Canadian Pride

CANADIAN PRIDE

Recently I read this article by Cavelle Natasha Layes

whose sentiments about Canada I proudly endorse.

It is my pleasure to share this with you.

Many people truly believe that Canadians  have no pride in their country.

I have had many people tell me this over the years and it really does baffle me.

I love my country dearly; I love what it represents; I love its natural beauty

and I love the people.

Every country celebrates their “pride” in different ways and Canada is no

exception. We may not put down other countries to make ours seem more

 powerful, or to have an “in your face attitude”  about it...and we don't really

shout out our National colours through song, but we certainly DO have pride. 

We just  celebrate in our own way.

You see, Canadian Pride has a totally different definition for us..

.a complete new meaning.  Canadian Pride isn't how someone waves a flag

or how loud they shout the national anthem; it's not even the person who has

a maple leaf painted on his (her) face. 

                              Canadian Pride is an emotion...not an action!

A perfect example of this is the 2010Vancouver Olympics...an event where

Canadians everywhere flooded the streets, pubs and even local halls to watch

and support our athletes.  We cheered them on ...wanting so badly for them

to win.  Not because we wanted to be better than the other countries but

because though for most of us...Alex or Ashleigh or even Jon were total

strangers, it still felt as if it was our brother, daughter and even best friend

that was standing up there on the podium.  You see that is what it means

to be Canadian...none of us are strangers...we are all family...from coast

to coast.  That is Canadian Pride!

We didn't celebrate the defeat of others...we celebrated the win of our

brother and through some sacred bond, it felt as if it were our win as well.

We may not be loud, but our hearts speak louder than words ever could

and when each of our athletes passed through the finish line or when

Crosby got that final goal, we didn't shout it in people's faces...we didn't

make a point to say we were better than anyone...instead millions of 

people across the country began to sing “Oh Canada” because at that

moment, there were no other words that could describe the pride

that we had for our country...and because it came from the heart.

This is  Canadian Pride!  It is an emotion.  It is that warm feeling that

bursts our of you.  It is something that is felt deep inside our very souls.

It's not something that can be forced upon anyone or expressed through

the waving of a flag.  It doesn't come through in how loud we sing

“Oh Canada,..but how we sing it.  Though others may not understand this,

they may view it as a weakness or a sign that we are not patriotic. 

This is only their belief! 

We will not conform to the ways of other countries

because we do not need to prove the  love for our country.

We do not need to think we are better than anyone to know that we are great.

We do not need to follow in the footsteps of other countries because that is not

what it means to be Canadian!  We will continue to express our pride in our

own way.  We will keep the humble beaver as our symbol, because though we

may be quiet...and we may not have the teeth or claws of  a tiger or a lion...

We are still powerful!   We are strong!  We are Canadian...and above all...

We are Proud!

“Pearl of Wisdom”

Don't follow where the path may lead ~

go instead where there is no path.

(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Merle Baird-Kerr . . . written June 15, 2012

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