At first glance, the poem "I Am Canadian" written by Glen Hunt is the story of a proud Canadian named Joe, who attempts to disprove some of the preconceived ideas about Canada. Used in a Molson's Canadian Beer advertisement, this poem quickly captured the hearts of many Canadians, even though the speaker is addressing a specific group of Canadians; not Canada. His tone and condescending attitude towards countries and cultures other than his own make it clear that he does not represent Canada, but rather speaks on behalf of those in the country whose culture resembles that of the European colonizers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get the original essay Although the French and British who initially colonized this North American country, starting in the late 15th century , are not yet alive, their effect on Canadian culture, through invasion and assimilation, is strong today. Today, many Canadians consider the culture of the colonizer as their own and identify with the colonizer. In a postcolonial analysis, I argue that "I am Canadian" is an attempt by the proud colonizer to illustrate that true Canadian identity is determined by the culture of the European colonizer while ignoring the cultures of the colonized, as the exclusion by the speaker of the diverse variety of Canadian cultures, affirmation of Canada as a superior country and inability to discuss the country's darkest periods resulting from colonization. “I Am Canadian” features a passionate Canadian named Joe, who gives a speech attempting to put an end to all biased ideas about Canadian culture by stating facts about himself. Playing the colonizer, Joe implies that he is an elite example of perfect Canadian status. He appears to speak for all Canadians in his impassioned speech, but leaves aside any representation or respect for the colonized peoples he considers, "the others", who do not fit his description of those fit for society . Joe illustrates the colonizer's disdain and disdain for the diverse groups that were part of Canada long before the time of colonization. It is clear that Joe believes that the colonized condition of Canada is the correct culture with which those who reside in the country should correspond. The narrator explains that he "is not a lumberjack" and that he "[does] not own a dog sled." and clarifies how he pronounces certain words, such as "about", assuring the audience that he does not pronounce them "a-boot" (Hunt, 1.5,13-14). Joe's tone towards Canadians who possess these qualities he has just described, clear both in the poem's depiction in the beer advertisement and in the tone of the poem itself, is condescending and highlights the the speaker's fury at residents of his country being explained this way. The colonizer's pride in his culture shines through when Joe attempts to discredit these cultural traits and even imply that they do not exist, ignoring prominent members of Canada who own dog sleds and have different accents. It also fails to mention the indigenous peoples of Canada, who settled and cared for Canada's land long before European colonization. The speaker's omission of indigenous peoples, their diversity of accents, professions and lifestyles, is a prime example of how little the speaker's speech illustrates a general overview of Canadian culture and glorifies the culture added by colonization. It's clear that Joe only cares about his people and is letting his voice be heard because he believes the waycolonized is the only Canadian way. The wise speaker of the poem “I Am Canadian” describes Canada as a nation superior to others, even in comparison to surrounding countries. By using statements such as "I can proudly sew my nation's flag on my backpack", the colonizer is patting himself on the back for the country he has dominated. Joe also ensures that the audience knows that a real Canadian "[speaks] English and French/not American," proclaiming the first-rate languages ​​that his colonizing ancestors specifically introduced to the North American country (11-12). This statement shows how proud the colonizer is of the particular colonization of Canada, even though the colonization in the United States shared many cultural similarities. The speaker forgets to mention all the other languages ​​spoken in the territory before colonization, as well as all the other languages ​​added by immigration and cultural mixing. Joe goes so far as to state that Canada is "the best part of North America", a strong statement, based solely on the narrator's view of Canada and its superiority over neighboring countries. (27). The speaker does not realize that many people from different countries live in Canada and contribute to the well-being and sustainability of Canada. Joe's discrimination against other countries and other people, without any explanation as to why he holds this view, other than being Canadian, shows that Joe believes that the changes made in Canada as a result of colonization make Canada the best country and that those who occupy this culture coincide with the most excellent condition of Canada. He has no respect for countries or ways of life that lie outside of the culture he deems best, even though those populations are all around him. Joe always considers these people as the “other” to himself and the true Canadian culture superior to him; even those with small cultural differences. Throughout the poem "I Am Canadian" by Glen Hunt, the narrator is obviously trying to send a message to those who, in his opinion, have Canada all wrong. Joe, keen to protect the image of Canada as matching aspects of the European colonizers, communicates the real Canada to his audience. He suggests throughout the poem that Canada is a remarkable country, but does not acknowledge the country's dark times that occurred during the process of Canada's colonization. The colonizer describes his version of a leading Canadian citizen, but he does not mention what it took to turn a large majority of Canadians into the Canadians he describes. He states: "I believe in peacekeeping, not policing, nor diversity, not assimilation", implying that his country is kinder and unique compared to other countries, but fails to mention the fact that Canada was arguably one of the most inconsiderate and pro-assimilationist countries of all time towards those whom the colonizers deemed uneducated or unsatisfactory (17-18). Joe overlooks these events because he believes that Canada's old methods of compliance were not inhumane, as inhumane as they were, but rather seen as useful because they helped victims of colonization adapt to the culture Canadian. He claims that his country is a peacekeeping nation, which contradicts the truth about his country's dark assimilative past. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The speaker succeeds in painting Canada in a way that hides its lowest moments, but those who know the truth can easily recognize that Joe exalts the.