Canada 2000 - What does the new millennium mean for Canadians?

As the last century came to a close, and a new one began, Canadians have to look back at themselves and ask, 'what did we do?' 'what was good?' and 'where are we going?'.

     PICTURE THIS: the Maple Leaf flying high on a flagpole at Parliament Hill. It is January 2nd, 2000. The Hill is deserted, save for a few RCMP vehicles. Celebrations are finished and the country rests now for at least 1 more day. Parliamentarians and Senators are home with their families, like the rest of the country. In a couple of days, Parliament Hill will once again became busy. It will return to its normal hub of activity. Everything will be back to normal. That is, except for one thing; it will be the year 2000. The future is here.
    And so begins a new era for this Country. A brand new year at the dawn of a brand new millenium. Most people are still yet trying to realize what has actually happened. With this, the birth of the next 1000 years, Canada now looks back upon his history and asks 'what did we do?' 'what was good?' and 'where are we going?' A national history full of many things, which some of us know. And yet, there are also so many amazing stories that we do not know, that many do not even begin to add a second thought to as being a little less than ordinary.
    The twentieth century proved to be one with many up's and down's, the later half with the majority of the down part. As we began the century, we stood not afraid to do whatever the hell we wanted. It was an era that was full of accomplishments for Canadians; when our dollar was much higher than the American one.
    As we left this century, we now looked at a weakened dollar in a strong economy. After just coming out of an 8-year depression, the country is left reeling with huge cut-backs and budget-cuts. Where banks and enterprises have realized that even though they can afford it, laying-off people will give them even more money. NAFTA, while claiming to have tripled our exports for businesses, threatens to destroy many of our famous Canadian symbols and businesses. Eaton's among others was forced to give up its businesses as a result of increased competition from huge American corporations.
    As the last century began Canadians were not afraid to realise their potential. Now all you hear is, ' it's too much money, it won't be possible'. So many Canadians seem to think we are incapable of creating any good work or products compared to the States. And when we do, it is still bad, because, well, it’s Canadian, what do you expect, right?
    "We hate success...that's one problem with this country," as director Norman Jewison explained to CBC News. He said how Canadians fail to to think they're capable of doing anything, "Americans are completely the opposite. They want 10 per cent of it, they're dreamers. We allways say it won't work," Rex Murphy, a reporter for the The National, CBC News, said "We rely...on our strong sense of history to keep us different. And we feel vigorously that we're a lot more than just 'not Americans'. Yet Canadians are tuning into The West Wing, a White House drama. We have yet to turn the House of Commons into must viewing."
     I know so many people who laugh at me for my 'Canadianism', "there's your stupid Canada or Avro Arrow stuff again." It comes to the point where it seems as though I end up being embarased for being Canadian! Several people whom I know will not watch Canadian television because it's Canadian television. People won't buy anything if the Label says 'Made in Canada'. A friend once said to me "Oh wow, that sounds good", and then I told him it was Canadian. He said "What? Well then forget it."
     What happen to us as a nation? Why do so many people react this way? We have so many great talents; Shania Twain; Celin Dion; Robin Williams; John Candy; and everyone else. Yet people will act as if they're not Canadian, or at least 'American' talent.
    According to a CBC poll, Canadians only think Canadian stars are true 'stars' or talents only if their sucessful in the states, and not if they stay in Canada. The author of 'Storms of Controversy,' Palmiro Campagna said that "when you continually tell somebody intelligent how foolish he is, eventually he believes it and reacts accordingly. How often have we heard, 'Well, if it's Canadian, then it can't be good' or the other, 'If it's Canadian, then it costs too much'? It is high time this ridiculous psycology was stopped."
    What happend to that famous quote of Sir Wilfrid Laurier when he said "I think we can claim that Canada will fill the twentieth century."? We were meant to rule the Twentieth Century with achievements such as the Jetliner, the Lancaster, the Canada Arm, and yes, to people who know me and may laugh, the Avro Arrow. We had it all. The potential still is.
    Remember this; we used the twentieth century to explore - but yet we have squandered much time. Time accomplishing much, but yet recognizing so little. To which we have lashed out at our successes and destroyed the very belief in our own abilities and intellect. We have neglected our own intelligence, and our own identity. So many of us dream, but yet so many of us are unable to realize them as a result of those who cannot.
    The future will belong to Canada - But only if the people of Canada have faith in the destiny of Canada, and work to make it all come true.

The CBC poll story can be found at this URL:
http://cbc.ca/news/national/magazine/poll99/poll23.html

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