The concept of national identity in the case of Canada remains elusive in essence, as how would you define something that is multifarious by nature; the notion that Canada doesn’t have a definitive nation-state is further perpetuated by the absence of shared national objects, symbols and history. Charles Hanley, the author, believes that though Canada is perceived as a nation, it lacks the fundamentals that truly make a nation. Unlike America or France, Canada embraces diversity in multiculturalism as one of its core beliefs, the vast diversity of Canada has its term, being “the cultural melting pot” insinuating the mix of many cultures, languages and beliefs creates a whole new thing. The author indicates that Canada is too diverse to be accurately …show more content…
The Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, the War of Independence and the Napoleonic Wars are all something America and France have as a symbol of their nation or a piece that shaped them as they are today, however when glancing over at Canada there is no discerning equivalent. The author of this quote is accurate when saying Canada as a nation does not exist, meaning we are not unified, as the diversity of land and of the people directly coerce Canadian unity, as they contend. Quebec can be seen as a direct challenge that interferes with Canadian unity due to their own contending loyalties, with events such as the FLQ crisis displaying why Canada struggles with being defined as a nation state. There is no exact object, symbol or piece of history that all Canadians share, various factors determine Canadian feelings such as pride, there is no singular root that all Canadians share that brings us together; Indigenous people have always felt this kind of separation between themselves and other Canadians for various factors such as land, seen in the Oka Crisis, highlighting that all Canadians don’t share the same sentiment or
Canada -- the Problematics of National Identity There has always been a problem for Canada with the definition of its national identity. In fact, it would almost be fair to say that an unease about the lack of such a collective identity is what defines Canadians the best. This page briefly considers some of the causes of this situation, and then goes on to consider some broad themes which might be described as distinctively and characteristically Canadian. Obviously, this is a very tricky area
Canada Lacks A Real National Identity I believe that Canada lacks a real national identity. Canadians tend to identify with community and region rather than the nation. Because Canada has such a great cultural diversity the Canadian identity is shaped by our values and attitudes as they have emerged from our history and geography. Bilingualism and multiculturalism are very important to the Canadian identity. They both strengthen and challenge Canadian identity. Because Canada has so many cultural
am proud to say that most are positive. Does Canada have a strong national identity? Anyone can see the answer is yes. Just take a look at the facts. For example, we are renowned for our peacekeepers and no other country is considered more peaceful. Without a doubt this is the type of identity we should work to keep. The first thing we should examine is what exactly is meant by “strong national identity”. A very good example of strong national identity is the U.S.. I doubt there is a man on this planet
The conflict in Canada between the people who speak French and those who speak English can trace its roots to Colonial times. Since Canada was originally a French colony, the majority of the people originally spoke French. In 1760, during the French Indian War, England gained control of Canada. This led to a large number of English speaking settlers who eventually became more numerous that the original French speaking settlers. Two distinct cultural groups evolved the French, mostly in Quebec, and
Identity Crisis in Canadian Film Much has been written about the ways in which Canada's state as a nation is, as Peter Harcourt writes, "described" and hence, "imagined" (Harcourt, "The Canadian Nation -- An Unfinished Text", 6) through the cultural products that it produces. Harcourt's terms are justifiably elusive. The familiar concept of "Canadian culture", and hence Canadian cinema, within critical terminology is essentially based on the principle that the ideology of a national identity
The American Cultural Invasion of Canada “ Canada 's national obsession seems to be its own identity.” For many years Canada has feared the increasing influence of its North American neighbors on its culture - the United States . It has become a matter of growing concern for the people of power and influence in Canada to maintain their separate cultural identity and to promote their own cultural norms. Gaetan Tremblay presents his views on this topic and does this from the perspective of a person
NATIONAL ID CARD EXECUTIVE SUMMARY After the September 11th attacks, the issue of making national ID card in the United States, Canada and other countries has restarted. After reading many articles, magazines, and skipping through lots of frequently ask question about nation General confirmed the black market in phony driver’s licenses exist in that state.” National ID card, I myself believe that national ID card will not only not stop terrorism, illegal immigrants but also create a form
“progress” was inextricably tied to the destruction of the majestic landscape that was a source of American identity and pride. Landscape painters at this time were faced with the difficult task of reconciling these conflicting aspects of American culture and identity. Their paintings blend physical descriptions of the American land with cultural descriptions of the American national identity. American landscape painting was founded primarily by European artists like Thomas Birch, Francis Guy, William
English navy has been world-renowned from the time of the Spanish Armada, in 1588, and played a key role in the expansion of the British Empire; not only does the navy serve as an example of Englishness, it helped create that very notion of national identity. In Persuasion, Austen domesticates the navy, portraying it as one large brotherhood. In fact, Captain Wentworth cancels a trip to his biological brother in order to visit his injured friend, Captain Harville. Officers discuss transporting each
The Search For National Identity Nationalism is the attitude members of a nation have when they care about their national identity. Nationalism can also be the love of a country and the willingness to make sacrifices for it. Just as a person’s identity is affected by other people and the events in their life, a nation is affected the same way. There have been many people and events that have affected the national identity of America. There were two Awakenings that spread different aspects of American
National Identity and The Yellow Wallpaper Gilman is an author whose writing is based on individuals making up America's collective identity. "The Yellow Wallpaper" is from the vantage points of being a woman, at a time when women were not supposed to have individual thoughts and personalities. At this time in history, the social roles of women were very well-defined: mothers and caretakers of the family, prim and proper creatures that were pleasant to look at, seen but not heard, and
Identity and Power in Sir Thomas More's Utopia and Virgil's Aeneid In Utopia and the Aeneid, Sir Thomas More and Virgil describe the construction and perpetuation of a national identity. In the former, the Utopian state operates on the “inside” by enforcing, through methods of surveillance, a normalized identity on its citizens under the guise of bettering their lives. In the latter, the depleted national identity of the future Romans in the wake of the Trojan War must reformulate itself from
popular literature, utilize it frequently if not wholly in their writing. The gothic is an intrinsic part of our national identity, inhabiting our folklore, our literature, and influencing the way in which we view our celebrities and ultimately, ourselves. In his commentary on the gothic, Nightmare on Main Street, Mark Edmunson offers his take on the relationship between national identity and the form: Unsentimental, enraged by gentility and high-mindedness, skeptical about progress in any form
nationalism has been revived since the demise of communism. Unlike civic nationalism, which stresses equality and solidarity, the exaggerated, chauvinistic, and aggressive nationalism of the extreme right upholds the significance of the nation and national identity against any other value. Each person is defined by membership in ancient ethnic and cultural groups that are hierarchically arranged according to the "natural order." In the extreme rights’ view, violating this natural order through racial combination
extent its Chinese identity and its connection to its Motherland, while at the same time, has frequent contact with the Western world, politically, economically, and culturally. Hong Kong’s unique position has made the city a vibrant international metropolis that acts as a bridge between East and West. Yet after it was returned to China in 1997, this former British colony has been constantly reassessing its British past, struggling to find its new position and redefining its identity. The quest for