The United States won its independence first, on July 4th, 1776, through a bloody war with the British. It was actually this war that caused a huge population boost for the country which would become known as Canada, since the loyal British citizens, living in the United States during this period, fled to the British colony as soon as the war broke out.

Mexico won its independance next, on September 16th, 1821, when a Junta overthrew the government of New Spain, and Mexico was declared independant from Spain. Texas was part of Mexico until the Americans took it several years later. Remember the Alamo.

But back to Canada...

The British North America Act was actually put before the queen much earlier than July 1st, and it recieved royal assent(meaning the queen approved of it)on March 29th, 1867, however it wasn't actually enacted until July 1st, which is why we celebrate our independance on that day.

I keep saying "independance," but I'm actually quite wrong. In 1867, Canada was declared a country, but, as I said, Queen Victoria was still our Head of State and we were still a part of England.

So, it's been 134 years since we became a country, but how long has it been since we became independant from England? Well, officially, never. Canada's full name is still "The British Dominion of Canada", and we still have a Governor General who, officially, is Canada's representative to the Crown of England, who is now Queen Elizabeth II. However, technically, Canada gained its independance in 1984, when Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau signed a document with Queen Elizabeth the Second, which stated that Canada no longer needs to answer to England. We still choose to keep tradition, though, because our Parliment is a copy of British Parliment, and the queen's face is still on all of our money. When she steps down, or dies, and the new Crown of England becomes a king for the first time in over 200 years, in King Charles XIII.

Anyway, I have no doubt that his face will replace the face of his mother on all of our currency. And perhaps, someday, we will have the face of King William V on our money.

So, enough with the history lesson...

Why am I so happy on Canada Day?

Well, I am a very proud Canadian. I am a second-and-a-half generation Canadian, seeing as how I was born here, both my parents were born here, and two of my four grandparents were born here.

I've been to the United States many times before, and I loathe it with a passion. Well, I haven't been to every state, but I've been to parts of Maine, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Florida, Washington, California and Massachusetts. There are a lot of very nice Americans, and there are a lot of very beautiful places in the states I've visited. It's hard not to sit on a beach in California or Florida and not feel really nice, and Vermont has some beautiful mountains.

However, when we're driving back across the border and I see that red and white with the maple leaf, I always get teary-eyed, because I'm so happy to be back in Canada.

This country is the second-largest land mass in the whole world, after Russia, but our population is still small enough to be really pleasant. There's no place in Canada, big city or small town, where you won't be greeted warmly upon your arrival. Except, maybe in Quebec, if you don't speak French.

I, however, am a proud Canadian and, like any proud Canadian, I speak both official languages.

The people here are tolerant, non-judgemental, and very down-to-earth. We love our country, but we are not as fanatical about it as the Americans are about their country. We are an ethnic mosaic, and people from all over the world live here and practice their culture, whereas in the United States, they are a melting pot and everybody is American first, regardless of where they come from. In Canada, you are known as a Greek Canadian, an Italian Canadian, or an Indian Canadian, but in the United States, you are an American Greek, an American Italian, and an American Indian. The United States always put their country first over every other, because they have the largest army, but that doesn't make them the best country in the world. Every single year, for the last ten years, the United Nations has recognized Canada as one of the top three, if not the first, greatest countries in the world to live in. We don't have the poverty, the crime, the prejudice, or the disease that the United States have. We have a much smaller rate of teenage pregnancy, a lower death rate and a lower birth rate. The happiness factor in Canada is much higher than in the United States. We have the best health care system in the world. And the world view of Canada is so much better than it is of the United States. You go to any country in the world and tell them that you're Canadian, and you will always get a very warm welcome. The Americans say that it's because the world sees us as a bunch of weaklings who pose no threat, but that's just because they are jealous. The real reason is the world sees Canadians as a friendly people, a non-judgemental people, a non-violent people, a tolerant people, and a generous people. My aunt went to Japan last year, and, when she happened to mention to the owner of a bar she was in that she was from Canada, he, and several other patrons, bought her a beer. And, needless to say, any place a Canadian goes in the United Kingdom, he will be welcomed very warmly.

The facts remain stable every single year; people in the world love Canadians more than any other nationality. So much so, that a lot of Americans have immigrated here just based on that.

There's no greater country in the world to live in, I promise, so any American who is reading this...Please, for the good of yourself and your family, current or future, please do the right thing and move up to Canada. We may not have as many jobs as you have, and we may not have the land diversity that you have, but we are still the greatest country in the world, and no fooling. You won't regret it.

We also have the best skiing and the best beer in the world, but that's no reason to move here. It's a neat fact, though.

And our anthem, which apparently only 41% of Canadians can sing word for word, is so beautiful that I think I will quote it here, in both official languages:

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
******
O Canada!
Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!

Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.

Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
 Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
 

Thanks for reading and Happy Canada Day!