cbcanada
Banned
Thats some funny chit !!!
Thats some funny chit !!!
GayManLoveIsOK
Well-known member
if you think waving around a passport makes you canadian, then you are wrong...
So, we are talking of a concept probably 4 000 years old here....Before that we use to be part of a clan, then city state, then Nation such as Egyptian and Roman. So I'm not sure this concept will disappear with 7 000 000 000 citizen on this planet. Maybe we will go back to city-state one day, but it will still be considered as a nation.
rmemedic
Well-known member
Exactly.
+1. This is why I refer to some city people in a bad way... because that's how I see it.
I've always lived in small towns, and almost everyone is friendly, you can talk to anyone, people will help anyone that needs it... This past winter, I had my snowmobile stuck on the side of a ditch, and at one point I had 5 or 6 different cars pulled over at once offering assistance... And being a true Canadian I politely declined, as a real Canadian should be able to get their ski-doo unstuck all on their own lol.
I've been from the east coast to the west coast, lived in an igloo in the arctic and spent my time in the prairies.
Most of this country is rural, and most of these people, either a newf, or a person from the prairies, while different are typically "good ole boy" types... And it's what people in the major cities like the GTA, Ottawa, Vancouver etc. have no clue of what this type of life is like.
Canada is so different, everywhere you go, and the GTA is vastly different from most of it... If you want a taste of the real Canada, get out and see it, interact and smile with people.
you said it: the definition is complicated at best. any simplistic explanation fails to acknowledge all of the factors that contribute to canadian 'identity'.
ask 100 different people, you will get 100 different answers. ask people from each of the 10 provinces and 3 territories, and you will get 13 different answers. and those answers (should) change over time. any definition that doesn't allow for the possibility of change, is also flawed.
frankly, they have written books on this topic alone, and i still don't think anyone's gotten it completely correct. this is a much harder question than people think.
p.s. we think we have a 'liberal' immigration policy, but canada is a lot more selective than people realize. and historically, canada has always been selective, often very selective.
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kgreen
Well-known member
The definition of who you are will be written by the people that know you best and not when looking at yourself in the mirror.
The Aussie said it best. He came to know Canadians as good people that he enjoyed being with. He perception was based on his observations as someone who was not Canadian.
If you wish to know what it means to be Canadian, don't ask a bunch of Canadians. Ask people from other nations. Hopefully you'll hear from many of the people who think of us as nation of polite, talented, and friendly folks. In some parts of the world, you may even hear them speak of us (or at least our grandparents) as heroes.
Now, if, as a Canadian, new or otherwise, you feel the need to live up to these standards then be my guest.
I try to.
The Aussie said it best. He came to know Canadians as good people that he enjoyed being with. He perception was based on his observations as someone who was not Canadian.
If you wish to know what it means to be Canadian, don't ask a bunch of Canadians. Ask people from other nations. Hopefully you'll hear from many of the people who think of us as nation of polite, talented, and friendly folks. In some parts of the world, you may even hear them speak of us (or at least our grandparents) as heroes.
Now, if, as a Canadian, new or otherwise, you feel the need to live up to these standards then be my guest.
I try to.
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Oddly enough I had the same opinion of Sydney. An exception to the rule that Aussies are laid back friendly people.
Kings Cross? I'd say it has reputation, not representation. It's pretty much that way in every major Metropolitan area anywhere.
I define a Canadian as someone born in Canada. I'm Canadian by citizenship but I will always be an Immigrant from the UK. At best a dual citizenship even though I consider Canada my home....
MadPoet
Well-known member
Defining "Canadian" or the "Canadian-ness" of Canada is a question that goes back to the 1800s where a lot Canadians were striving for an independent identity from the previous British Canada. I think it would be naive to think that the identity of Canada is solely defined by the Christian Anglo-Saxon heritage of some early settlers. I think this question goes deeper and further than simply that, depending on how much you like to read. Here is what my idea of it is based on what I gathered from my humble readings.
The name Canada itself is derived from the Iroquoian word Kanata meaning village. Early attempts by Canadian artists tried to "sell" the idea of a unique Canadian-ness through their Canadian landscape art movement (lookup the Group of Seven, and articles/criticism written about them). Reading through Canadian literature "yes there is such a thing, and it is actually not bad" you would notice that "Canadian" is again defined and refined to include other heritages such as the First Nations whether full or half breeds (such as the Metis). It also includes other heritages such as the Jewish heritage (Jewish British officers and soldiers settled in Montreal after being captured by the British Army from the French), as well as Canadians with French heritage.
To answer the OP's questions, there is no simple answer to that question other than a progressively continuous redefinition of what the Canadian identity is or “Canadian-ness”. For every time the definition of "Canadian" was to include those who were not included previously there was always resistance "or a war or two", and this is how the story goes. IMHO I think "Canadian" is the best designation in the world no matter what it currently is and I am truly proud to be Canadian. I guess that is all that matters to me!!
The name Canada itself is derived from the Iroquoian word Kanata meaning village. Early attempts by Canadian artists tried to "sell" the idea of a unique Canadian-ness through their Canadian landscape art movement (lookup the Group of Seven, and articles/criticism written about them). Reading through Canadian literature "yes there is such a thing, and it is actually not bad" you would notice that "Canadian" is again defined and refined to include other heritages such as the First Nations whether full or half breeds (such as the Metis). It also includes other heritages such as the Jewish heritage (Jewish British officers and soldiers settled in Montreal after being captured by the British Army from the French), as well as Canadians with French heritage.
To answer the OP's questions, there is no simple answer to that question other than a progressively continuous redefinition of what the Canadian identity is or “Canadian-ness”. For every time the definition of "Canadian" was to include those who were not included previously there was always resistance "or a war or two", and this is how the story goes. IMHO I think "Canadian" is the best designation in the world no matter what it currently is and I am truly proud to be Canadian. I guess that is all that matters to me!!
To me there is no set definition of being a Canadian, it is more a way of thinking and a way of life.
I have been lucky to have lived coast to coast in Canada, as well as in the north, plus different parts of the U.S. What I see as defining a Canadian is how they think about themselves and other people. In the U.S. it is all for me - in Canada we are willing to help out our fellow man. From universal healthcare and equal marriage, to a social safety net for those in need, the Canadian mindset is we are brothers and of course you deserve to be treated fairly.
Sadly I do agree about the comment about big cities versus small areas. When I left Calgary I hoped to never return, it was so much like the U.S. cities I didn't like it. Toronto has gone that way as well, 5+ years there was enough. Now I have settled in a smaller town and find it refreshing. People are just plain nice. Try getting that in L.A.
I have been lucky to have lived coast to coast in Canada, as well as in the north, plus different parts of the U.S. What I see as defining a Canadian is how they think about themselves and other people. In the U.S. it is all for me - in Canada we are willing to help out our fellow man. From universal healthcare and equal marriage, to a social safety net for those in need, the Canadian mindset is we are brothers and of course you deserve to be treated fairly.
Sadly I do agree about the comment about big cities versus small areas. When I left Calgary I hoped to never return, it was so much like the U.S. cities I didn't like it. Toronto has gone that way as well, 5+ years there was enough. Now I have settled in a smaller town and find it refreshing. People are just plain nice. Try getting that in L.A.
Nope. Families, clans, tribes, etc. are as different from modern nations (came to be after middle ages) in their origin, purpose and character as they are in scale. But, that's a much wider discussion and not really relevant to my refusal to identify with any of them. I don't even identify with my family (fine as it is), so why should I identify with a nation?
It's a common misconception among non-immigrants that one can get into Canada just for the asking. In all fairness, how would they know? They didn't have to pay $2,000+ in visa processing fees, provide proof of a $10,000+ bank deposit, pass the interview in English or French, pass a thorough medical, be university educated and/or in a sought-after profession/trade, wait for three and a half years and then finally leave their fatherland in the back of a truck while dodging NATO bombing. It's even worse now than it was in 1999 (apart from the bombing) - people have to get out of the country before they can even apply for the landed immigrant visa. The nearest Canadian Consulate/Embassy is three countries/borders away.
I'm not complaining, just stating the facts. I have chosen Canada as my adopted homeland and paid whatever price I needed to pay to get here (including swimming a big and fast river to cross the border that I narrowly avoided). Nobody owes me anything, but I don't owe anyone anything either. I am whatever I want to be.
In conclusion, there's nothing liberal about Canadian immigration policy. The country picks and chooses the best and the brightest while sometimes helping refugees and reuniting families (also the best and the brightest). That's how it is, for better or for worse. Those complaining about immigrants should ask that waitress, cab driver, etc. with the funny accent what is their highest level of education. Then calculate how much a university degree costs in Canada.
This is the perfect definition of what NOT being a Canadian is.
MadPoet
Well-known member
Just to stir up the dust somewhat. There is some truth to what vroom said here. It brings up some questions. Is being Canadian is to accept blindly any aspects of a given culture? If not then who or what defines what to accept and what not to accept? Things such as female genital mutilation or honor killing, not turbans and chicken tikka masala.
There are things that I would have to agree that is best be left at the door to this great country.
kickstartt
Well-known member
If the Canadian government gives a crap abt whoever with a citizenship, then u are a canadian
MadPoet
Well-known member
I am not exactly sure that any government gives a crap about anyone for all that matters
No its not and Canadian's do not accept things such as female genital mutliation or honor killings. These things are opressions that are some of the causes that ppl immigrate to Canada.
But then again smacking you kid across the mouth for being a rude little bastard is a cultural think that a more than a few Canadian parents NEEEDDD to adopt.
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Ah dont get me wrong I love Canada and everything, but can anyone who's not of native descent really consider themselves Canadian? I mean, land was taken from the people who were here, I feel like we're all guests here. Some of our families came here years ago for a better future, some of our families were brought here more forcibly as slaves. I think being Canadian means the same thing if you believe in God, you try and take care of those who are around and think about others before yourself.....or thats what it used to be, dont get me started on the state of our people at home Canada today! I go all over the world and people are always like "Canadian!! Eh Canadaaaa!" whenever they find out where Im from. Only to come home to Canada and people are so negative with each other! IDK what the hells goin on here!
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CruiserGoneSport
Well-known member
AFAIK, native peoples had no concept of land ownership (or pretty much any ownership at all) before Europeans arrived. First the general concept of private ownership was forced down their throats, then private land ownership and then they were forced or coerced to sign that "ownership" over to the invaders. Just like ownership, the concept of a nation was also imposed on native people. They shouldn't be called first nations but first settlers (they came from far away too, just much longer ago).
Smacking your kid is arguably less violent than genital mutilation, but it's only slightly less primitive and definitely not acceptable. It doesn't belong in a society that calls itself civilized and is a definite sign of failure as a parent. If the difference between the two is how Canadians are defined than they are a sorry lot indeed.
