Canada Lacks A Real National Identity Essay example -- essays research

Canada Lacks A Real National IdentityI believe that Canada lacks a real national identity. Canadians flow toidentify with community and percentage rather than the nation. Because Canada hassuch a great cultural diversity the Canadian identity is shaped by our valuesand attitudes as they have emerged from our history and geography. Bilingualismand multiculturalism argon very important to the Canadian identity. They bothstrengthen and challenge Canadian identity. Because Canada has so many culturaland regional groups, fundamental interaction between them influences ones identity.Differing views of Canada by Canadians and other countries prove that Canadadoes not have a true national identity. Because of these factors Canada lacks anational identity, one which everyone give the sack recognize.When someone asks a Canadian what his nationality is, he does not reply,Canadian, instead, German, Scottish or Ukrainian. This is because we asCanadians do not see ourselves as distinct Canadia ns. We need to have a commonidea of what it is to be Canadian rather than always identifying with the placewe came from. We identify with community or region over nation. To gain aCanadian identity we must learn to identify with a nation, Canada. This is oneof the main reasons we lack a Canadian identity, because we as Canadians do notreally retrieve of ourselves as Canadians. We may be Canadians but we think ofCanada as a place of refuge rather than a home. This ties in with our lack ofpatriotism. Many Canadians that I know, come Olympic time or another big worldcompetition, rather that nourishing for Canada, will cheer for their home country.A reason for this is because of our multicultural society. Because in Canada, anything goes, on that point is no push to be Canadian. So they can do what they wantand carry on with their cultural traditions. Because at that place is really noCanadian identity to begin with, it makes it all the easier for them to carry onas they wish. This explains why people who are Canadian citizens tend toidentify more with community or region than with Canada.Canadians all have different values and traditions, like any country,but in Canada there is a great diversity of values and traditions. This makesit harder for people to identify with each other. Alexander and Pearl e... ...e West feel alienated by the East and think thatthey are not cared about, that they do not have an equal opportunity with thosein the East. Those in the East think the Westerners are treated the same andthat there is nothing for them to be upset about. Canadians as a whole do notsee Canada the way the other countries do. Canadians dont think we are asgreat of a country as we really are. The country of Canada lacks a truenational identity, partly because of all of the different views of Canada.Because of many factors, Canada lacks a real national identity.Canadians identify with community, region, but rarely a nation. Values,attitudes and cultures of diffe rent groups shape identity as they have emergedfrom our history and geography. Bilingual and multicultural polices which helperpeople preserve their own cultures can also have an affect on Canadian identity.Interaction between groups and people that have different views on Canada caninfluence the Canadian identity. Even though people have their own idea of theCanadian identity, Canada lacks a true national identity, one that is understandablyCanadian and can be recognized by anybody, anywhere.