Canada's Surprising Obsession

When George W. Bush was first elected, a race began that only Canadians were participating in. I was shocked to learn of the race's existence. I didn't know when, or how, it had begun, only that Canadians seemed to be taking it very seriously.

The race was to become the first foreign head of state to meet the new President in his official capacity. Apparently, Canadians considered it their birthright--the Canadian P.M. should always be first to shake hands with the new Prez. Vincente Fox, President of Mexico, seemed to have the inside track however, and Canada was thrown into a panic.

What was all this about? Canada seemed, to me, to have the emotional maturity, as a nation, of a pre-teenager who wants to be assured that daddy loves you best. Call it insecurity, sycophancy, or low self-esteem, it was unbecoming, if not downright embarrassing.

In that moment though, I caught a glimpse into the whole strange relationship between the two nations. Canada, a country I consider deeply worth emulating and that is more than a fine model for others, does not sufficiently value itself in its relationship with the States. It doesn't see itself as an equal. Apparently, from years of hearing the standard American chest-thumping--we're the greatest country in the world, we're number one, etc.--Canada had come to believe it true. And, since so much of the Canadian economy depends on the U.S., who are Canadians to disagree with America's claim to greatness?

Of course, Canada doesn't so much need to disagree, as to be able to see, name and proclaim its own greatness. I can already hear the voices saying but it's not Canadian to proclaim. Okay, so forget the proclaiming. How about if Canada were simply to practice naming its greatness for itself? No need to chest-thump so the rest of the world can hear, just have a conversation up here, quietly among yourselves. It needs to be a permanent conversation, so quick are you to find excuses to put yourself down (more on that in a later post).

Finally, it would be nice if, after Obama's election, you all just mellowed out. So what if your PM is first, or isn't first? It's not the end of the world, or Canada. Obama has a lot on his plate, gang. He might not get to see your PM as fast as you'd like. I can't say whether Obama loves your or not, but rather than focusing there, why don't you focus on just plain old loving yourself, at least for a few weeks.