Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue!

Yes, today is the Fourth of July — Independence Day — "Uncle Sam’s Birthday! The U.S. of A is 231 years old. Comparatively speaking, Canada is a mere youngster at 140. then again, we’ve actually been around just as long (perhaps even longer!), but not as a confederated country.

History records that Columbus discovered "America" in 1492, John Cabot discovered Newfoundland in 1497, but little interest was shown in the New World for almost a hundred years. (As we know, Norse explorer Lief Ericsson landed in what is now known as Labrador almost 500 years previous to that.)

But what is it that makes us different from Americans — or should I say, makes them different from us?

Most Canadians have spent their lives watching predominantly American television and movies. We are, as a people, familiar with the country and its culture — at least, the culture that Hollywood portrays to the rest of the world.

Over the past decade or so, with the advent of the various cable news networks and the internet, we have been able to peel the layers of the onion back somewhat and get a deeper glimpse into the country.

But do we really know what "America" is really all about? Do we derive enough understanding from the media to really know what America, and Americans, are like?

What makes us different from Americans?

There are those who say Americans are arrogant. In some cases this may be true, but I don’t wonder if what we perceive as arrogance is, quite simply, pride?

It isn’t that we, as Canadians aren’t proud of our country and our accomplishments. But our sense of pride is, generally, expressed in a more subdued manner — except when Team Canada wins a gold medal in hockey, that is. But overall, ours is a more modest display of pride.

Americans are certainly more conspicuous— some might say "ostentatious" — in showing their pride.

Drive around the Sault or, for that matter, any city and see how many people are flying a Canadian flag in their yards; I doubt you’d find very many.

Contrast that with the vast number of Americans who fly ‘Old Glory.’

We approach politics differently, too, perhaps because of the differences in our systems.

In federal elections in the US, approximately 75 to 80 per cent of eligible voters register, while about only one-half actually go to the polls and cast their ballots. This number is about five percent lower than it was forty years ago when just over 60 per cent of voters participated.

(It should be noted that voter turnout for mid-term elections -- Senate, etc -- hovers in the mid-30s.)

Here in Canada, meanwhile, while voter turnout for federal elections has also declined in the past forty years, from 75 per cent in the years following World War II to 61 per cent for the 2004 election, in the most recent election 65 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots.

As well, there are differences in our systems of governance, as well as different approaches to social programs such as welfare, education, and healthcare.

Is one system better than the other? Yes, and no. Each system has its own strengths and weaknesses. Americans do some things better than we do, and vice versa.

One thing I believe we do better, or at least that I like better, is how we identify ourselves. Culturally, America has been described as a "melting pot," while Canada as a "mosaic."

Americans will identify themselves as such, when asked: "I’m an American!" Some will be hyphenated-Americans, but mostly they are just "Americans."

We Canadians certainly identify ourselves as such, but we also hold fast to our heritage. Many Canadians don’t bother hyphenating themselves; they simply declare their ancestry.

I will describe myself as Scottish or, if pressed for more complete details, Scottish, English, French, and Native. I may also add "Canadian" to the list, depending on who is asking. (Although I also have relatives in the States, it seems that they left here to go there, so I don’t consider myself American, too.)

It’s not that I am ashamed of being Canadian. On the contrary, I’m immensely proud of being Canadian. it’s just that, in that typically understated Canadian way, I feel that being Canadian goes without saying.

I mentioned in my Canada Day column that Canadians have far fewer patriotic songs than our neighbours to the south. I must admit that I harbour a smidgen of envy in this regard. I will also admit, grudgingly, that "America the Beautiful" comes close to matching "O Canada" for its expression of awe-inspired wonder and praise for one’s country.

Overall, though, while I find the sheer number of patriotic songs impressive, they can’t sway me from my heart-felt belief that Canada just may be the best country in the world in which to live.

Of course, patriotism has been defined as "the belief that one’s native country is the best, for the singular reason that one was born there."

Still, I can understand why Americans are proud of their own country, and I certainly appreciate having them as our neighbour and close ally.

And on this, the 231^st anniversary of their independence, I say
"Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue."