By René Biberstein
Anti-Americanism. Canadians don't often speak of it or admit that they feel it. Since the American Revolution of the late 18th century, it has been one of the most persistent aspects of Canadian history and cultural identity. Often, Canadians attempt to define themselves by citing the difference between themselves and Americans. But as Canadian resistance is gradually eroded by bombardments of Hollywood commercialism, are Canadian youth still buying into the dislike of our southern neighbours? And, perhaps more importantly, is it a useful feeling to encourage?
Retired York University professor Jack Granatstein believes that anti-Americanism is no longer a positive feeling for Canadians &emdash;particularly young people&emdash; to have. Writer of the acclaimed 1996 book Yankee Go Home?, he defines anti-Americanism as "an unreasonable hostility" which stems from a sense of national insecurity. "For two hundred, three hundred years it's been the defence against the threat of American invasion," Granatstein says.
But now the American invasion, at least in cultural and economic terms, is no longer a threat but a reality. Granatstein believes that the only effective defence today is a positive nationalism, inspired by pro-Canadian rather than anti-American feelings. "Nationalism is critical for a nation to survive," he says.
"In the '60s there was very strong anti-Americanism [among youth], especially in the universities and colleges," Granatstein notes. He found that even recent immigrants almost instantly picked up on the notion of disliking Americans. But Granatstein believes that we are currently going through a lull in radical anti-American sentiment. "These things come in waves and I fully imagine it to resurge in the future." Such a resurgence in youth today could bring hot nationalist issues like free trade and U.S. cultural and economic influence into the politics of tomorrow.
High School student Vikash Agarwal, 18, considers himself to be an anti-American. "In past Canada was involved in wars and America was looked at as an ally and a big brother," he says. "[Today] Canadians look at Americans as enemies and bullies in the big scene." But Agarwal, like Granatstein, can't see a complete return to the fervent anti-Americanism that charicterised the Conservative party until the 1960's. "Despite everything, the U.S. is still an important trade partner. No politician would say that he or she was so anti-American that they wouldn't trade with the U.S. any more."
Many young Canadians don't like to refer to themselves as anti-American, but most believe that the sentiment is growing rather than shrinking. Those interviewed tended to blame this directly on the policies of the United States and its citizens. Student Gurwinder Singh is embittered by the fact that "Canadians always seem to care about America so much and Americans never care about Canada." He believes that anti-Americanism and nationalism are growing "as more and more Canadians become aware. . . that we only think we have to be dependent on them [the United States], but realise we're not."
Another student, Kevin Roach, blames the continuous athletic rivalries which he says have excited and exaggerated emotions on both sides of the border. "A lot of 'Canada versus the U.S.' things have happened," he says. While sporting events often use hyped nationalism to boost ticket sales and certainly don't carry the importance of trade pacts, they can have a lasting effect. When the Canada-U.S. hockey rivalry came to nought in the 1998 Olympics, the Canadian Olympic Committee took solace by saying that "this is the first year we have outdone our neighbours to the south."
"I was always struck by how instinctive the response of anti-Americanism is in young people, " Granatstein says. But he is equally struck by the incredible rarity of its being put into action. Too often Canadian youth encourage their own cultural and economic demise by buying into American merchandise, he says.
The first step, Granatstein says, will be for Canadians to come to a realisation about the effects of American imperialism. The second and more difficult part, will be for us to not react, or continue reacting, in a hostile and negative way. "It's going to be very hard to find a pan-Canadian nationalism," he says. Granatstein notes that the strongest and most desirably effective nationalism in the country today is focused on Québec separation.
How it is to be done, he can't be sure. However Granatstein finds the recent attempts by anti-free trade groups and Edmonton publishing magnate, Mel Hurtig's ill-fated National Party to be poor. This last minute, or according to Granatstein, "last-gasp" anti-Americanism seems to lack a forward-looking charisma. He believes that if nothing is done soon to stop the flow of the Wal-Mart, Starbuck's and Nike culture, Canada will very soon be finished. After that, the professor says, "we're all prisoners."
Photography credits: Flamin' flag by Warren S. Apel (of the Flag Burning Page), Diefenbaker from the National Archives of Canada (via Diefenbaker Web), and student protesters from Change-Links Progressive Newspaper.
TG Magazine /The Students Commission
Le Magazine TG/La Commission des étudiants