Oh Canada

I think I’m educated. I know some history. It’s a fact that history is too kind to those that fathered a nation. I get it that this country was founded on immigration. We are made up of many people. I have wondered what it would be like to be German, British, or African. That heritage means something to me. Yes, I have lineage, but I’m Canadian. Quebecor’s have French, but I’m from British Colombia, but raised in Alberta. I am a western boy. Lineage, that’s secondary.

            There are people who are Scottish or Irish. They have a kilt or green in their blood. What does a western boy have? I suppose I could be a Romanian western boy. Those people have roots here. Yet, in reality, I am just a western Canadian boy. I grew up annoyed at the east. Go figure I married an eastern girl. I am proud of oil, trees, and farming. I stand for football, skiing, and hockey. A western boy is red necked and tough. We have passion. However, it’s Alberta first and Canada second.

            I get the sense that in America and Canada there is province or state first and country second. That does not mean we would not die for our country. Canada is turning 150 today. In the world scheme of heritage were still babies. Yet, I am a western boy first. I love my Canadian flag. Do I love my heritage like a Scottish person would? It’s odd really. Where does my allegiance lie? Is it western, Alberta, British Columbia, or something else? I think it’s province first. My wife always said I’d have trouble out east. I ain’t like them.

            People are proud to be from New York or Montana. People love being from London or Paris. Those places have history. Are you from Ireland or Greece? We have talked at work about those who come from other places. It does bother us that they call another country home. In some ways we are asking why here? Just go home if this is not home. Yet, they come here for many reasons just like they did 150 years ago. It’s not that simple.

            Sometimes I quote the Bible to ask what does God say about country. Today I want to take a different approach. It seems this world is falling apart. There are more bad people than ever. This brings me back to immigration. Why come here? Some say it’s the safe country. Others tell us that there is work here. There is freedom here. In some ways, this western boy has been invaded. This is not my home anymore. Yet, they are coming. I think in the end the world is being split between good and evil. Unfortunately for the western world we are the good. That means that people are running for their lives here.

            It seems arrogant to say this broken country is the good. What about Nigeria or Germany? This is a God thing. It’s not that were Christian in Canada. We don’t have religion here no more. Yet, I feel this is Gods last stand between good and evil. I do think the ocean has played a part in all this. It’s not easy for the forces of evil to follow the good to North America. We are more protected than Europe. The places of Europe are feeling the heat in bombings and riots. We look safe here at the moment. Is it safety, goodness, or just the ocean?

            It’s been hard to swallow a changing country. I do feel that this melting pot of people is melting. Evil can hide in here. We all look safe. I truly believe that mixing nations will only bring disaster. In Europe, it’s already begun. Were just far away from the danger because of oceans and such. I bet God would say the evil is coming. It’s not about shutting our doors. It’s not about loving the bad people. The ideology of loving bad people so that they turn into good people is stupid. Bad is bad. Europe is finding that out. We will too in time. Yet, the good are coming.

            My western heritage says welcome to Canada. My western heritage wants to protect this country from invaders. The people fleeing the world look like invaders. I know in my heart they are not, but it does sadden me. I feel like they’re using my country until theirs is fixed. It’s not that simple and I know it. Canada has always been made up of invaders. Just ask the natives. Their country has changed just as mine is now too. It’s hard, but I’m Canadian. We welcome, we fight for freedom, we help. That’s what our heritage is. So, welcome good people from all over the world to Canada eh. Happy 150!

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