Canada Day

It is Canada Day, and I guess that shouldn't be allowed to pass without note.
I have asked others what it means to be a Canadian. Perhaps I should answer that question myself.
I guess the first thing to be said about being from this country is that we feel we have the God-given right to complain about the weather. In the winter, we complain about the windchill, in the summer, we complain about the heat and humidity. (not to mention the mosquitos) On the other hand, where but in Canada, with our once cold and snowy winters could you get the invention of the snowmobile?
The other uniquely Canadian trait is our ability to laugh at ourselves. This is most true on our east coast, where even the Newfie knows every Newfie joke, and can point to their family as the source. We are so modest in our nature that it seems only natural to keep our accomplishments low key.
Which isn't to say we haven't done some great things. A Canadian authored the UN code of Human Rights. A Canadian invented basketball. A Canadian invented the telephone (Yes, Bell was a Canadian). Canadians have been at the forefront of peacekeeping efforts around the world, cleaning up the messes when diplomacy has failed.
So, happy birthday, Canada! May we always remember what a great country you are, even if we choose to keep it to ourselves.