Canada is very open when it comes to allowing foreign peoples across its borders. We have a vast amount of people living here who were not born here, and I think it's great. I am all for putting an end to segregation, even though the immigrants here often segregate themselves, at least we're working towards something. Toronto alone has Chinatown, little Italy, little Korea and a host of other 'little' neighborhoods. Why we all live in little pockets instead of all mixed up is another article, for now I want to investigate where I fit into Canada, and where we all should be fitting into Canada.

I was born in Canada, my parents were born in Canada, their parents were born in Canada, and of my great grandparents two were born in Canada and the rest in various other countries, one in Ireland, one in England, one in Italy, and I don't even know where the others were born. As a result I have no ties to any country other than Canada. Should I cheer for Italy at the World Cup? Just because a family member I never met once hailed from Italy? If my own father were born in Italy, then maybe I'd see it differently. I don't practice, or even know the traditions of the countries my family once called home, nor do I really want to know them. I am Canadian, or at least I thought I was.

I was on a message board the other day and I noticed a thread asking everyones nationality. The asker stated that they wanted to know where everyone was from; I of course intended to put Canada, until I noticed a little disclaimer. "Unless you are aboriginal you cannot put that you are from Canada." Are you kidding me? I have absolutely zero ties to any country other than Canada and someone is saying I can't say I'm native to this land unless I'm aboriginal? I'm sure in this case the question asker was just confused, or maybe they worded the question wrong, but the thought that someone may think that way, baffles and upsets me. Yes the white man stole land from the aboriginals of this land, yes they committed murder and theft and rape. Do you really think that the white man is evil because of that? Can you successfully argue that warring tribes didn't do that exact same thing? Humans throughout the course of history have fought for land and wealth; the white man taking North America is no different. Don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying what happened was ok, it was evil and something that should not have happened. It's also our nature to do such things, but we're trying to right old wrongs, that's good. It's hundreds of years later, I did not kill, steal, or rape, I did not come over from the UK on a boat. I was born here, just like every single aboriginal; I am native to this land. I am Canadian, nothing less, nothing more, and I have the tattoo to prove it.

As far as the immigrants who may not care about Canada as much as I do I say; that's ok. You don't have to care as much as I do, you have a home country, care about that one as much as you care about Canada, more if you want. What I do hope happens in the future, is every citizen of Canada, whether they are landed, native, and aboriginal, even visitors, stop segregating themselves. Canada is supposed to be a multicultural country. You don't have to lose your old traditions, but lets make some new ones, lets give Canada a personality. Quebec: stop caring about separating yourselves from us politically and socially, be a part of Canada, be yourself, but be a part of Canada too. Bring your differences and together we'll make a brand new type of country, one that actually doesn't care what your skin colour is, or your religion, or your eating habits. There are lots of good things in each society, each culture, lets bring them all together and make Canada's culture a mix of all the best things from around the world, then maybe the rest of the world will see that we can all get along.