Dear Editor,
I have disavowed the act of exercising strong nationalisms and patriotisms, or flogging the esteem of any in-group identities. From habitual stigmatisms, cultural and socio-economic assumptions, to violent eruptions of elitism, I have regarded the strong projection of associative identities to be divisive.
Yet, I have also caught myself fiercely proud of being Canadian, without being able to distill as to why. The passage of National Flag Day represented an opportune time for me to reflect on my sin.
Space, place and identity have been the foundations of purpose in the lives of humans since we transitioned from hunter-gatherers to settler-farmers, and began building social and economic links leading to the creation of institutions of governance and order.
With that, came the need to protect and to project force, and create social rallying points to successfully propel commercial and technological innovation.
Fast forward to the present, and we are presented with an iteration of our world that is much more interconnected, but still experiences mortal conflicts, trade-disputes, atavistic politicking, and disparate interests.
But what makes this version different is that it has Canada.
Canada allows citizens to retain their identities with pride (should they choose), affording them dignity and encouraging all Canadians of varying backgrounds to accept the identities of others, rather than polarize them by cornering segments of society into defensive stances.
This is sustained because of who we are: immigrants who have freely chosen to be Canadian and call this place home by putting our trust in, and participating in, its institutions.
I stated that I have long disavowed allowing myself to live under the shadow of any in-group identities, choosing rather to follow my own moral code.
I do not retain any ancestral identities in the traditional sense, but see myself as who I have decided to be.
This, at first, seemed to cause a conflict. But now I realize that it is exactly this freedom to be the final arbiter of my own identity that makes me so proud to be Canadian.
It’s because Canada accepts the idea of me that I have accepted the idea of Canada.
Colin Chau
Richmond
