Quote:
Originally Posted by Acajack
Re: colonial baggage
My sense is that Canadians struggle greatly with finding the appropriate balance between the country's history (what you refer to as colonial baggage I guess) and being forward looking.
In the part of Canada west of the Ottawa River, not being hobbled by "colonial baggage" for lack of a better term, is a near-obsesssion with the insinuation that somehow talking about history leaves too many people "out" - and this is an evil thing. I guess.
At least in that part of the country (the majority of it, in terms of population and area), the idea that there is a crushing weight of history, traditions and colonialism sitting on people's shoulders is totally laughable.
It's probably the free-est place on earth to be what you want to be, how you want to be.
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You're probably correct on all counts. When I moved to Canada I noticed locals struggling with it. The Canada I saw wasn't the Canada they saw and it took me decades to figure out why.
History is history but what point is there in clinging to it when it's not how things are today? That old colonial Canada is one that's 100% foreign to me. When I meet 'old guard' Canadians I always have a hard time relating to them. I don't get them at all no matter how hard I try.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GlassCity
I'm not saying we're not a country rooted in free enterprise and capitalism, but it's definitely not part of our national narrative. As kool maudit said, Sweden can go hard right and still be Sweden. I likewise believe that Canada can go socialist and still be Canada. I don't think the US could and still be the US.
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Well what is Canada's narrative then? I have a feeling when you tell me I'll not be able to relate to it.
