When are we canadians?

[finneco]

I heard an interesting comment on Radio 3 the other day. During an american music festival in New York, there is this tradition of having the "Canadian Breakfast in Brooklin". The Organiser explained this successful ongoing to be motivated because "we are only canadian when we are somewhere else and meet other canadians

Comments

[shade_42]

I agree with the spirit of the statement if not the meaning itself. While people living within Canada are just as Canadian as I am, moving away made me exercise my sense of patriotism a lot more.

Too sum it up succinctly: I went from being A Canadian to The Canadian.

Thus I represent my country, my actions reflect on how my country is viewed by others. Perhaps more relevant in this case, when I meet Canadians here it is exciting and we all tend to presume the best of each other. It is usually a welcome break to find someone else 'like us' to talk to for a little while.

[predream]

Remember that the organiser set out a necessary but not sufficient condition for being Canadian.

Generally, I think national identity is a kind of silly/artificial idea promoted by governments to increase the loyalty of their citizens.