As these forums have an awesome mix of people from around the world, I'm curious about what people think sets their country apart from others.
With many, language and ethnicity are the most obvious, but there must also be some other things.
In Canada, I'd say it's the relationship between our French and English populations. It permeates every level of government and has given both Anglo and Franco Canadians a unique prespective on the world.
There's also the fact that this is the world's second largest country, but with a population around only 33 million. It is hard to appreciate the emense vastness of this nation. For example, during the height of the Battle of Britain, many Britons sent their children to Canada to keep them safe. A friend of my Grandfather lived in Victoria (on the West Coast) and offered to house 3 children of his pal in London. He recieve a telegraph to the effect that the kids were arriving in a week in Halifax (on the East Coast), and he could pick them up there. He wired his friend in London and said "You pick them up, you're closer."
"His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River
to the end of the earth." Psalm 72
And, of course, there's the struggle to retain our national identity and not be swallowed whole by the colossus to the south -- the USA. No other nation is so close to the USA geographically, economically, and culturally. That is why Canadians are alway quick to distance themselves from their southern neighbours.
I want to hear from others!
With many, language and ethnicity are the most obvious, but there must also be some other things.
In Canada, I'd say it's the relationship between our French and English populations. It permeates every level of government and has given both Anglo and Franco Canadians a unique prespective on the world.
There's also the fact that this is the world's second largest country, but with a population around only 33 million. It is hard to appreciate the emense vastness of this nation. For example, during the height of the Battle of Britain, many Britons sent their children to Canada to keep them safe. A friend of my Grandfather lived in Victoria (on the West Coast) and offered to house 3 children of his pal in London. He recieve a telegraph to the effect that the kids were arriving in a week in Halifax (on the East Coast), and he could pick them up there. He wired his friend in London and said "You pick them up, you're closer."
"His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River
to the end of the earth." Psalm 72
And, of course, there's the struggle to retain our national identity and not be swallowed whole by the colossus to the south -- the USA. No other nation is so close to the USA geographically, economically, and culturally. That is why Canadians are alway quick to distance themselves from their southern neighbours.
I want to hear from others!
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