Canadian

Wow...
During the recent London Olympics, going against my normal aversion to such girly things, I painted some nail art in the form of a bright red maple leaf on to the nail of my ring finger.  I look at it now, with its chipping edges and can't help but feel an ironic twinge.  My little show of support for our Canadian athletes seemed to be chipping away, reflecting my usual feelings of faith in my country. 

It actually started a little while ago before the Bank of Canada's decision to replace an "Asian" woman on the new $100 bill was made public.  In early August, a Canadian woman of Vietnamese descent passed away while in Vietnam.  While most of the reactions were condolences or expressed doubts about the suspicious circumstances surrounding her death, there was one comment that I have carried with me.  One poster attacked her as a "drug addict" and that since she "wasn't born in Canada...she's not Canadian" (there was no information in the article concerning where she was born).   While many others jumped on on this comment and the poster was quickly labeled a troll, the comment has stuck and festered. 
I know, it was the thoughtless comment of a single troll.  A person hiding somewhere behind a username (one pulled from Tolkien, despite his decidedly anti-Tolkien world views) and an IP address.  But to think that that comment could even be made was disheartening to say the least.

I immigrated to Canada as a small child.  I was not born in Canada.  I've grown up here, went to school here.   I work here.  I volunteer here.  I donate here (Save the Vancouver Island marmot!!).  I go abroad with my maple leaf sewn proudly on my backpack and I tell others unabashedly what a wonderful place Canada is.  I cheer on Canadian national teams while wearing my red HBC mittens. I say "thank you kindly", "yes, sir" and "thank you, ma'am" (bonus points if you see the Paul Gross/ Brandt references).  I have maple syrup in my morning bowl of oatmeal.  I cheer on the Toronto Maple Leafs (as painful as that is at times...).  I keep a poppy in my car.  I buy Ontario wines to gift to oversea friends.  I teach children that our differences make us beautiful and strong.  But, apparently, I am not Canadian.   Which puts me in a sticky situation: what the heck am I?  What do I have to do here people?! Keep a pet polar bear?  I resist the urge to check my passport just to be sure...

Then this week, salt is rubbed into the wound by an unexpected source.  I read the articles on the focus groups and the Bank of Canada's redesign of the new $100 polymer bill.  First, of all, not sure why they didn't recognize actual Canadian scientists on the bill.  But, that's another issue.  The articles included quotes from some of the focus groups, which were anything but pleasant.  I now feel even more empathetic to that little girl who got bounced from the her starring role in the Beijing Olympics because her government deemed her not cute enough.  Because apparently, the Bank of Canada agrees with those focus groups members and have deemed me "ugly" (ouch) and "not representative of Canada".  Funny, someone should have told me earlier...since I recently gave a presentation called "How to Represent Canada".   If the bank was trying to protect me from the stereotypes of Asians in science, I'd like to say thanks, but no thanks.  That somehow, I feel I could handle...I have "The Big Bang Theory" and my cell phone calculator to help me with those issues.  By "ethnically neutralizing" the image (oddly, ethnically neutral is apparently Caucasian) the Bank of Canada gave credence and validity to those comments.  It's as if they've printed those insults (oh, excuse me, "focus group comments" *ahem*) on to the back of the bill.  And as with the troll's comment, there is a sense of sadness and fear that such comments were even made.

I can at least say that it's not all gloom and doom though.  There has been a general national eyebrow raised.  Comments on forums have been blasting the decision.  A CBC on-line poll has over 75% disagreeing with the Bank of Canada's decision.  And not all of the comments from the focus groups found me so repulsive.  Some praised the original design as being multicultural and diverse.  What the BoC really should have done was listen to one of the other released comments: represent other ethnic groups (yes, I know I'm leaving out the "contentious" part).  Instead of neutralizing, show and celebrate our diversity by having Canadians of different backgrounds working side by side. 

The question now is, do I put on another layer of top coat on my chipping maple leaf? Or do I get out the nail polish remover?