Are we Canadian or provincialists?

[maverickeastwood]

Heres a strong topic and it ticks me off. I've had the privilege of meeting a few ppl from the US that are proud of their country as a whole, yet there are some in this country that think they are greater than the whole. What do you think. We are Canadians...PERIOD....Drop your inland, coastal, etc upbringing and living, represent your country and stop thinking about what you used to do and how you lived, this is Canada!!!!

[Flames in 07]

That's certainly a drawback of strong jurisdictions inside a greater jurisdiction.

I'm both, proud Canadian and proud Albertian. There's things unique about being Albertian that you don't find everywhere in the country. There shouldn't be anything wrong with that.

[corporatejay]

I'm proud to be both.

And not all americans are just "american above all" there are still people who fly the confederate flag. Texans are particularly proud of their state as are New Yorkers. I'm also pretty sure people from the west coast consider themselves much different that the east coast or "middle america". But i'm glad you made a generalization based on a small data sample of anecdotal evidence.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

I'm proud to be both.

And not all americans are just "american above all" there are still people who fly the confederate flag. Texans are particularly proud of their state as are New Yorkers. I'm also pretty sure people from the west coast consider themselves much different that the east coast or "middle america". But i'm glad you made a generalization based on a small data sample of anecdotal evidence.

Ha, I was going to mention that I lived in Texas and I can tell you that there tons of folks who see themselves as Texans first and Americans second.

[Devils'Advocate]

I dunno. I'm definitely proud of being from Nova Scotia. So when Al MacInnis goes to the hall of fame, (and mentions Nova Scotia in his speech), I beam a bit. I have a 'Canadiana' playlist on my iPhone, but I also have a 'Nova Scotian' playlist (which really doesn't work that well - Ashley MacIssac, Sloan, Barra McNeils, Holly Cole - too much of a weird mix).

I certainly don't think I'm more of one than the other.

[Dan02]

In Canada I am an Albertan, outside Canada I am a Canadian.

[Ford Prefect]

There's a lot of regional pride in the US as well ... as mentioned above with Texas and other states. It's not unique to Canada, and I think with countries as large as Canada and the US that regionalism is inevitable. There's no way a country that is so large and geographically diverse like Canada is can develop a homogenous national citizenry. Even a lot of postage stamp sized countries (Albania, Croatia, Serbia, Georgia) can't do it. A person's loyalties exist on more levels than just the national and provincial levels as well. Look at the Edmonton/Calgary rivalry. The same rivalry exists between small towns too. Within Calgary, there's loyalties to different regions of the city even. I've met life-long Bownessers who consider themselves to be from Bowness rather than Calgary. I think patriotism and pride in one's place is a primal human instinct ... it's probably linked with our territorial imperative somehow.

[troutman]

I am a member of the human race.

Being Canadian or Albertan does not make me special. That's just an accident of geography.

There's too much nationalism in the world.

[worth]

Alberta First.

Canada Second.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Calgarian first.
If I say Albertan, someone may mistake me for an Edmontonian and that wouldn't be good.

[iggypop]

Originally Posted by worth

Alberta First.

Canada Second.

why? so when you travel to say australia, you would really tell them your albertan first? man they would look at you with absolutly no clue. its a serious question though, why albertan first?

[burn_this_city]

Proud Albertan, but wouldnt think twice about fighting for any part of this country..

[worth]

Originally Posted by iggypop

why? so when you travel to say australia, you would really tell them your albertan first? man they would look at you with absolutly no clue. its a serious question though, why albertan first?

My feeling in general is Albertan first. If I'm outside the country I'll tell someone i'm Canadian. Most people have no idea where Alberta is or what country it is a part of.

I'm proud to be Albertan. I'm also proud to be Canadian. I'm not an Alberta separatist.

Alberta and Canada need to work together to achieve common goals, but Alberta and the citizens of Alberta need to do what's best for them. I have no problem in working with Ottawa, but to tell the truth, I don't trust any federal government in the 24 years I've been alive to make correct decisions for the provinces. I also don't really trust our Provincial to work in the interests of the people either. I guess I just don't like or trust politicians at all. I'm not a conservative, or liberal. I don't support either party, and if I had to classify myself, I'd probably say I'm a libertarian. Maybe that's why I don't like any of the governments...too much control over the people their supposed to serve.

But when it comes down to it I feel we as Calgarians need to do whats best for Calgary, we as Albertans need to do whats best for Alberta, and we as Canadians need to do what's best for Canada. In that order.

Again, this is not to say "Screw the rest of Canada, only focus on Alberta", rather that since I live here and my friends and family live here, I want the best for them. Is that selfish? Maybe, but I'm also staunchly "nationalistic" in a sense.

It is unfortunate that in a very short time we will have a North American Union in which, technically speaking, Canada will cease to exist. When we have a North American Constitution and a North American 'advisory' government much like the European Union does now, we will cease to be our own sovereign country.

If that were to take place, I would want Alberta to succeed. That's just the way I see it.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by maverickeastwood

Heres a strong topic and it ticks me off. I've had the privilege of meeting a few ppl from the US that are proud of their country as a whole, yet there are some in this country that think they are greater than the whole. What do you think. We are Canadians...PERIOD....Drop your inland, coastal, etc upbringing and living, represent your country and stop thinking about what you used to do and how you lived, this is Canada!!!!

The U.S. has regions that are like that too. For example, many people from Texas consider themselves "Texans" first.

The U.S. is also a little different because many of their divisions are not territorial, but they are demographic. You often hear of people saying they are proud "African American" or "Latino", or "Mexican American".

[Ozy_Flame]

I would definitely consider myself Canadian first, then a Calgarian, then an Albertan. However, I only have a connection because I have a Canadian citizenship, and when I leave Calgary again, I'm definitely not Albertan or Calgarian anymore.

I'm only Calgarian and Albertan when I live here, and I nary mention that I'm from either place when I'm abroad.

And FWIW, I think it's incredibly pretentious to brandish Canadian flags everywhere you go when people travel, it seriously irked me to see that. You shouldn't have to have Maple Leafs hanging off every piece of clothing item, it looks cheesy and lame.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

And FWIW, I think it's incredibly pretentious to brandish Canadian flags everywhere you go when people travel, it seriously irked me to see that. You shouldn't have to have Maple Leafs hanging off every piece of clothing item, it looks cheesy and lame.

I think most people do it so they're not mistaken for Americans

[CrusaderPi]

Note my location.

Albertan first.

[Sparks]

Definitely Canadian. Being from Alberta isn't something that matters much to me in comparison.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

I think most people do it so they're not mistaken for Americans

I know. But some people take it too far and expect the special treatment because they are Canadians. It's a shameful display of undue respect, IMO.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Dan02

In Canada I am an Albertan, outside Canada I am a Canadian.

In Canada, I am a proud Canadian from the province of Alberta.

Outside of Canada, I am a proud Canadian from the province of Alberta. No differentiation for me.