Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

I am writing this correspondence, not so much as a reaction to Jackie Black's "Seven Reasons Why America is Better Than Canada" (op-ed, Feb. 5, 2003), but rather as an opportunity to raise an issue that I think is important.

I am a Canadian citizen who was lucky enough to earn my master's, meet my wife and be employed in the United States. In my time here I have been very surprised by some of the reactions of those around me (reactions not much different than Ms. Black's) to my cultural background. For whatever reason, there seems to be an unspoken belief that it is OK to belittle or mock the "Canadian way of life." Jokes about beer, hockey and maple syrup abound and questions about annexing Canada as the "51st state" go on without any hesitation or consideration for their impacts.

At this point I will pose a question for your consideration: Take the title of Ms. Black's article and replace the words "America is" with the words "White people are" or "English-speaking Americans are" and replace "Canada" with the words "African American" or "Spanish-speaking Americans." Then consider if, under those alternative headlines, this article would have been published. I surmise that you would quickly answer "No." So why is it acceptable to use the very same language about Canada and Canadian culture?

My belief is that these types of statements and attitudes pervade because people haven't been told that this type of behavior is taboo. You have been told not to stare or mock or disparage specific populations or ethnicities. However, people neglect to take these same lessons and realize that they are applicable in other situations, to other people and their backgrounds. This is another, alternative example, as to the continued ignorance of people to actually respect, let alone celebrate, the difference of "others."

Canada is not better or worse than the United States. It's just different. Please try to remember and respect the fact that difference is a good thing.