An Arrogant Post

For some reason I can only guess at, Canadians are more interested in Republican primaries in the U.S. than they are in the leadership races of two Federal opposition parties. Surely, the actions of government in Ottawa have more impact on average Canadians than the President of the neighbouring country, let alone who opposes him in the next election. Could it be because most Canadians watch American TV channels and read American magazines rather than the local offering? Around the cooler or in the coffee shop we share the stories on American media and are generally ignorant of happenings around us.

I have lived in Canada for 38 years and I love this country. Disregarding some instances of colour preference, Canada has been good to my family and we have been made quite comfortable. In return, we have done what we could to help the country’s economy and artistic endeavours. Canadians are reputed as a tolerant people and they forgive misdemeanours of foreigners readily. They are proud of their country and for very good reasons. Yet, I have a suspicion that we have a little of the mentality of the populations ruled by foreigners for long periods - Others know more than us and it behooves us to follow what they do without much thought. This subconscious feeling leads us to foreign products, stores, TV stations and magazines in preference to our own and in celebrating foreign royalty. That in turn perpetuates our sense of inferiority we inherited from our great grandparents who were forced out of their homelands by somewhat desperate circumstances there and the promise of a better future in a far-off frozen Tundra. They survived somehow, worked hard in difficult environment and prepared the ground for the prosperity of future generations. We owe them much gratitude and it would be preposterous to blame them for the psychological complexes of current generation. But we can face the truth without assigning any blame to ancestors long gone to heaven. Along with the wealth they generated, we also inherited from our forbears the attitude that the people in mother countries were our betters and we can do worse than imitate their social, political and economic order.

It is quite possible that I am transposing my Indian inferiority complex on the kind people who have been more than fair to me. If this is indeed true I apologize for hurt feelings. On the other hand, if it provokes some discussion, something useful may come out of this arrogant post.