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CANADIAN SPOKE
Wednesday July 1, 2015
Fireworks, outdoor play.
New citizens sworn-in.
And distinguished ones, honoured.
Take your time.
Do what you want, when you want.
Wherever we are, it’s Canada Day, whether you are Canadian, or if you simply enjoy Canadians …
Our day is no battle anniversary. No revolution commemoration. Liberation from Britain was won with arguments, documents and … dare I say, parliamentarians and lawyers.
Our Canadian holiday (our 148th), reminder of our coming together, confederation of regions and provinces. Underpopulated, underdeveloped enormous mass of resource rich land. Sea-to-sea-to-sea, built from colonial beaver pelt trade and bravery, explored by legendary map-makers – still today subject of so much exploration, both above and below our land.
Canadians come in two varieties. Descendants of those who were here in the first place and those who’ve come here from some other places – and descendants. We can do better at working together. I believe we will.
Isn’t easy, being Canadian. Isn’t hard either.
Something far more precious than we regularly appreciate, so taking one day a year is more than remembering, celebrating – it is measure, test and testament of our resolve to be citizens who live up to our country’s well earned reputation.
We are welcoming, we are fair-minded and hard working. We are kind. We keep the peace – in many places, especially at home. Our fighting is with words. Sometimes loud ones, harsh ones – but passionate ones about what we love, or what we criticize – we ARE Canadian.
Canada is far less an experiment than it is a predicament. Thirty-five million spokes, one wheel. Not horn-tooters.
We are very fully and rightly proud – and true, north, strong and free.
Mark Kolke
P.S.: I’m stretching one holiday play day into four – getting on the road shortly this morning to drive south for a couple of days exploring and then back again – southern Alberta and Montana, to drive scenery I’ve only seen from the air, to clear belly-angst and brain cob-webs for a few days of battery recharging. I’ll cross the border – I’ll show them my Canadian passport. I’ve lived my whole life as a Canadian. I’ve often wondered about living somewhere else, but the idea of being a citizen of any other country is something I’ve never been able to wrap my head around …
column written/ published from Calgary, AB
morning walk: 14C/57F, walking alone (Gusta is at the kennel for a few days), a few clouds and light breeze – and silent streets. Traffic is virtually non-existent …
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