pis pas «pûr laine»

[jawnbc]

 An exchange with westendboy  prompted me to reflect on why I am Canadian.

Not (merely) in the juridical sense: yes I'm a citizen and yes I have all the rights and privileges. And as one who acquired Canadian citizenship I had to pass a test. Never bothered me to do so: it's a reasonable capstone experience for a migrant who is happy in a newfound land. And I think being able to pass it in English or French isn't a hardship either: if my elderly parent ever came to live with us he would only need residency: he's no need for citizenship to access most of the social contract here.

But I digress...

I am Canadian because the values I cherish are largely reflected in mainstream culture here...though I cannot claim to have always held these values as my own. Thoughtfulness is one; civility and good manners a couple more. But I also love how Canucks more into loons when it comes to hockey. Or curling, though there seems to be fewer concussions in the later. 

Sorry, another digression...

I have always felt that the fabric of a society is found in its grammar. Societies where the first person singular (I/me) drives things are very different from those where the first person plural (we/us) does. My country is skewed slightly towards the we, but not in a way that denudes the individual of self. But the consideration of more than one's self (or one's immediate kin) is very healthy...so long as the individual is also celebrated. I don't think we get that 100% right here, but I think we do very well at it.

Similarly, I've never felt averse to paying taxes--so long as I feel like the value proposition remains reasonable. I get healthcare, subsidize world class post-secondary education and training, security, decent infrastructure (better regionally/locally than nationally though), and think we spend somewhat as much as we should on those less fortunate--though we need to do more internationally. 

I feel privileged to live in a country that fosters bilingualism and celebrates multilingualism and multiculturalism. But that doesn't compel me to hyphenate myself to have sort of identity. And I love that the notion of Canadianess isn't necessarily European. I don't like the remnants of colonialism for the most part though: especially the monarchy. I feel passionately about this, but also see there are other, more pressing questions, we face in our world.

Finally, as a queer man I can't think of anyplace on earth where we have it so good. Marry or not. Sponsor for migration. Adopt/co parent. Social benefits as spouses. Respect and dignity from nearly all your fellow citizens--though anti-gay violence is still a problem. And I'm not happy with where we stand on trans rights, and the rights of multi-partner families. I am saddened that the fucked up practices of one obscure religious sect are driving a debate about "polygamy" when there are thousands of others in this country for which their plural partnerships are neither exploitative nor unhealthy. Love is always good; more is always better.

When I became a citizen I felt Canadian: in a lot of places migrants are always "really" wherever they came from. Here only a minority of people seems to believe I'm "really American." I'm not; not anymore. And to be fair I was never very good at it. Though I feel blessed to have been born and raised in the States.

When she became Governor General, Michäelle Jean spoke of the need to end "blood feuds" in this new land of new people. She was referring to the divide between "English" (really Scottish ascendancy) and "French" Canadians and the legacies of racism and colonialism. But those of us whose background include other blood feuds--be it the aspirations of my Irish-born grandparents, or my secularly minded family members living with theocrats in the States--appreciate this too.  

And I can find commonality with others, which I have done with religious friends (even when their faith sees homosexuality as a sin). I can't really explain how this works in a nuts-and-bolts sense. Except to got back to the "we."  

We works for me. I'm Canadian.

Comments

[bluebear2.livejournal.com]

Thanks for writing this. It's important stuff and I often take it for granted and other times worry if it'll continue. Canada was once even better than it is now and I've watched some of the good things get chipped away at since the early '80s much like the good things in the U.S. were.
But like beavers, we can rebuild our lodge even as they plan to blow it up again.

[timbear.livejournal.com]

"We" really is a great attitude, I wish we had more of it here in the UK but we do seem to be heading inoxerably towards a "me me me" society which as we get older is quite a worry. But at least we are there with you on the gay rights, other than the official "M" word (which apparently is comming soon).

[gav-and-rog.livejournal.com]

I was lucky enough back in 2005 to have worked in Toronto for 3 months. I absolutely loved it. The people were so nice, and I agree it seemed to me that Canada had similar values and the extra bonus was that I was allowed to marry my partner. Even though it is not recognised back home, I am still very thankful to Canada for allowing us this.

I would love to live there for a longer period if another opportunity arose. I think it's very cool to be bilingual.