How many people in Quebec are like Viper and Grallon?

[Jacob]

At the time that was established as our slogan, however, we were neither large nor very diverse. We grew while our slogan remained the same, despite all of the challenges that came up with our growth and changes.

Fair enough, actually.

I'm not saying that Canada didn't. I'm just saying that applying the argument of how large and diverse the US is to our slogan is a bit disingenous.

Nah, I think you're right there - Canada wasn't so much founded on "a big idea". It has generally been an incremental adjustment of the situation to fit the facts on the ground as they changed.

However, I don't see how those facts - and that's the original point that this branch of the conversation - support Zoupa's assertion that there's no such thing as Canadian culture, or Yi's that Canadian culture lacks distinctiveness.

[Zoupa]

I was sorta tongue in cheek. I think the lack of culture in the textbook definition is in fact what canadian culture is all about. No big driving force, no manifest destiny, no national idea/ideal. That's why most Canadians see multiculturalism as part of Canadian culture.

I'm not trying to be insulting or rude, but I don't see a Canadian culture. Canada is settler land. It's a nice place to live though, that's for sure.

I missed you guys  I've been lurking though.

[merithyn]

At the time that was established as our slogan, however, we were neither large nor very diverse. We grew while our slogan remained the same, despite all of the challenges that came up with our growth and changes.

Fair enough, actually.

I'm not saying that Canada didn't. I'm just saying that applying the argument of how large and diverse the US is to our slogan is a bit disingenous.

Nah, I think you're right there - Canada wasn't so much founded on "a big idea". It has generally been an incremental adjustment of the situation to fit the facts on the ground as they changed.

However, I don't see how those facts - and that's the original point that this branch of the conversation - support Zoupa's assertion that there's no such thing as Canadian culture, or Yi's that Canadian culture lacks distinctiveness.

I wasn't trying to. I was just pointing it out.

[merithyn]

I missed you guys  I've been lurking though.

I missed you, too.

[derspiess]

I missed you guys 

Likewise :hugz:

Seriously, welcome back

[Maximus]

I actually agree with Zoupa I think. I see the need to force a Canadian culture as a Trudeauist agenda.

[Jacob]

I'm not trying to be insulting or rude, but I don't see a Canadian culture. Canada is settler land. It's a nice place to live though, that's for sure.

Do you see a Quebecois culture?

[Razgovory]

No offence, but the intention wasn't to amuse you Yanks, but to create a society we would want to live in. 

As cultures are not created by intention, I assume you're talking about the slogan.

The slogan was clearly formulated with the intention of offending no one.  Who can possibly be against good government?

Anarchists and Libertarians.  Good government weakens their arguments.

[Zoupa]

I'm not trying to be insulting or rude, but I don't see a Canadian culture. Canada is settler land. It's a nice place to live though, that's for sure.

Do you see a Quebecois culture?

Yes, the vague contours started forming in the 60s. This is just a personal opinion. I think everybody has their own definition of what culture means.

[Malthus]

I was sorta tongue in cheek. I think the lack of culture in the textbook definition is in fact what canadian culture is all about. No big driving force, no manifest destiny, no national idea/ideal. That's why most Canadians see multiculturalism as part of Canadian culture.

I'm not trying to be insulting or rude, but I don't see a Canadian culture. Canada is settler land. It's a nice place to live though, that's for sure.

I missed you guys  I've been lurking though.

Disagree. There doesn't have to be a planned driving force or manifest destiny for there to be a "culture".

Canada has a set of national ideals, which have emerged over time and which differ from those of the US (for example). They are, essentially, an emphasis of social harmony and balancing of interests, as opposed to the US focus on individual liberty. That's why "multiculturalism" is appealing to Canadians - it fits in with an already-existing national Canadian culture, formed (ironically enough, in the context of this discussion) by the Canadian history of attempting to deal with accomodating the competing interests of English colonialists, French settlers and Native Canadians.

When people say "Canada has no culture" they are referring to the fact that Canada attempts (not always successfully mind you!) not to officially value or promote the pre-existing culture of one of its constituent peoples over the others - which is all part of the specifically Canadian culture of seeking balance and social harmony. People may not see it, but it cannot be denied that it exists, and some people at least find it a powerful and attractive thing.

[garbon]

Canada has a set of national ideals, which have emerged over time and which differ from those of the US (for example). They are, essentially, an emphasis of social harmony and balancing of interests, as opposed to the US focus on individual liberty.

I think you might be painting that with too big of a wide brush. Certainly during the course of the 20th and 21st centuries, the US has put a lot of effort into a collective and not just individual freedom (looking at our social spending - and sure we don't have the best functioning system but I think it'd be a mistaken to say our focus is just on individual liberty*).

*particularly during the last decade or so in US history where we've been sacrificing more and more personal liberty for perceived public good.

Also, I thought it was francophone nations/areas that put the most focus on the rights of the collective over the individual.

[Valmy]

I'm not trying to be insulting or rude, but I don't see a Canadian culture. Canada is settler land. It's a nice place to live though, that's for sure.

Do you see a Quebecois culture?

Yes, the vague contours started forming in the 60s. This is just a personal opinion. I think everybody has their own definition of what culture means.

I judge cultures based on the quality of computer games they have produced.

[merithyn]

I missed you guys  I've been lurking though.

Disagree.

We really can argue anything, can't we?

[Malthus]

I missed you guys  I've been lurking though.

Disagree.

We really can argue anything, can't we?

I ... assume this is a joke. 

[merithyn]

I missed you guys  I've been lurking though.

Disagree.

We really can argue anything, can't we?

I ... assume this is a joke. 

And we've completely lost our sense of humor, too, apparently.