My Name is Jay and I’m a Canadian. I’m not dumb beer commercial cliché, and quite frankly I’m not that attuned to the likes of that particular brand that emblazoned our nation with a generalized perspective. Although, I will admit the Molson Canadian ColdShots have been a reliable party fuel from time to time.

Hey.
I’m not a lumberjack,
or a fur trader…
and I don’t live in an igloo
or eat blubber, or own a dogsled…
and I don’t know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada,
although I’m certain they’re really, really nice.

I have a Prime Minister,
not a President.
I speak English and French,
NOT American.
and I pronounce it ABOUT,
NOT A BOOT.

I can proudly sew my country’s flag on my backpack.
I believe in peace keeping, NOT policing.
DIVERSITY, NOT assimilation,
AND THAT THE BEAVER IS A TRULY PROUD AND NOBLE ANIMAL.
A TOQUE IS A HAT,
A CHESTERFIELD IS A COUCH,
AND IT IS PRONOUCED ‘ZED’ NOT ‘ZEE’, ‘ZED’!

CANADA IS THE SECOND LARGEST LANDMASS!
THE FIRST NATION OF HOCKEY!
AND THE BEST PART OF NORTH AMERICA!

MY NAME IS JOE!
AND I AM CANADIAN!

Yeah okay, I love all that. I really do. But it just doesn’t do it for me, and unfortunately in my fellow countrymen I feel they think appreciating those simple facts is sufficient. Although clearly a substantial patriotic element, anyone who’s questioned about his or her patriotism and refers to hockey exclusively is somewhat of an idiot. The United States best export is brutality and fear, do they brag about that? Oh wait… So maybe I am wrong just a tad and before I continue let me just clarify, I do love hockey.

My frustration is how most of the nation is left with this apathetic perspective. This especially becomes amplified when it comes to our arts and culture. Why the hell does everything Canadian suck until the Americans like it? That’s not the case in every circumstance but time and time again I see its cancerous characteristic in the attitudes of people.

So PLEASE! PLEASE! Stop taking cues from our neighbors to the south. Their media\entertainment engine is so skewed and brainwashed I don’t even know where to begin telling you what’s wrong with it. Let us make the Top40 OUR Top40. The Canadian music scene is exploding with amazing acts even making our American counterparts blush. A perfect start would be listening to CBC Radio 3. I’ve listened to the CBC Radio 3 podcast and almost cried at the brilliance that was tickling my ears. You’re not going to hear Fergie sing about some gay fucking Londy-Londy-London. You’re going to hear original music, not pre packaged filth.

I really must apologize, but this evening read an amazing Canadian magazine, I chilled listening to all Canadian music, went to the cinema and watched a Canadian film. EVERYTHING about it original. I look around and see everyone trying to be the same person and it pisses me off. That person? They’re more American than Canadian.

Be original. Support Canadian arts initiatives please! Expect to hear more on this in the future. I’m just too tired to bitch anymore, and I’ve got some greenery and a date with Arcade Fire waiting.