My name is Brett . . . and I am Canadian

Published Monday June 30th, 2008

What is patriotism? A friend of mine recently asked me why it is that on Canada Day we will go so far as to tattoo, or perhaps just paint, Canadian flags everywhere; but you would be hard-pressed to find one flying by August. It is a good question. We should ask ourselves not only what patriotism is, but why it doesn't "stick".

So, according to Webster's, patriotism is: love for or devotion to one's country. That sounds easy enough. The follow through is difficult though, because for the most part we have tended to define ourselves over and against others as opposed to what we have going for ourselves.

Consider this, much of English Canada was first settled by United Empire Loyalists. Now, for whatever reasons, these were the British Patriots who took the losing side in the American Revolution and fled north after 1783. That was the beginning of our anti-American flavour --- and from it stems the sentiment we might all recognize which states that what it is to be a good Canadian is to be "not an American." When America declared that "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" was the greatest virtue; those of us up North turned in the British North America act to the sturdier, more English virtues of "peace, order and good government."

So not only were we anti-American, we were pro-British. During the World Wars we came down forcefully on the side of the Empire --- with all of its quirks, including a love of tea. We have never really let go of the whole idea that this is a Dominion, part of the British Empire.

One more thing could be thrown into the mix. One of Canada's best-known philosophers, John Ralston Saul, argues that Canada's contribution to the world has been to build a new type of quiet nationalism, characterized most fundamentally by the tradition of compromise between our three founding peoples: French, English, and First Nations.

But does all of this make for an identity worthy of patriotism? Others have clearly doubted this, there was an editorial in the New York Times on Jan. 24 1890 that concluded with these statements: "If it be really for the advantage of Canada to suffer annexation to the United States, . . . what is there to which a reasonable or even a reasonably sentimental creature can appeal to obstruct the unions? . . . At any rate, Canadian patriotism is not a sufficiently substantial or well-grounded sentiment to be successfully invoked against annexation."

Luckily something stopped them, but I am not sure we have come a long way yet in terms of our own self identity. When I was growing up there were a lot of places I considered living and quite a few of them were abroad. I remember wishing I lived in Hawaii for the beaches, or in New Zealand for the beauty, or in Florida for the Palm trees . . . any number of things I held in higher regard than our own natural and rugged beauty. Having travelled to what Facebook tells me is 12 per cent of the world now, I have changed my tune. There is more beauty here than almost anywhere. There is much for us to be proud of as a nation.

It is interesting that Molson Breweries has done the most in recent memory to instil a sense of pride and patriotism in us. While some of us might shake our head at a beer company promoting cultural identity I should point out that Molson is the second oldest company in the entire country --- the only company that has operated longer is the Hudson's Bay Company. Not only that, but it is such a powerhouse of Canadian Identity that when Coors, the largest brewery in the United States wanted to buy it, they all ended up creating an entirely new "co-owned" company Molson-Coors. So if anyone knows Canada --- they do!

You might remember their ad, which is titled "the rant" although no one knows it by that name. It featured a normal enough looking guy standing in front of a movie screen and saying, apologetically at first but then with greater and greater conviction:

Hey, I'm not a lumberjack, or a fur trader . . . I don't live in an igloo or eat blubber, or own a dogsled . . . and I don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada, although I'm certain they're really, really nice.

I have a prime minister, not a president. I speak English and French, not American. And I pronounce it 'about', not 'a boot'.

I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack. I believe in peace keeping, not policing, diversity, not assimilation, and that the beaver is a truly proud and noble animal. A toque is a hat, a chesterfield is a couch, and it is pronounced 'zed' not 'zee', 'zed'!!!!

Canada is the second largest landmass! The first nation of hockey! And the best part of North America. My name is Joe!! And I am Canadian!!!

So yes, we have patriotism --- it is just perhaps quieter than our closest neighbours. I for one am proud of the way we are proud of ourselves. We could do better. People need to open their eyes to what we have, and celebrate it not just today, but every day. Happy Canada Day.