Last June, when we were coming from New York to candidate every week, a young man attending the church at that time said this to me: "You're awfully friendly for an American!" Canadians around him cringed at that remark, but I just had to laugh. For nine years I was a Yankee in the south and had to bear the Yankee jokes (Keep Georgia Beautiful--Teach a Yankee How to Drive was one of the milder bumper stickers). I did a little investigating into the history of the War Between the States and decided the South was right, and should have won. The issue was states' rights, not slavery as I had been taught in my northern history class. The South had a better general, as well. My family, with Southern roots, still uses the name "Lee" when baby names are considered.

What does all that have to do with Canada? (If you're getting good at Mitch's connected thinking, you should be able to guess.) Well, I was raised as a Patriot, NOT a Loyalist. If I could move south and discover that they were right, what would happen if I moved to Loyalist territory? We have lived in Canada for 13 months; we are only now beginning to study Canadian history. I was afraid of having my Patriot bubble busted. So now I start studying, and here are a few things I have learned so far.

Canadians are still worried about their relationship to the U.S. There is still fear that "Perhaps the American need for our resources will lead to Canada being gobbled up by our rich and hungry neighbour." (A quote from a grade-school history text, 1980.) This fear has lessened somewhat in recent years, but there are still remnants of a Canadian-controlled canal on this side of the St. Lawrence, built in case of war with the States. The fear now is that the U.S. traditions, culture, etc., that are creeping in will take over; that Canada will look like just another state, anyway.

If the U.S. is a melting pot, Canada is a tossed salad. Each retains his own identity yet is still Canadian.

Canadians have grown up believing that they won the War of 1812; there are monuments erected to the bravery of Canadian and British troops fighting against American invasion. Visiting such a memorial as an American really gave me a weird feeling!

The Canadian colonies of Quebec and Nova Scotia were also hurt by "taxation without representation". Both were invited to send delegates to the Continental Congress; both declined. When Patriot troops invaded Quebec, they were soundly defeated, partly because the colonists of Quebec refused to sell supplies to the travelling troops (they didn't trust the currency offered). Later, when Nova Scotia asked for military aid in 1776, General Washington refused, saying there was not enough ammunition to spare. By the time he might have sent aid, Nova Scotia had become a Loyalist refugee camp. Some Canadians refer to Benedict Arnold as a hero.

Now Canada has joined with the U.S. in the fight against terrorism, yet there is still a wariness. Canadians were offended at not being mentioned in President Bush's first speech after 9/11. This was later smoothed over, but some still talk about "sibling rivalry" between the two countries.

I look forward, now, to studying more Canadian history. We all have different perspectives. I once heard this: To the world, a Yankee is an American. To an American, a Yankee is a Northerner. To a Northerner, a Yankee is a New Englander. To a New Englander, a Yankee is someone from Vermont. To those from Vermont, and Yankee is someone who still uses an outhouse!

I have to say that I am thankful once again to be a citizen of a heavenly kingdom; that "In Christ there is no East or West, In Christ no North or South". "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 31, 2001

Answers

Very good Cathy! That verse is one of my favorites, God really doesn't see the globe with the lines we have drawn on it, does he? While we may come from differnt countries, with different outlooks, we can all be brothers and sisters in Christ. Thanks!

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), October 31, 2001.

After reading Jillian's post on Mitch's Halloween stumper, I remembered something else--Canadians call July 4th "Revolt Day"!

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), October 31, 2001.

I never really liked history all that much , homeschooled or otherwise. A lot of blah blah blah, sorry to those who like it. But i still know Canada won the war of 1812, because we look so pretty . I have been known to use an outhouse from time to time, but yet, this weekend i was presented with a bumper sticker that says, Proud to be an American. It'll be on my door tonight. Sentimental Value, you know. =)

-- jillian (sweetunes483@yahoo.com), October 31, 2001.