The Winter Olympics begin tonight in Vancouver. Although it has been 24 years since we moved to the States, I will be watching with a great deal of pride as my native country welcomes the world.

Although I became a US citizen several years ago, I still have a great allegiance and fondness for Canada. Over the next few weeks there will be many articles and features about Canada in the media.
Many of them will deal with the nature of Canadians and how they differ in their approach to things.Canadians are polite,or some might say bland. Canadians are respectful, and passive, they might say. Canadians are knowledgeable about the world, especially when it comes to all things American. Canadians grow up in the shadow of the US...and this close relationship plays itself out in so many ways. "We are not Americans...we are Canadians" would be our indignant reply to those who mistook us for US citizens. Their reaction would immediately change from one of hostility to friendliness. If that was the only legacy of being Canadian, that worked fine for us.We must rememeber that Canada evolved into a parliamentary democracy through arduous negotiations that were resolved in 1867....why, Canada did not even adopt its official Maple Leaf flag until 100 years later. The U.S. became independent through revolution, making its official beginnings as a country in a manner vastly different from Canada's.

Canada is a nation with a national anthem in two languages that has different lyrics. Canada has had to deal with how it defines itself in light of the overwhelming economic, cultural and social impact that its southern neighbor plays in its daily life. So many things Canadian are inextricably tied to what happens in the US. Nonetheless, Canada is an amazing democracy-a multi cultural nation that has always celebrated its diversity-a land of unparalled beauty (as you will see over the next 2 weeks as the Olympics are telecast from beautiful British Columbia)and a land rich in natural resources.

I have grown to appreciate the assets of both Canada and the United States over the years, but tonight I will once again be the proud Canadian, as the Canadian Olympic team marches into the arena, carrying the red Maple Leaf.