Canadian History Is a History of Failure, Not Accomplishment - Essay Example

?TOPIC: SOME SAY THAT CANADIAN HISTORY IS A HISTORY OF FAILURE, NOT ACCOMPLISHMENT. DO YOU AGREE? Introduction Canada has a rich history which has been argued by some to be a failure. Dickason (2006, p11) states that it used to be contended by non-Indians that Canada has more geography to it; compared to its history. Daniel Francis in his book talks about the issue of exaggerated violence and oppression portrayed of Bolshevik revolutionaries and brands them outlandish. Daniel clearly argues that most of the beliefs held are myths. For instance, he states that the settlement by Europeans in Canada was a peaceful one. Again he asserts that Canada pretends to be a neat culturally woven nation forgetting that it had in its core a tattooed racism stimulus. Racism has been in the Canadian culture for generations. It is imperative that history is created by both real memories as well as carving a literature of incidences to make it liveable. In this light this argument, it can be inferred that the History of Canada is not all about truths (Francis, 1997). Thesis "Having no independence day, no history of independence war and having symbols that are fictitiously declared as national symbols; Canada has more geography to it, compared to its history" I ARGUMENT : There is no history of Canada engaging in a self-liberating war of its own; something that would anchor well as a founding historical perspective. 1. PROOF: Canada never fought for its independence like most countries that tended to dislodge their colonial rulers. EXPLAIN It has been put into ink like the Magna Carta. Unlike such countries, Canada recognized itself as a country upon the declaration of the Balfour Report (1926), which declared it, as an autonomous community within the British Empire. 2. PROOF: During the First World War (1914-1918) the British declared war against Germany; the implications were that the Canadian military was forced to get involved to protect its territory as it was a subservient nation of the British. EXPLAIN Upon declaration of war against Germany, a rift was developed between the French speaking and English speaking citizens. The war was fought conspicuously by the Canadian Forces with a support from Canadians of British decent, reiterating that they had to defend their mother country. This was further supported by the quote “It is our duty to let Great Britain know and to let the friends and foes of Great Britain know that there is in Canada but one mind and one heart and that all Canadians are behind the Mother Country” (Various Publishers, 2011). This led to the battle of the Vimy Ridge in 1917 where the Canadian Corps sought to fight against Germans. According to John Pierce (2012), although the Canadians had nothing to do with this war; yet the British depicted it as their own war to blind the Canadians of the reality of the nature of this war. CONCLUDING SENTENCE: The history of Canada reveals that no war can be labelled as the war of independence of Canada; although there is history of other wars being fought in the region, none of them qualifies as a war of independence. II: SECOND ARGUMENT: Canada is a country without an independence day. History reveals no single moment at which Canada gained its sovereignty. 1. PROOF: The name of the founder of the country is missing. EXPLAIN/ELABORATE/DESCRIBE: Canada has no founders to be celebrated; even the Quebec has its own day when it celebrates the national day (Thompson, 2013). It is therefore evident that there is no national-day or event that indicates the independence of Canada and in the same spirit no achievement to celebrate (Hart, 2008). 2. PROOF: Canada amended its constitution in 1982 EXPLAIN/ELABORATE/DESCRIBE: Perhaps independence resulted when Canada eventually amended it constitution in the year 1982. Embassies were thereafter established and the Country virtually came into existence as a result of this report. It is also an argument that maturity was probably attained when Canada felt the loss of their young soldiers during the World war. The photographs taken of the Last Spike of the railway indicated the birth of a Nation. There is no solid proof of how the photographs came about and can therefore not be verified (Francis, 1997, p. 15-28). CONCLUDING SENTENCE: There are various points in the history of Canada which can be considered a turning point for the country; yet a clear cut point in history that marks the country's independence is lacking. III: THIRD ARGUMENT: The Canadian symbols are the beliefs held by many are based on myths created by governments and private organizations to serve their self-interests. We cannot forget RCMP history of repression and illegality. An inflated railway was made a national dream as a highly successful public relation plan. 1. PROOF: The Canadian Pacific Railways is considered a rich symbol of Canada’s historical achievements. It was built to protect the country from the Americans and become an identity of Canada. For Canada, the CPR is a heroic symbol representing Canada’s intention to unite the country’s regions by the then serving Prime Minister John A. McDonald and it should remain to be as such. EXPLAIN/ELABORATE/DESCRIBE: This also remains only a claim that the establishment of the CPR was the cornerstone of what Canada is today. This was again an argument by Pierre Berton in his three books published in the 1970s, where he stated that the Nation was created as a result of the construction of the railways. The railway was built on the land provided by the Indians, funds raised by the Britain and built with the assistance of Chinese; yet the credit of all this was given to the parties which were not at all involved in the process (Francis, 1997, p. 15-28). 2. PROOF: The other National symbol in history is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Canadians are the only people who recognize a police force as their national icon. EXPLAIN/ELABORATE/DESCRIBE: RCMP has a negative image. We cannot forget its history of repression and illegality. It is recognised as the force that pacified the West during the rebellions of 1873 against the British that took place at the Upper and Lower Canada. They stood as guards around national buildings in their unique attires. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were used in 1932 by the government to do away with radicals whom they referred to as “agitators”. This led to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police being used as spies on its own people. This was in complete contrast to the initial plan at the time of the red scare in 1919 which was seen as unnatural. Although Prime Minister R. B. Bennet promised to fight this height of communism, referring to the Acts of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; it was the same that was employed to curb the rise of a revolution of the unemployed for fears that they would become a Soviet-like union. This was a sign that the red scare had emerged all over again. The unemployment rates rose as a result of the Great Depression which hit Canada hard. The then Prime Minister Mackenzie King refused to give any reliefs as a government intervention. Richard Bedford Bennet upon taking power in 1930 had promised high tariffs and large scale spending but failed as a result of a lot of spending and had to renege. This led to the Mackenzie revolution all over again in 1935. This is when the Reciprocal Trade Agreement was made and which marked the U-turn in the North American countries (USA-Canada) economic associations.The RCMP in contrast therefore achieved a myriad of negative attributes as compared to its sacred appearance brought about by unofficial history (Francis, 1997, p. 29-50). CONCLUDING SENTENCE : Various symbols of the country are presented before the citizens as national icons; yet none of them are in fact eligible for the status and importance that is bestowed upon them. CONCLUSION It is therefore clear that Canada’s history is based upon myths which have been enshrined into people’s beliefs. These, the people hold as tenets and to them symbolise a rich and accomplished history. In reiterating the sentiments expressed by Daniel Francis in his book, the stories people have been taught since school days need in-depth analysis as they are a mere fiction created to build a picture of what Canada’s history should have been - they remain a national dream! Rough Notes (Content to be read) The First World War Fought (between 1914-1918) when the British declared war against Germany, the implication were that the Canadian military was to be involved to protect its territory as it was a subservient nation under the British. Canada’s Independence When did Canada gain independence? Canada never fought for its independence like most countries that tended to dislodge their colonial rulers Robert Kroestch declared in his book. The Canadian Symbols The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) It is considered a rich symbol of Canada’s historical achievements. It was built to conserve the country from the Americans and become an identity of Canada. In the book by Daniel (sic) he gave the position that the railway was built by free land provided by the Indians, funds generated from Britain and built by Chinese sweat, yet one citizen-a Michael Valpy published an article in the Globe and Mail of 18th November 1993 lamenting and irate at the inclusion the American Stars and stripes on. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police The other National symbol in history is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It is recognised as the one that pacified the West during the rebellions of the 1837 against the British that took place at the Upper and Lower Canada. The National Council of women of Canada Canada equally celebrates the win over women empowerment. The National Council of women of Canada promoted a vision of “transcendent citizenship” for women. Around 1850 in certain provinces women were allowed to vote. The 1916 Manitoba established and extended women the full privileges to vote and this was supported by the Military’s voters Act of 1917 which gave widows of those who were serving to vote REFERENCES Dickason, P. (1996). Canada's First Nations: A History of Founding Peoples from Earliest Times. Francis, D. (1992). The imaginary Indian: The image of the Indian in Canadian culture. Vancouver, B.C: Arsenal Pulp Press. Francis, D. (1997). National dreams: Myth, memory, and Canadian history. Vancouver [B.C.: Arsenal Pulp Press. Hart, M. (2008). From pride to influence: Towards a new Canadian foreign policy. Vancouver: UBC Press. Pierce, J. (2012). Constructing Memory: The Vimy Memorial. Canadian Military History, 1(1), 2. Thompson, W. C. (2013). Canada 2013. Lanham, MD : Stryker-Post Publications. Various Publishers (2011) Canada in the great world war: An authentic account of the military history of Canada from the earliest days to the close of the war of the nations. (1918). Toronto: United publishers of Canada. Read More