THE CONTRARIAN
I am a pretty typical western Canadian. My language is English, and my culture is Oxdrift/Wabigoon valley, which is a rural Ontario/Scottish culture overlain with western Canadian culture; after our original inflow, our population was increased mostly from the prairies. Mostly my culture is 1950’s Canadian.
My grandfather was born in Texas, grew up in Missouri, first language German. But German is not my language, nor Missouri my culture.
His wife was born in Wisconsin of French-Canadian parents, grew up in a French-Canadian enclave in Alberta, first language French. But French is not my language, nor French-Canadian my culture.
My other grandfather was born in Bohemia, moved to Minnesota at age 2, first language German. But German is not my language, nor is Minnesota my culture (although its culture more closely resembles my generation’s culture than does say today’s Toronto).
His wife was born in rural Ontario of German immigrant parents, grew up in a German-catholic community, first language German. But German is not my language, and old Ontario not my culture.
My point is that what happens to your grandparents is of little import, and what happens to your great grandparents is of no import at all to you and your ‘culture’. What happens to you in your teens and twenties is of far more import. Pointing fingers at colonial differences in colonial times is, well, pointless.
France turned its colony in what is now Canada over to Britain by treaty. Britain in turn gave the French colonists the option of becoming British, or helping them move to French territory (now Louisiana). If the French colonists had a beef, it would be with France. Britain treated them well, in fact, the rebelling American colonies invited them to join the revolution, and they said ‘No thanks, we will stay British’.
My point is that there is no historical justification for the present move to rewrite history, denigrate the Nation of Canada in favour of a whole lot of ‘nations’ claiming victimhood and superior rights. I was embarrassed for our country when we were not allowed to celebrate 150 years as a nation. Even though few nations indeed have gone as long without war and division. We should be proud of our history, not hanging our head with shame and ‘white guilt’.
drydencurmudgeon 