Being a Canadian

“Adam?! Breakfast is ready!”. Geez, if only she’d just let me get out of bed before yelling at the top of her lungs. I stretch my arms and look around to the flag on my wall; the bright red and white including the geometrically perfect maple leaf in the middle. I miss home more and more… Putting that aside, I race up my flight of stairs, leaving my basement which I use as a room. Just the amount of privacy and freedom one may have when the doors are shut and a cool temperature is present, it makes me feel like home is never far away.Whatever, I’ll see my couch again this evening but oh how I’ll crave the curves of her cushions. Though, I know I can’t be late for my first day so I put that aside and: “Coming mother!”.

Growing up, our elders frequently educate us and help cremate our chosen paths. They teach us what makes us who we are as individuals and unique citizens of our adopted societies. Although everyone is unique, we must forever maintain our mature attitudes so when one day we leave our home city, country or simply regions, we are given the responsibility of representing our nation and inducing its fundamentals. Our society, our culture and our safety net is what we can call home. Although wherever ones journey may take them, one must be proud to represent their country because without it, they may have never realized what they feel is their purpose in life. On the other hand, millions of people may be poorly represented by their politicians so it is their duty to make it clear to the rest of us that not all of them are so cruel and selfish and that beauty still remains throughout their hearts even if the terrain has been corrupted. Regardless of the circumstances of one's birth, it is want one accomplishes with that gift of life that ultimately defines who they are as both an individual and as part of a society. We are all citizens of Earth but yet some of us will continuously be treated like scum and irrelevant population to help cover the land.

Upholding your societies name won’t always be easy as you may think. There are great lengths you must stride before completing your duty as a citizen of your nation. Though your individuality is only a part of what makes you a citizen, it is how you carry yourself as a human being among others. “My upbringing in Canada made me the person I am. I will always be proud to be a Canadian.”-Jim Carrey. One must be forever proud of their background because if it wasn’t for that, they wouldn’t be who they are today. Although one may be bullied, teased or just not included in other activities, they shouldn’t feel like an outcast but more like a unique, new comer that others aren’t sure how they feel about until they’ve matured. For example, a Canadian student may be loved wherever he goes around the world just because his home country, Canada, treats everyone respectfully.Canada doesn’t abuse it’s population and maintains an exceptional environment. Though, if a Canadian was to go to the States, how would they be treated? Although the two are neighbours and share the longest border between two countries, Americans will often look at Canadians as tribesmen and igloo settlers. Canada just has more colder regions but the majority of its population is in the south and some parts of Canada stretch down into the states, lower than some cities like NYC and Chicago. The two are as close as can be but they just share different rules. One pays less taxes but has to pay for their well being while the other pays a little more but has near maximum health coverage. Both have lawyers appointed to them incase they are in need of one. Although the population of Canada is minimalistic compared to the States, they come down to being the same in almost every aspect right down to the fashion and multicultural behaviour.

Now to add to the difficulties of upholding your societies name, the way media target certain countries and regions makes it all the more difficult to do so. For instance, if there is a civil-war stirring in a middle-eastern country, the media are bound to go directly to the less-civilized portion of the population and capture the crazy behaviour as it unfolds. Never will they go to where there is a group of people who are keeping calm and staying mature because they wouldn’t be as interesting. Refugee’s who have escaped their countries and are attempting to reside in a more safer one will often find themselves being bombarded with insults and racial slurs just because they were born into the chaos. Being a citizen of a North American country will be the foundation towards them having a new beginning and starting over with their lives but the first step is to locate somewhere where they’ll be accepted for who they are. For example, If a middle-eastern man or woman who wears a turban or hijabs/burka was to immigrate to the States, they would find themselves getting plenty of heat from ignorant civilians just because they stick out. Well what about what’s inside? Would anybody bother to think about who the individual is other than what they choose to wear? The sad answer is not always due to the fact that many schools, families and media companies disregard the beauty often found in every culture and tradition as long as an interest is shown. People will continue to live in the past, self-conflict over the future but always forget to enjoy what every moment has to offer, the present.

In addition to relocating yourself in a multicultural environment where everyday people are accepting of one's background, multiculturalism benefits not only the people who are surrounded by it but it also helps the economy strengthen and for the country to become more of a solid unit. For instance, a country like Canada, who is built around multicultural activities, has evolved into one of the most respected countries in the world due to it’s lack of interference in political problems. Canada has distanced itself from any drama that may lead to war and has built a loving reputation worldwide. A multicultural country like so is prone to evoking prestigious qualities and luring a stronger foundation for literary. On the other hand, Americans may think lowly of Canada but the truth is that Canada brings all traditions and customs together, mixes them with one another and creates one whole tradition where everyone is respected and is given their rightful opportunity to shine. Canadians learn about each others beliefs and incorporate whatever positive aspects they could locate into their own everyday lives. Maybe a muslim, jew or buddhist would be mistreated in an American or even European environment but in Canada they would be granted the privilege of practicing their religion without having to fear what horrific things may happen to them. A country where being yourself is the motto and treating others the way you want to be treated comes before all else. That is what correct multiculturalism does to a country; it units hearts and souls.

Having said that, what’s the purpose of all of this? So what if multiculturalism is something that will one day catapult history into a new era of unison? Well just because the world has come this far without it, it doesn’t mean that it should continue disregarding it. The fact of the matter is that we’ve come this far as a species so why not realise what the sum of all our actions are? This is the present and although you can’t wrap it up and stick it under an Evergreen, it doesn’t change the fact that it is what lies ahead. This is only the beginning of what awaits us and if we can’t come to terms with it now, when can we? For now, we are all forced to share the Earth with one another and call it home so it’s about time we quit treating others like gods or the dirt beneath our feet, how about we begin treating each other with dignity and respect. Prove to oneself that maturity isn’t only the way we act for a split second but how we process our thoughts for a lifetime. Regardless of the circumstances of ones birth, understand that it is what they do with that gift of life that makes them who they are and how they came to be. Our ancestors may have been far more close-minded than our entire generation but that only means that our door is slowly opening and that a new twilight is upon us.

And so I finish my breakfast and head outside to wait for my bus. I really hope I won’t be treated differently and disregarded as the unique individual I proclaim to be. Although I don’t know what lies ahead, I have decided that I won’t stoop so low as to hiding my identity and birthplace but instead lifting my head up wherever I go and to know that I am who I am and it is because of where I come from that I have realised this matter. I am forever proud to be a Canadian!