Patience

How long does it take to forget your history?

As a supermix of nations my siblings and I stand in a unique position, none of our parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were born in and grew up in the same country. We have, for generations, been a globally dispersed family. We have moved for all sorts of reasons from prejudices to royal orders, because of military or individually driven free spirit. My parents stumbled into Canada I guess nearly 2 decades ago, and my siblings and I did most of our growing up there.

We often ponder and talk about our history, or our confusion about our history. There are many races in conflict in our genealogy, so it's hard at times to hold part of our history as valid and important because it directly conflicts with another part of that history. But, in the end, we usually agree it doesn't matter too much; what matters is what we do now and next and after that.

I recently stumbled on a pleasantly bigoted Facebook group striving to keep Canada Canadian. Purporting that there is a proud history that must be upheld, that is being diluted and forgotten by us newbies. Not only must the new guy adapt to the entirely new world, but he must do so to inculcate in himself the old stories and beliefs, the mythologies and semiotics of this thing called Canada. "Learn the language," the group argues, "get a job, stop sucking on the government for handouts."

Come on people. I know we have the freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, freedom of press in whatever form press might take. But that doesn't mean we should use those freedoms to further divide our country, to generate antagonism, persecute new Canadians, to scapegoat the government and anyone else we can for our own lazy uninformed opinions about the woes of our land.

Some of the best signs that this idea of the "Canadian Canada" is that the national anthem was written in English and shouldn't be sung in any immigrant languages. Well, first off, English is an immigrant language. Second, our anthem was written in French. Thirdly, at many time throughout its history it has been sung in different language, in native Canadian languages at NHL games and other official events. And who cares what language it is sung it, especially when that translation helps make O Canada dear to the hearts of even more Canadians. It the act of singing a song that symbolizes our unity and pride as a nation that is of importance...isn't it? I mean you'd think this group would be more offended by the regular booing of the anthem at NHL and CFL games in Montreal...maybe.

A friend just sent me a youtube or googlevideo or something from the Ellen Degeneres show about little billy and bobby somewhere in the US. Billy killed Bobby because Bobby asked Billy to be his Valentine. Ellen's message that it is not alright that we are perpetuating the message that it is wrong to be (different). It is not okay that we make being different the punch lines in our jokes. That we can hate difference so deeply so vehemently that we can commit heinous crimes in an attempt to stamp out difference around us. Degeneres is talking specifically against the message it is wrong to be gay, but it has deeper implications.

We must change the message that it is wrong to be different. What is more it is our responsibility to find ways to make our differences what makes us strong. We must find ways to use our conflicts to generate positive change. And find ways to accept that sometimes that difference will be difficult to understand. Sometimes that difference won't make sense, especially when we are unwilling to ask for or to offer help.

But mostly we need a little patience. I learned the most wonderful expression while I was in Japan Shogyo mujo (諸行無常). It means All things in the world/phenomena are impermanent. I.e. all things change. The philosophy promotes the idea that things change so we should wait and watch, observe and delay so we can see what will change and what needs our intervention or help. We must accept that our history that was will not repeat, but create a new and different self as it continues to move forward in time, and these changes are for us to experience and embrace, for us to enjoy and be challenged by. For us to protest and for us to challenge. There may be similarities and redundancies, things we can avoid by knowing and not forgetting our past, but that past is a greater memory and a greater tool, when it is out diverse and diverging pasts used to help those who are new to the situation.