Independence Days

Since I was born in Canada, I grew up with "Dominion Day" and, later, "Canada Day" on July 1.  That was the first half of my life. The second half, so far, has been here in the U.S.  It's Independence Day, right? Why does everyone just call it the Fourth of July?  Why not call it by name?  We don't call Christmas the "25th of December."  We don't call Thanksgiving "November whatever it is this year-th." 

Independence should be proclaimed, rather than hidden by a number. Independence is valued here in the U.S. like nowhere else in the world, probably including Canada, which has always been proud to part of a greater Brittania.  Officially, I'm still a Canadian (which is what I still tell people when they ask if I'm a Democrat or a Republican). But as time goes on and my accent disappears, I become more and more American. I guess I just need to bite the bullet (but not literally) and do the Citizenship test thing. I think I'm past the draft age anyway.

When I first came to the U.S., I thought Americans were perhaps a little silly in how much they waved their flag.  Coming from a smaller (population-wise) country, America seemed so full of itself. Now that I've been here for more than 20 years, when I go back to visit family in Canada I now think maybe Canadians wave their flag (and wear it) even more than Americans ... maybe it's just a matter of perception, or maybe the equation really has flip flopped (along with the value of each nation's dollars) during the past few decades. Anyway, now I know why Americans were waving their flag so much. This IS a great country (despite what many people now say) built upon great principles.

Today I view myself as more American than Canadian, probably the way my parents came to view themselves as Canadians after immigrating from the Netherlands in the 1950s. They still were proud of their Dutch heritage and rooted for the Netherlands in international sports events, the same way I now have two countries to be proud of (although I tend to root for Canada more only because of their underdog status, even when it's hockey and they're not the underdog at all). 

I tend to like movies like Braveheart and The Patriot that celebrate "independence from tyranny."  The funny thing is, growing up in Canada, which remained loyal to England during the Revolution here in the colonies, the history we were taught was probably a little different than what was taught here. In fact, my childhood home was on the "Loyalist Parkway" and I first went to "Loyalist College" -- both honoring the formerly American colonists who remained loyal to the crown and landed on the Lake Ontario shores of Prince Edward County, just south of where I grew up on the Bay of Quinte.

While Canada's independence from Great Britain happened much later than America's, it was no less real. It was a lot more peaceful, to be sure. I think, in the end, the two countries have arrived at pretty much the same place -- free, democratic societies, with fair laws, tolerance for different viewpoints, and unlimited opportunity. Perhaps different tax scales. While many Americans have sought a better life north of the border (or said they would if political races didn't go the way they wanted), I would guess that more Canadians have moved here to seek a better life, given the fact that only a few countries like Mexico, China, Vietnam and Germany rival Canada as the origination of U.S. immigrants.

Anyway, it's time to go home for the week.  We have the Fourth off (that's Independence Day, by the way) as well as the Seventh (that's "Extra Day for Alticor Employees Day").  To Canadians, I hope your Canada Day was sunny and bright and warm. I hope you enjoyed the music at the bandstand and the pancakes at the community breakfast and the fireworks near downtown. To Americans, I wish you the same tomorrow. Celebrate your independence! Celebrate your freedom and the great country you live in! Celebrate the promise of what's to come, without dwelling on what hasn't been.