Today in class Prof Runte proposed the idea that compromising and seeing 2 sides of every story is the "Canadian Way". Is it really? I would have made the assumption that that is how things work, why wouldn't people try to work together to come to an agreement about the best way to do something or understand someone else's view point? I don't know if that is me being patriotic but I really do believe that if this is the "Canadian Way" that it is the best way!
I did my first degree in the USA and never realized that this is not what their way of doing things. Granted I was not even an hour away from the Canadian border which I have been told this does affect how similar our two countries are but even my teammates from Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland... I didn't realize any differences in their stand points, and could it not be said that maybe this is a personality issue not a way of our country?
Once again to refer back to Stargate Atlantis (I think this is one of the only shows that lets the viewer know each characters country background) McKay is the Canadian. He is the brilliant, genius, never wrong scientist. He does not look for the compromise, he is always telling other people they are wrong and he is right. Perhaps does this influence how people see Canada? Is this really "Canada's way?"
I guess my big issue is that I was raised to see both sides of the story and compromise and I know some people weren't... or so it appears. So can we really say this is the "Canadian way"? Do we want that to be how we are portrayed??? Maybe that is why everyone (exaggerating) thinks they can walk all over Canada! Maybe Canada needs to take more of a Fight it out stance... obviously that isn't best since we would most likely lose but I think you can understand what I am saying.
Canada the Compromisers - should that be our new catch phrase?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Again please keep the Stargate examples coming. They work.
ReplyDeleteI throw another pop culture example your way. I am a loyal fan of a BC band called Spirit of the West. You may know their song “Home for a Rest.” The song that I want to draw your attention to is called “Far Too Canadian.” Hopefully the youtube link will work. I’ll also post the lyrics here for you.
Far Too Canadian lyrics
I'm so content to stand in line
Wait and see, pass the time
Talk a streak, fall asleep, wake up late, whine and weep
I kiss the hand that slaps me senseless
I'm so accepting, I am so defenseless
I am far too Canadian
I am far too Canadian
I pick the bones of what's been done
And I'll lick them clean with a cautious tongue
In dim lit rooms, I spill my guts
I'm the revolution when the doors are shut
I'd bite the hand that slaps me senseless
But my patience it is too relentless
I am far too Canadian
I am far too Canadian
I am the face of my country
expressionless and small
Weak at the knees, shaking badly
Can't straighten up at all
I watch the spine of my country bend and break
I'm in a sorry state
I scratch the walls to mark the days
With my coup d'tete I am locked away
With Mother Jones, pots of tea
The kitchen poster, anarchy
I never march in demonstrations
I hold my breath for arbitration
I am far too Canadian
I am far too Canadian
I am the face of my country
expressionless and small
Weak at the knees, shaking badly
Can't straighten up at all
I watch the spine of my country bend and break
I'm in a sorry state
I am a sorry state
Won't you welcome to the sorry state
I am the face of my country
expressionless and small
Weak at the knees, shaking badly
Can't straighten up at all
Can't straighten up at all
Straighten up at all
all
O goodness I feel so depressed currently by our country, that song was so sad!!! I just read the lyrics, and man o man; I want to believe we are a bit stronger than that!!! There are definitely times when I can see the strength of our country directly matching this song especially at the end but not always... well maybe mostly!
ReplyDeleteThis to me is irritating, I like compromising, I like being understanding, but I don't like when people take advantage of it. I get that we are accepting of many other things but when it infringes on the Canadian way should we still accept it? When our traditions are being cast aside because of other people's ways I don't know if I like this or not! Canada is an awesome place, I have every intention of living here the rest of my life and while in the states I would get into the fun argument over which country was better and truly believe that it was Canada!
Why can't people appreciate the Canadian traditions and such, just because it is our way to compromise on everything doesn't make me believe that we should compromise everything.
I know we accept a lot of different ways, when are people going to start accepting our ways and traditions?
Who is the "our" in "our ways and traditions"? You are speaking of a "Canadian way" but who are the Canadians of which you speak? Are the Canadians of which you speak the British colonizers? The French? Or the First Nations peoples that were here before the British and the French? Were not the ways of the First Nations cast aside when the French and the British colonized this land? Residential schools are a prime example. Again, who are the Canadians? Or is being Canadian more a way of thinking than anything else? And maybe that way of thinking is based on things such as our ability to compromise.
ReplyDeleteI don't know Brandie, but when you say Canadian, you are speaking of a diverse group of people who may not always see eye to eye but who do belong in this great nation called Canada. I don't think there is any one thing that defines anyone as Canadian and therefore we need to accommodate this diversity, even if it means always being seen as compromisers.
Thanks again for inciting some debate.
I think I agree with you Brandie in that it might not be so much the Canadian way... but more just a personality trait. I have heard that everyone thinks Canadians are really polite so maybe compromise fits into that category because we don't fight it out you know what I mean?
ReplyDeleteAnd about shows or movies or whatever portraying Canadian's in certain ways... I don't know if everyone necessarily believes all Canadians are a certain way because of these types of things. I mean there are stereotypes for probably every nationality that a lot of people will believe because they haven't actually been to that country and experienced the culture and people. Like how everyone things we all live in igloos here... if people actually came here they would realize that is not true at all.
If us being compromisers is what people think I think it is a pretty good trait to have so I'm not really going to argue with it.
I like the points of view that have been given. I do think that if we are going to be thought of as one way, compromising isn't that bad. I would much rather this than arrogant or ignorant, characteristics like those are horrible and I wouldn't want my country to be seen as these.
ReplyDeleteHowever, as the Canadian traditions and things that I was referring to in my initial blog, were things like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. That is something that we have had for a while, that is ours, among other things.
I guess my issue is that I don't expect people to change for me when I am somewhere different, so I guess I don't understand why people expect us to change so intensely for them. Maybe this is me being narrow minded, but I really don't expect when I go to a different country to change their ways, that doesn't make sense. As well, I think we have a good thing going here in Canada, and I think that is probably why a lot of people move here, so let us keep that going!
I am not saying that I don't like people from another country being in my country or that you should take that away from my blog. I am just saying that I would like you (everyone reading the blog) to respect the ways of Canada. Yes, David you can question which Canada I am talking about, but ultimately, we have a system going here that I would like to keep. I know what was done to the First Nations was horrible!! I really wish that hadn't happened and honestly, I think maybe Canada would be a better country had it not, but it did, so we need to do what we can to make it right and move forward. Living in the past doesn't help that much... if it helps at all. We need to be aware of it and make sure that it never happens again, but we can't change what happened, years have passed, we can't take a magic eraser and erase it. We have to deal (whatever it is that needs to happen) and move on.
Please don't take these comments as being ignorant or racist, I don't believe that I am either of those things, I am just being completely honest and perhaps quite realistic!
Brandie, you are the last person that I would call ignorant or racist. I do agree that there is a dilemma over how to include other cultures while still protecting our own culture, however we define it. The question is this: How can we accept and respect other cultures without losing our own?
ReplyDeleteBut is there any risk of losing our culture? Definitely our culture will change as the demographics change. The presenters mentioned that in the last couple of years two thirds of our population growth was due to immigration. When immigration exceeds birthrates there will be change. But is there not value in diversity and could we not benefit from this diversity?
Don’t get me wrong Brandie, I still want to be able to celebrate Christmas and Thanksgiving, a holiday which I know you really enjoy. But at the same time I am curious about Ramadan and other cultural celebrations that I don’t even know about yet.
Will I lose my identity as a Canadian if I celebrate Ramadan or will I enhance my identity as a Canadian?