On a Shared National Identity

VivianLea Doubt

Thompson Rivers University

SOCI 399: Assignment One

February 11, 2009

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Is it necessary for a multinational state to develop a shared

national identity? Or, is it sufficient to expect only patriotism
from citizens?

What is Canada’s national identity? The tourist images of the Mounties, the

Rockies, Old Quebec City, and the Calgary Stampede? Hockey, toques, Tim Horton’s ®,

the great outdoors? Or perhaps these chosen emblems: the Royal Proclamation of 1763,

Confederation, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms? Kymlicka notes:

Much has been made in the recent literature of the social construction of
national identity… And of course much of the mythology accompanying
national identities is just that – a myth. But it is important not to confuse
the heroes, history, or present-day characteristics of a national identity
with a national identity itself (1995, p. 185).

This is particularly interesting in light of a recent national news story about an

elementary school principal who decided that the national anthem would no longer be

sung on a daily basis in his school. In a nutshell, some parents objected to their children

being required to sing the anthem, and in the interests of fostering a sense of

inclusiveness the principal and teachers decided that the anthem could be reserved for

special school assemblies. Other parents saw this as a direct challenge to their Canadian

identity, and demanded a return of the daily ritual, which the local school board complied

with. For readers unfamiliar with the story, a link is provided here (CBC News, 2009).

It should be noted that there is a political element to this story which is largely

ignored in the interest of focusing on the identity issue. Apparently some parents, both

large and small C conservatives, confused the symbol of the national anthem with the

actuality of ‘true patriot love’. One parent, in fact, offered to beat the principal senseless,
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while others showered him with death threats in affirmation of the ‘true north strong and

free’. Speaking personally, I wonder where this leaves me – despiser of hockey, double

doubles and trans-fat-laden doughnuts, toques, the Calgary Stampede, and troubled by the

tarnished image of the RCMP. On the other hand, ardent lover of the Rockies, Old

Quebec city, and the great outdoors – but unable to remember when I last sang ‘O

Canada’. Is my patriotism also questionable in my spurning of these iconic emblems as

representative of my national identity?

Kenneth McRoberts writes:

Similarly, there has been, at least outside Quebec, the mobilization of

collective identities, from gender to race to physical disability, that are
seen to supersede and deny any notion of a Canada premised on a
linguistic and cultural dualism (1997, p. 251).

Kymlicka also argues, quoting Miller:

Since ‘subcultures threaten to undermine the overarching sense of

identity’ needed for a generous welfare state, the state should promote ‘a
common identity as citizens that is stronger than their separate identities
as members of ethnic or other sectional groups’ (1995, p. 184)

Both appear to miss some subtle nuances: that Canadians reject a dualist model of

Canada because it conflicts with the reality of a polyethnic (and multi-national) nation,

and that the common identity of Canadians lies precisely in recognizing our

multiculturalism. Canadians appear to have no problems in recognizing that Quebec is a

distinct society, just as they recognize the distinctive cultures of Chinese or Indo-

Canadians, or the right of First Nations to self government. Clearly some continue to

argue that national identity can only be fostered by singing the national anthem on a daily
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basis, or even, as another example, that fighting in hockey is integral to the national

character of the game, but more and more this is seen as limited and limiting.

The words of Pierre Elliot Trudeau continue to ring true today:

Throughout the negotiations leading to the Charter in 1982, our

government kept in mind that Canadian history has consisted of a
difficult advance toward a national unity that is still fragile and is often
threatened by intolerance... (Axworthy & Trudeau, 1990).

Canada has been characterized as an experiment by several writers, and it is clear that

questions of Quebec’s sovereignty continue to be writ large. As we have seen patriotism

can degenerate into hatred and violence, and nationalism into reactionary forces. Yet the

Canadian national identity continues to be defined by tolerance, even as that might play

out by negotiating Quebec separation peacefully, for example. Though the ethos of the

national anthem has been a little muddied, perhaps, it continues to represent tolerance,

freedom, and justice – the truest patriot love to command.

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References

Axworthy, T., & Trudeau, P. (1990). Towards a Just Society: The Trudeau years.
Toronto: Penguin Books.

CBC News. (2009, February 10). NB Principal Recieves DeathThreats in Anthem

Dispute. Retrieved February 10, 2009, from CBC.ca:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2009/02/10/nb-anthem-
threats.html?ref=rss

Kymlicka, W. (1995). Multicultural Citizenship: A liberal theory of minority rights.

Oxford: Oxford University Press.

McRoberts, K. (1997). Misconceiving Canada: The struggle for national unity. Don
Mills: Oxford University Press.