I like living in Canada. It’s nice here.
We have this thing though. That we do.
In more than one class or discussion I’ve heard the United States take the label of “melting pot.” Canada in turn is often referred to as a “cultural mosaic.”
Hmm.
I can’t
really disagree with that statement. But I sometimes wonder: does that positive label reflect poorly upon us as people?
Three years ago NTV stopped wishing people a “Merry Christmas” and started telling them “Happy Holidays”. It’s politically correct, isn’t it?
And then you start thinking about the fact that ninety-seven percent (
97%!!!) of Newfoundlanders identify themselves as Christian.
It’s not really a majority rules thing. But can you see what I’m getting at? This sort of stuff makes me uneasy.
You’re going to be surprised what inspired me to dwell on this.
American Idol. I know. I don’t watch it, but my Mom is a devout fan of American and Canadian Idol.
I was in the kitchen when I heard one of my
all time favourite church songs coming from the living room. My Mom was watching American Idol. And I mean this is no Amazing Grace (which is, in my opinion, a hymn for Christ that over the years has been marketed to the world as not-a-hymn). This is a
church song.
I was floored. My Mom looked at me and said “you wouldn’t see this on Canadian Idol.”
She’s right, you wouldn’t. And to some that’s a great thing. Those poor Muslims and Jews who are forced to sit through that terrible, terrible song! That wouldn’t happen in Canada!
Not in my country. Is there really no more stable ground than this?