Yesterday was Canada Day. As a Canadian its a day I feel some pride. I live in a rather amazing country. Diversity flourishes and personal liberty is honoured.
Why do Canadians celebrate being Canadian on July 1st.
The obvious answer is that day is the anniversary of Confederation. Nearly every country in the world has a national holiday. A day to reflect and celebrate the nation to which we belong. Most countries have their national holiday on the anniversary of the formation of their country, or their Independence from their horrible oppressive regime.
I can see there is validity in celebrating the first day of a nation's history. It is when it all began. The first day of a nation is not the best day of a nation.
Maybe we should be celebrating the best day as a nation. The day when we were truly remarkable. The day when we outshone the world.
I don't know what day that would be. It would be quite difficult in some nations to pick the best day. Many great things have happened in many great places. It could force the populous to think about their national achievements and celebrate the great ones. It could spark great debate and the sharing of great ideas. It could press a nation to be greater.
Of course if you are Canadian we get July 1st as a national holiday and the weather is usually nice and who would want to mess with that?
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If they put it to a vote it would probably end up being Hal Anderson's birthday.
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