Pop 89: A Dear John Letter to America

By Madonna Hamel

Back in my days as a reporter, I interviewed the researcher Michael Adams about his intensive studies concerning the differences between The States and Canada. His books "Fire and Ice" and "Unlikely Utopia" confirmed for me what I witnessed and experienced living in the States on and off over the years: Despite how many Americans see us as basically the same as them, we're really quite different. If you're Canadian, you already know this; if you're American, this may -still -come as a surprise. 

I want to say from the start that not ALL Americans are as ignorant of their neighbours up North. However, I offer an analogy that was used by Adams in his books, and recently, by Mark Carney (Look it up!) in a chat with Jon Stewart: When describing Canada's relationship with the States, picture us as the woman in the relationship.

I used this analogy when living in Quebec just as their referendum to separate from the rest of the country was about to take place. If you are an American you may or may not know that we have a province wherein everyone virtually exclusively speaks French. To continue the analogy Quebec would be one of 13 kids you'd adopt if you went through with your forced marriage to us. 

And by the way, what do you think is happening when interviews on Canadian news are suddenly voiced-over in French? It's because politicians when addressing the country, move between French and English, our two official languages. Tu comprends? Je ne pensais pas. (Look it up!) (Recherchez-le!)

As I was saying, Quebec was about to separate, but Canada claimed Quebec had no right to leave, we were married, after all. Quebec said, don't worry, we can still be friends. In the end the two worked it out, though some of our offspring will say the unification was at their expense. So, imagine now, that some bigger power on steroids thinks he can just move in, when he doesn't even know the offspring's names! (Look them up!)

But seriously, if you think you can just move in because you make more money than us and that somehow makes you desirable, we've got news for you. Other people like us, too. And frankly, they know a little bit more about us. As Carney said: "We're resetting the relationship and we're going to be stronger going forward…. But it can't just be transactional, not after all we've shared together."

In "Fire and Ice," Michael Adams argued that, despite the two countries' profound and many historical, demographic, and geographic similarities, and the ubiquity of American popular culture in Canada, Canadians and Americans increasingly view the world differently, especially when it comes to matters ranging from religion, authority, and the family, to entertainment, consumption, and civic life. 

In a TVO (Look it up!) interview Adams explained how his survey group Environics asked Canadians and Americans 1400 different values questions. And, to put it in a nutshell, he summed up the data to describe America in a way that may upset, but can't surprise, too many Americans: "America is where dad is the head of a household and gets up every Sunday morning, picks up his semi-automatic and says, OK kids, we're going to church." 

The idea of "American First", he continues, grew out of the image of America as a melting pot. On the other hand, Canadians view (though don't always live) their country as a mosaic. We embraced the word "diversity" before it became policy. On occasion we celebrate our diversity rather than just tolerate it, although violence against immigrants has increased in both countries since Adams' last big survey. But, our future depends upon it. We will need to listen to each other as a family and grow in appreciation of each other from coast to coast. Especially if we don't want the bully from below to move himself, his mob, his furniture, flags and fixtures into our homes, our yards, our public and private sacred spaces, which includes a vast wilderness under our protection and stewardship.

Come to think of it, what is really needed is a Canadian understanding of all our relations! Time to visit cousins and ancestral territories. Time to value each other.  Let's take a trip, as a family, by train, cross-country on VIA (Look it up!). Having taken the transnational train trip half a dozen times myself, I keep falling deeper in love with this country, in all its raw and homespun gorgeousness. (VIA really does need to cash in on this moment.) 

And don't skip Quebec! Especially if you feel like dancing all night, being kissed on each cheek with every new greeting, and drinking outstanding craft beers. Quebec is a most "European of non-European" province.

America, we are not your cowed girlfriend. Even though you might assume we never have any opinions of our own. Or that we're "nice" (read: civil) because we just didn't want to start a fight, though a fight is most often pointless, immature, and frankly a waste of our time.

We're lovers, not fighters. (It's that French blood.) Not to mention the ancient Indigenous wisdom tradition that welcomes All Our Relations (Look it Up!). As for our cultural creations, they tend more to the musical and literary variety. The only Canadian movie poster featuring a smouldering dude or chick wielding a gun is bound to be a SCTV (Look it Up!) or This Hour Has 22 Minutes skit. The self-serious smile of a Hollywood icon is not our style - our theatrical influences come from our British and French heritage, where character actors play real people and are not expected to exit gracefully after they turn 40. 

In closing this Dear “Don” letter, I'll say: Telling us we're "beautiful" and that you'll "cherish" us forever doesn't fool us; you just want to own our assets so you're free to plunder without having to pay. You don't know us, but we know you.