It’s not a just a slogan to sell beer. It’s a rallying cry.
I love my country, and I’m proud to be Canadian. When the United Nations reports that Canada is the best country in the world to live in, I just smile quietly to myself, because it’s something that I’ve always understood at an intrinsic level. This is God’s country… lots of land, clean water, wildlife, natural resources in abundance, low crime, and people of all races and religions living together. What’s not to love?
Well, for a start, here’s a short list:
- Toronto.
- Our currency has more aesthetic than monetary value.
- Certain funny people down south are still under the impression that we live in igloos and eat pemmican.
- Sometimes the only way we can get famous is to pretend we’re from somewhere else.
Sure, we have our problems. But we can work it out.
Canadians have actually made a huge impact on American culture, and for that matter, we’ve shaped the world in which we live. Don’t believe it? Take this simple quiz:
Which of the following was invented by a Canadian:
- The telephone
- Basketball
- Superman
The telephone is arguably the single most important invention in history. Can you imagine life without it? If you’re using a modem to read this page, or for that matter have family that lives more than a block away — there’s your proof.
Superman and Basketball are two of the most salient cultural institutions in American life. Basketball players are more respected and better paid, but that’s not the point.
Well, they were all created by Canadians. There’s only one group that knows less about Canadians than Canadians do, and that’s… well, just about everybody. But mostly, it’s Americans. They know a little about us.. But what they DO know isn’t nearly as dangerous as what they THINK they know. 🙂
For you non-Canadians, below is a list of lies you mother told you about us. Or perhaps it was the media. In any case – erase these myths:
- MYTH: Most Canadians look and act like Bob and Doug McKenzie (from SCTV and the movie “Strange Brew”). This resemblence includes, but is not necessarily limited to:
- A tendency to end almost all sentences with “eh.”
- Having a wardrobe consisting exclusively of bush jackets and toques.
- Eating 3 or 4 square meals a day of back bacon and beer (well, this might be true, but only in the case of university students and people on camping trips).
- MYTH: Most Canadians are Eskimos (who actually prefer to be called Inuit [“the people”, as opposed to Eskimo which means “flesh eater” or something). And…
- Live in igloos.
- Eat pemmican. (Animal blubber with berries pounded into it… Mmmmmmm. Nummy goodness!)
- Rely on sled dogs for transportation. Actually, we’ve been using snowmobiles for some time now. So there!
NOTE: I'll never forget the time I went to the International Peace Garden in North Dakota and was asked by some locals if I owned a dog sled. I convinced them that I'd floated down on an iceberg. 🙂
- MYTH: Canada Dry ginger-ale is Canada’s most popular beverage.
- It might have been at some point, until people realized it tastes nothing like ale. There were similar disappoints about root beer.
- MYTH: People from Toronto think the world revolves around them, and their city.
- Oooops! Sorry, that one is true. How embarrassing…
Anyway, I hope that clears a few things up.
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