**** DISCLAIMER****
I’m not saying that Canada is perfect, far from it. Just
like any other country, we have issues to work on like having better
healthcare, employment and education. This post exists merely to illustrate my
gratefulness to being born in Canada, and by no means is intended to degrade
any other country.
After reading about shootings, attacks, and wars all over
the place, there is no question that the world we live in at the moment is in
great turmoil. May you be a developing country or leading the world economy,
there is no escaping the atrocities that lurk the corners of the Earth.
I’ve always been told to never take for granted, to be so
lucky to be born in Canada, especially in this era. I knew my parents fled their
home country during a war that divided their nation- Vietnam. They left
everything they knew behind: their riches, their family, everything. Slowly,
they saw the government take possession of everything they owned. They were stripped
of everything but their dignity and their pride. They have witnessed first-hand
the filthiest sides of human nature.
Then, fast-forward a few years and a miracle was born: me. Little
Dalena was always constantly reminded of the vast opportunities that awaited
her, purely by being born in one of the safest countries in the world-
especially when she behaved terribly. She always more or less knew her luck,
but mainly from hearing her parents’ stories from the past. Like any child, she
found things unfair: why did she have to perpetually listen to these depressing
stories? Surely, her classmates had it good. They probably didn’t have to be
reminded of their luck.
But now, after all the recent events as well as gaining
insight from people around me, news, and videos, I have understood my
incredible fortune. It hit me like a truck, like a punch in the face. It was as
if I just woke up from a long, everlasting slumber. I have just realized how
incredibly blessed I am and am just so grateful about it.
I am grateful that I was born in a family and a nation where
education was the priority. I am able to seek the education that I want and
therefore able to not only have the opportunity to choose a profession, but
also realize my potential.
I am grateful to live in a society where laws ensure my
well-being and are abided by. I feel perfectly comfortable walking down the
streets alone, with my headphones on, even at night. I don’t have to constantly
watch my back and be suspicious of everyone around me. I can actually assume-
for the most part anyway- that people around me have good intentions.
I am grateful that Canada is a peaceful country. Hearing the
number of casualties from attacks/shootings/bombings are not part of my morning
routine. I don’t have to pray, every single day, for my family and friends.
It’s a given that they are not in danger and will live to see another day.
Finally, I am grateful for my health. I live in a place
where the air does not hinder my body. I come from a place where I can seek
medical advice and be treated. I live in
a place where the food quality is regulated and take for granted that I am not
ingesting pure garbage.
One of my high school teachers once said: “No one attacks
Canada not because we’re likable, but because we’re harmless”. It was a joke,
of course. But in times like these, I wouldn’t mind hearing a joke about our
English accents nor how ridiculously polite we are. I’d rather be a harmless
laughing stock than witness the daily horror in war-torn countries.
On that note, travel safely.
Santé, Cheers
PS: Ironically, I really like Jim Jefferies’ latest
standup-Freedumb. Widely inappropriate, but somewhat relevant to this post. Check
it out peeps.
PPS: This is a rather dark and very personal post… I’ll try
to go easy on this type in the future and keep it light. Also, do you like this
kind of stuff? Comments, suggestions and any type of feedback are welcome!
PPPS: I really want to end on a positive note, so here's a classic Canadian ad.
