What does it mean to be Canadian?

[Sparks]

colourful adjective laced diatribes and end with "We're free to be hypocrits too".

[SaskaBushFire]

Short answer:

Being Canadian to me means being respected by the entire world. From our hard nose Russo style fighting in the World Wars, to our peace keeping nature in Iraq, the whole world sees us as a distinct multicultural nation that made our own identity known through our actions in the past century.

[Clarkey]

What do you do that you were asked to speak at a university convocation.

[Lanny_MacDonald]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

What do you do that you were asked to speak at a university convocation.

I work for a government agency. They wanted someone who could give them the view from the outside. I'm a know quantity there, so they asked me.

[Lanny_MacDonald]

Originally Posted by Sparks

Remember that contest to find a Canadian version of "As American as apple pie?" The winner was "As Canadian... as possible, under the circumstances." Brilliant!

I'm going to use that!!!

[Shawnski]

There are many things that I look at and think "Canadian".

• The Maple Leaf (singular!!!) is clearly the first. It is world reknown, and stories like Mango's are plentiful. To me, sporting the Maple Leaf in another country on your backpack or whatnot is not just a sign of peace (your two fingered salute), it is a full five fingers giving a high-five.
• Diversity. On so many levels Canada and Canadians will provide countless combinations of culture, language, environment, economic, meteorlogical and geographical aspects. Tim Hortons still kicks Starbucks butt though....
• A young nation. Compared to countries around the world, we are but a teenager about to grow into an adult. We ask "why?", "why not" and "what if?" quite often. And we make our own choices based on the answers. Although our limited history plays a role, it is not the key driver to determine where we go.
• Hockey. This is the "don't mess with us", "take no prisoners" aspect of Canadians. It is the fight in us all when facing adversity.
• The RCMP. So highly respected in our country and around the world that even most of those that usually tend to bend or even break the laws of our land were probably saddened by the senseless loss of four officers in Mayerthorpe. A highly symbolic aspect of Canadianna whose members helped shape how our country evolved in a peaceful manner.
• Santa Claus. Yes, you heard me.... Santa. Lives at the North Pole. Postal Code "H0 H0 H0"... Is immortalized world wide as one who gives and gives and gives until nothing is left while seeking nothing in return. Jolly. Rosy cheeked from the cold. BUT also knows if you have been naughty or nice. Should have made CBC's top Canadian list! Truly Canadian spirit.

I believe as a Canadian that I tend to look at all of the above subconciously in virtually everything I do. They all shape who I am, and how I respond to my surroundings. There are many others, obviously, but this list will portray my thoughts just fine.

Good luck Lanny.

[Clarkey]

Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald

I work for a government agency. They wanted someone who could give them the view from the outside. I'm a know quantity there, so they asked me.

Oh, I thought you were a golf pro.

[Lanny_MacDonald]

Originally Posted by Clarkey

Oh, I thought you were a golf pro.

I was. The benefits are better doing what I do now, like knowing when to leave the continent.

[evman150]

What does it mean to be Canadian? That's a hard question to answer.

Canadians as a whole are a progressive, intelligent, free thinking people. Canadians have a view of the world outside of our own country, unlike our insular neighbours to the south. We are an accepting people who believe in tolerance of all and that no Canadian should ever be left behind. Every Canadian has the same rights under law.

If I had to boil it down to a single statement, I would say....to be Canadian is to be intelligent, tolerant and equal.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by evman150

What does it mean to be Canadian? That's a hard question to answer.

Canadians as a whole are a progressive, intelligent, free thinking people. Canadians have a view of the world outside of our own country, unlike our insular neighbours to the south. We are an accepting people who believe in tolerance of all and that no Canadian should ever be left behind. Every Canadian has the same rights under law.

If I had to boil it down to a single statement, I would say....to be Canadian is to be intelligent, tolerant and equal.

That's kind of warm and cute. Go ask a businessperson in any Canadian city what they think of aboriginals. I would bet you won't get an intelligent, tolerant or equal response.

[Hakan]

Don't single out business people, racism towards First Nations people isn't exclusive to suits. I've witnessed it's ugly face far too many times in both urban and rural Canada. It's a horrible black mark on our society and something we choose to ignore.

[evman150]

Originally Posted by peter12

That's kind of warm and cute. Go ask a businessperson in any Canadian city what they think of aboriginals. I would bet you won't get an intelligent, tolerant or equal response.

Perhaps it's idealized. They're all kind of stereotypie (I know that's not a word) things. Of course not every Canadian is intelligent. But as a whole we are an intelligent people. I guess that's kind of what I was getting at.