Canadians
Suffer Indignities, Deserve Studies Program
To
the Editors:
Benjamin Holts daring manifesto, published in both English
and French while not exceeding 600 words, is a beacon. Canada has
long remained beyond the pale of the U.S. citizens imagination
aside from limited and degrading instances. Meanwhile, U.S. minorities
have entered the breach, battling in academia and the polity for
justice and for recognition. Somehow, something was always missing.
That something was Canada.
Consider, that in three decades after cautious beginnings, African
American studies have become anchored at Oberlin and elsewhere.
The history department now offers courses on the Chicano experience
and on the U.S./Mexico borderlands. Asian American studies, making
inroads, and now the comparative study of ethnic groups in the United
States has been enshrined as a major. Why has the border with Canada
been ignored, the cultures of the northern country passed over in
silence? Dare I say, the ethnic studies partisans are guilty of
prejudicial nationalism, if unintended: what happens in Los Angeles
or New York or Cleveland is important, but not Toronto, Whitehorse
or Quebec.
One could take this as occasion for resentment of Canada, blaming
the victim of our failings, sneering at the casualties of Yankee
priorities. None of that would be fair. Chin up, Oberlin, because
we have a new mission: the elevation of Canada into our conception
of human life worthy of study. Nor will Canadian studies be the
last crusade. The infinite multiplication of U.S. courses and majors
is achieved at the expense of studying anything from anywhere else.
Entire continents, such as Australia, can be lost in the process.
It is time to expand non-U.S. courses in lockstep with U.S. courses.
Otherwise, national narcissism will be the inevitable result, even
if the self-gaze is subdivided along immigration patterns.
Come on, Yankees, we know this is not fair. Think quietly to yourself
about the indignities Canadians are made to suffer, even by yourself
and your peers. Have you been party to jokes told in
dialect, where the different pronunciation of the ou
dipthong and the addition of the colloquial eh? let
everyone know that the laugh is at Canadian expense? How about,
as brother Ben Holt tells us, the onslaught of Blame Canada
and other references to the South Park movie? I have known a radical
hippie from NEW YORK who perhaps exhibits the national prejudices
best. Upon hearing of comparative American ethnic studies, he was
a firm supporter. When the subject of Canada arose, this usual non-militarist
made a throwaway comment on the ease with which U.S. forces could
defeat her. He is not, mind you, evil. The attitude is, however.
When my New Yorker friend made a joke of Canada, he showed not so
much well rehearsed antipathy as slovenly indifference. For the
most part, in progressive environments, we may only face this. I
fear, however, that the very act of raising the issue of Canadian
studies will generate a vicious opposition if it is not simply ignored.
To the lazily anti-Canadian most of Oberlin I say
wake up, grow up, join up. Do not shun the opportunity to educate
and rectify your world and yourself. To the fervently anti-Canadian,
I say that you will be your own gravediggers. Chauvinism against
the children of the Maple Leaf will leave you damned in the judgment
of history.
Six hundred words are hardly sufficient to explore the lives of
28 million Canadians and their importance to North America and the
world. This is symptomatic of most letters to the editor. Some issues
are simply more important than a few column inches.
Adam
Balling
OC 01
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