche is that we are often defined by what or who we are not - rather than who we are. We are a nation of such far off and divergent regions - each dealing with its own great struggles - that we seem to care little for the other guys' problems down the highway. Without any great wars or signifcant crises uniquely our own we have continued to "buy" our nationhood through our exploits on foreign shores or in other arenas. There has been no great oppressor we all had to beat back and so we fight over the easy spoils like unruly school kids, each thinking we are more entitled than the next guy. I think that's why I'm not much for Stephen Harper. His political roots are regionally motivated and it seems to me that he's taking his turn as leader more as an act of revenge than any great desire to build a great nation. The Harper/Flaherty mini-budget fiasco before Christmas is a perfect case in point. I'm sorry to again get political.
But back to the ceremony. Held in the Rod Laver arena, there were the requisite dignitaries, speeches and musical tributes - all of which were necessary and tasteful. Interestingly, one of the songs was a beautiful choral arrangement of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". They love him down here and again, I wonder if this adoptive home has more to teach me about my homeland. And yet, in all of the pomp and protocol there also remained a strong sense of what makes Australia unique beyond its history and heritage. For example, they played the national anthem, of course, but there was also a very moving performance of a song called "I am Australian". It was perfect for the occasion - moving, but at the same time inspring everyone to rebuild and rally around each other. I couldn't help to think what song Canadians might sing in a similar circumstance - Farewell to Nova Scotia? Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald? Sudbury Saturday Night? I can only hope that in 2010 Vancouver's Olympic organizers find a way of singing our praises that stretches far beyond Avril Lavigne, David Foster, or "Canada, We Love You".
And so while I shed a tear or two as I watched this nation in mourning, I also wonder if I wasn't a little sad that we Canadians don't spend a little more time finding and celebrating the distinct stories that make us another of the truly great nations of the world. Of course, pride for one's country need not only surface in times of trouble. However, as Australians admirably rally around their flag and their nation, I am struck by the power, pride and potential captured in a moment of sharing the experience of being Australian.
It's definitely a question fraught with peril. We often seem to feel strangely comforted by the somewhat unsatisfying conclusion that to be a true Canadian, one must always worry about what it means to be true a Canadian! Indeed, my first few attempts at crafting my own distinct definition fails to offer anything remotely satisfying or more enlightening. Canadians are peace loving - yes, for the most part - though our ongoing participation in Afghanistan could call that into question for some. We are a culture or community that opens its arms to all citizens of the world - yes, that I think we do better than most, but the sad state of our own aborginal nations is a definite black mark on that reputation. We are a nation defined by our land and its vastness - yes...but that's a point where I think I begin to have a bit more trouble. True - we have incredible resources, but they are no more "mine" or appreciated by me than they are by a tourist from Germany and I would bet that many tourists from Germany have seen more of our country than the average Canadian! I think we like to think we have land, fresh water, access to oceans and a few mountains for skiing and photo ops - but I am not sure we, as a nation, define ourselves through our geography, say the way Australians do. Unfortunately, because of our apparent wealth of natural resources, a majority of Canadians do very little to conserve or protect the riches that we do have. As long as it's not in my backyard, how much do we really care?
While I could go on to further make my case, I want to bring in Australia, our chosen "home away from home" for one year, to try to explain the difference I have begun to appreciate in how Australian's see themselves and their place in the world - relative to my own sense of my "Canadianness". All of this navel-gazing, I must admit, comes after sniffling my way through a very emotional national day of mourning ceremony for the bushfire victims. If ever there is a time to see a nation at its best, one need only to watch as it tries to deal with its worst. To this end, Australians have rallied behind their fellow citizens incredibly. The tasteful and moving ceremony, though perhaps in danger of becoming maudlin or even political, struck all the right chords - and I think it did partly because there is much in this country that unites people.
If it's not a natural disaster - it's a national success story' like the Beijing Olympics. If it's not the failing economy it's the fragile environment. If it's not a venomous animal it's famous sports hero. Regardless of the cause or concern, Australians' emotions seem to ebb and flow as one. In almost mythical proportion, everyone shares a firm belief in their can-do spirit, pioneering courage and resolve, and the immutable desire to define who they are by how well they have managed to craft life out of such a challenging environment. Life in Australia can be hard wherever you go and I think, in their minds, there have been no great superpowers at their southern border helping to make this good life possible. They are, quite literally, an island unto themselves, but with aspirations and the availablity of resources to be great; on their own terms. And though they and many others would admit it hasn't been a perfect run, the sense of commonality surrounding their past and collective destiny is quite inspring.
When I think back to Canada and all that I know and love about it - this commonality seems to be missing - at least, to the same degree. Whether its the states, Quebec or even Ontario the common and unfortunate cliche is that we are often defined by what or who we are not - rather than who we are. We are a nation of such far off and divergent regions - each dealing with its own great struggles - that we seem to care little for the other guys' problems down the highway. Without any great wars or signifcant crises uniquely our own we have continued to "buy" our nationhood through our exploits on foreign shores or in other arenas. There has been no great oppressor we all had to beat back and so we fight over the easy spoils like unruly school kids, each thinking we are more entitled than the next guy. I think that's why I'm not much for Stephen Harper. His political roots are regionally motivated and it seems to me that he's taking his turn as leader more as an act of revenge than any great desire to build a great nation. The Harper/Flaherty mini-budget fiasco before Christmas is a perfect case in point. I'm sorry to again get political.
But back to the ceremony. Held in the Rod Laver arena, there were the requisite dignitaries, speeches and musical tributes - all of which were necessary and tasteful. Interestingly, one of the songs was a beautiful choral arrangement of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". They love him down here and again, I wonder if this adoptive home has more to teach me about my homeland. And yet, in all of the pomp and protocol there also remained a strong sense of what makes Australia unique beyond its history and heritage. For example, they played the national anthem, of course, but there was also a very moving performance of a song called "I am Australian". It was perfect for the occasion - moving, but at the same time inspring everyone to rebuild and rally around each other. I couldn't help to think what song Canadians might sing in a similar circumstance - Farewell to Nova Scotia? Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald? Sudbury Saturday Night? I can only hope that in 2010 Vancouver's Olympic organizers find a way of singing our praises that stretches far beyond Avril Lavigne, David Foster, or "Canada, We Love You".
And so while I shed a tear or two as I watched this nation in mourning, I also wonder if I wasn't a little sad that we Canadians don't spend a little more time finding and celebrating the distinct stories that make us another of the truly great nations of the world. Of course, pride for one's country need not only surface in times of trouble. However, as Australians admirably rally around their flag and their nation, I am struck by the power, pride and potential captured in a moment of sharing the experience of being Australian.
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