July 1, Canada Day
It was July 1, 2007. Canada Day. Four am in the morning I thought, marvelling at the definite chill in the air so late in the year. The moon hung strong and low in the South West sky... its light shining, dancing and raining for all near purposes like the light from a giant spotlight or ancient orb upon these lands and country of my birth. Well whats it going to be I wondered. Another drunken party and spree, like so many times before on this day or? What was Canada Day about anyway. A birthday party? I suppose I thought. But thought too, a celebration of all things Canadian. Good, bad and indifferent. Canada being a decent sort of country though, all things considered but still what was it?
What was or is the quintessential Canada?
Complex! yes Canada is perhaps at its heart quite complex. A Mosaic as some had said before. A tapestry of cultures and values and environs, yet? Who had said it best? I wondered? I suppose the Land had said and still says it best. A Land that is both strong but in danger or peril of the erosion of its voice and beauty, challenged as it is, by the machinery and calous of industry, civilization and the unknown. If we lose the Land I thought then we will be losing Canada, losing ourselves, losing our identity.Losing the precious and special thing that Canada has been through the ages. We must thus share and keep the land in good stead with the land itself then and those that live with for and on it.
But what have I said...?
Happy day Canada... it is the dawn of a new day so we will and do celebrate your enigma, now as always.
Happy Birthday to you...
Alfred G. Jonas
June 21
Summer Solstice
National Aboriginal Day
1913
July 1, 1867
Canada Day
