South of the Border

by Diane Russell, Feature Writer

"Americanized". What images come to mind when you read that word? Better yet, what reaction does it evoke? Based on conversations with my Canadian acquaintances, the word carries negative undertones. As countries, we're neighbours. As populations, are we really that different?

Vermont

I've been in and out of Vermont for 8 months now, which hardly qualifies me as an expert. Note that Vermont, as well, is, well, an exceptional state. It's environmentally conscious. It boasts a social safety net almost as comprehensive as Ontario, with taxes to match. In some ways, it reminds me of the Ontario I knew 30 years ago. Perhaps it's a state of mind.

Canada?

There are some subtle differences. It's true that most of the Americans we've crossed paths with know very little about Canada. Mention BC, for example, and it's a rare individual who connects this with something other than "Before Christ". To date, we've only met one person who is aware of Alberta's oil reserves, and most cannot envision anything that exists west of Toronto. However, I don't see this as an example of American arrogance. Instead, I like to believe that this ignorance exists because their educational system does not place a priority on learning about other countries and focuses mainly on the USA.

Church and State

It has been said that capitalism reigns supreme in the USA. To debate this would require much research, and it is not a subject I feel competent or compelled to tackle. That said, Easter (American-style) has just come and gone—and what a difference. In Canada, schools, shops, and most non-essential services were closed. In America? Business as usual. Even our small local library kept its regular hours; and it was here that I protested "but it's Good Friday, everything should be closed". The librarian explained the rationale: separation of the Church and the State. Were it not for a proliferation of decorated egg and cute bunny icons in the shops, one would not even know it was Easter.

The polls tell us that, percentage-wise, more Americans claim to attend church services than do Canadians. By extension, Americans may consider themselves to be more "religious" than their neighbours to the North. Personally, I do not consider myself to be religious. And yet, I found the whole "non-observation" of Good Friday very sad. It felt as if yet another traditional value was being eroded in the name of progress.

Advancements?

"Advancements" in Canada often follow similar occurrences in the USA. Food for thought: is it really necessary to have the corporate machine running 24/7?

About Diane Russell

Diane Russell is dividing her time between Canada and Quechee, Vermont. She welcomes questions and comments.