maple stars

I am Canadian. I don't try to hide it under the rug or wear articles of clothing that boast it in some gaudy fashion. I am Canadian because I was born in Canada and quite frankly that is what my passport says. I do not believe that the citizenship of Canadian defines who I am. Or means I am more or less of a person because of it.

There seems to be a continual progression of judging people based on their geographical locations. There seems to be an obsession of shunning each others countries in an attempt to be proud of your own. A mind set I am not familiar in, or want to be. Since when did where you live or where you come from define who you are. Or make you worthy. There is an ignorance in classifying people by their geographical location, one that does not lie on any border but in people's minds and hearts. There are nice people, intelligent people, not so intelligent people and assholes everywhere. In every country, in every city, in every neighborhood. These different types of people are what make societies what they are. I see these attitudes/perceptions as almost ruled by continent. North Americans generally have the same types of communities, thought progressions & desires of material objects. Where Europeans have a different type of thinking in regards to living life, society and the acquiring of things.

In my lifetime I have lived in Canada for twenty three years and in the United States for almost four. There is no denying that there are differences, there are. But these differences are no different then the ones I found in living in Vancouver as oppose to Victoria or Huntington Beach as oppose to Seattle. Canadians do seem to harbor a gene that Americans do not. On the whole there seems to be an undeniable drive to bash the US & it's people in Canada. One without research or merit. Canadians desire to find an identity, as we have one that in not distinguishable, is solely based on the attitude of being "not American". Where Americans, generally, don't really give two cents about the people to the North. Not in the meaning that they don't care, just that they are consumed enough with their own lives and country and don't have the energy to put into picking on another countries people . Neither of these Countries attitudes can be classified as "right or wrong" they are just different.

When Canadians run their mouths about their distaste for American a common thread seems to be the US' political gong show. Most opinions are uneducated and many are just reciting blurbs they heard on television or possibly even read in the newspaper. There is no denying that the Federal Government in the US is a giant ball of mush but the Canadian government could be viewed as the same. That is what Government is. There will always be loud, opinionated people who disagree with the Government, because there are different parties and thought patterns. There will never be a day when every citizen of a country says "Gee, I think our President or Prime Minister is just grand". More importantly just because you may not like the political standings of a country does not mean that you should shun or trash talk it's people. How does the old saying go? You can hate the government but don't hate the people.

This entry is not about justifying my opinions. It is not about defending people's impressions over another. It is about understanding. I do not doubt that I will hear comments; one of my favorites being "OH, you are soooo American". I love this comment, and all the ridiculousness it implies. I love that it make my blood pressure shoot up and my blood boil. I love that it makes me think. It makes me relieved and thankful to not be the speaker of the comment, very thankful. And remember how nice it is to be me, with my thoughts.