American individualism and Canadian cooperative thought; Alternatives offered to free people

BY STEVEN KASZAB

Many of my American customers have made commentary upon the relationship between Canada and the USA, and upon what makes up a Canadian. Are these two people the same or somehow different? Canadians and Americans share a great deal, watch the same television, have similar love for democracy and work together in business and play. Millions of us travel back and forth with seemingly only our national labels separating us from the other.

Our histories are intertwined, families spread across each border, with Canadians expressing their trust and love for the cousins down south. We have historically fought one another, distrusted one another, yet become the greatest of allies as well. A huge border separates each nation from the other, yet millions cross this border freely each day. Our economies are interwoven, and we walk in space together as a unit of explorers with lapel flags identifying us from the other.

What makes Canadians and Americans different? Two words and their meaning makes the case clearly. Family and Cooperation: A group of related things living together – descendants of a common ancestor working together.

“Family” holds a special place of reverence and historical significance socio-politically to both Canadians and Americans. That similarity is clear. I believe the difference in how we view family, and what family means to us. American individualism holds a pivotal historic place within the American social fabric. This flows into how they view and live their family experience. Family is a part of the greater national experience, but individualism maintains a separation from the greater public’s expectations. Individuals and their families are separate from the greater whole. Importance to the needs, expectations, myths of the individual run supreme and above the national needs and expectations. Nationalism in America is characteristically centered on independence and self-reliance.

Canadian expressions of “family” are similar, but the lived concept of family is far more holistic in its approach. Not only are family members part of the family unit, but Canadians view others in Canada as family as well. Our acceptance of the social compact unites Canadians and presses our expression to help the other. Canadian social thought evolved to accept and place social policy decisions such as our universal health care and the protection of the citizen from undue: financial, mental, and physical challenges.

America’s acceptance of the supremacy of capital and individualism places its citizens in harm’s way should that citizen face such challenges as illness (no insurance), or loss of job (loss of home). Canadian social attitudes place cooperation among our citizens as the primary method of achievement as a society and family.

Americans’ reverence of competition places citizens and American institutions against one another. Darwinian attitudes place capital and individualism into every aspect of American life from the moment an American is born in a hospital to the day they pass away. Capital, wealth, personal achievement reaches into every American’s lived experience as though it were a religion. Not so in Canada. Perhaps it is Canadians feeling of inferiority living beside the greatest democratic nation on earth, or because we understand America’s importance to Canada’s welfare and well-being be it: financial, economic, or our national defense. The proverbial little cousin.

That feeling unites Canadians, making us far more empathetic to our neighbors and the world. This empathy enters our political and social realities, as to how we see ourselves. Our inferiority makes us more cooperative, and socially responsible.

American individualism and Canadian cooperative thought. Alternatives offered to free people. Choose and choose well.