Oh Canada! What's not to love?
Written by: Julie Ovenell-CarterYou know that thing Canadians do–that passive-aggressive wearing-the-Maple-Leaf-on-the-backpack thing that drives Americans crazy?
It means we are either massively overconfident or profoundly insecure–or likely a bit of both.
Sure we’ve grown up in the shadow of a bigger, more confident relation and are desperate to carve out our own identity and territory. But we’ve also learned from the cradle how to get along with the big kids and how to charm the bullies to our point of view. Like little brothers and sisters everywhere, we want to be noticed for who we are. And who we’re not.
But maybe it’s time to ease up on the aggressive leaf-waving. Because according to a recent BBC poll, Canada is second only to Germany when it comes to having a positive influence on the world.
After interviewing more than 13,500 people from 21 countries, the BBC World Service poll concluded that 57 per cent of respondents viewed Canada positively, while only 14 per cent saw Canada in a negative light–the lowest percentage of any country. (Germany’s equivalent numbers were 61/15.)
So relax with the leaf already.
They know who we are and they like us. They really, really like us.
Don Foran
on March 31st, 2009During the height of the Bush regime, I lived in Asia from ‘92-’95, On separate occasions, I was yelled at, spat upon, and even physically assaulted for being an American. When I explained that I was Canadian-the response was “Same thing…” I took exception to the Americans who sported “the Maple Leaf-on- the- backpack-thing” who escaped unscathed.
Hopefully under Obama, acts of racism & xenophobia die-down, & we can all be proud North Americans.