How do Canadian immigrants view their national identity?

Canada is a big immigrant country. For a long time, the national identity of Canadian immigrants has been a major theoretical and practical issue that people pay attention to and debate. People who have doubts about immigrants' national identity are always worried that immigrants are too keen on their own religion, culture and traditions, which will greatly affect their identity with Canadian traditional culture and values and their loyalty to Canada; On the contrary, those who are optimistic about the national identity of immigrants believe that immigrants are loyal to their own religion, culture and values, which will not only affect their identity with Canada, but also love and be loyal to this country because Canada has generously accepted their religion and culture.

But from the vivid practice, the above two viewpoints can only be a theoretical hypothesis to a great extent. In reality, immigrants' views on their national identity are often subtle, complex, vivid, emotional, vague and sometimes even difficult to summarize.

On the national identity of Portuguese and Italians from the perspective of "European Cup"

During my visit to Canada, it coincided with the final of the European Football Championship (the European Cup). At the suggestion of my Canadian colleagues, I went to the blocks called "Little Portugal" and "Little Italy" on College Street to make a field survey of Portuguese Canadians and Italian Canadians.

We chose a bar run by Portuguese Canadians as the observation place. On the day of the semi-final between Spain and Portugal, it was hard to find a bar. Many Portuguese fans are standing in the bar wearing the uniforms of the Portuguese national team. Holding a huge beer mug in one hand and waving the Portuguese flag in the other, they kept shouting "Portuguese paste" (the pronunciation of "Portugal" in Portuguese). Entering the penalty shoot-out stage, this madness suddenly became very quiet-a suffocating silence. People are absorbed in standing or sitting there, even motionless, staring at the screen. When Portugal lost the game, waves of regret, regret and even scolding broke out in the crowd.

The author specially selected five people who are more representative in mood and age (afterwards, I learned that they all have Canadian citizenship for many years) for interviews. The question is simple: which country are you from? Do you like Canada or your country of origin? If Portugal and Canada meet in the World Cup, which team will you cheer for?

The first person interviewed was a man who was nearly sixty years old. Facing the first question, he answered "I am Portuguese" without thinking, which made the author have no courage to ask other questions. The second interviewee is a middle-aged man in his fifties. His answer to the first question is "I'm Canadian, but I'm from Portugal". The answer to the second question is "hard to say"; The answer to the third question is "I don't know". The third interviewee is a young man in his twenties. The answer to his first question is "I am Canadian, but my parents are Portuguese". The answer to the second question is "I am inclined to Canada"; The answer to the third question is "Is this impossible?" ? If we meet, I support the Canadian team. "The fourth interviewee is a woman in her thirties. Her three answers are "I am a Portuguese Canadian", "I like Canada" and "I will cheer for the two teams, with one flag in each hand" (smiling while gesturing). The fifth interviewee was a middle-aged man, and his answer did not exceed the other four interviewees.

What impressed me most about the European Cup was the Italian-Canadian. In the semi-final between Italy and Germany, Italy led 2-/kloc-0. Before the game was completely over, a large number of Italian Canadians began to flock to the streets from all directions. Excited and fanatical Italian fans occupied a part of University Street in an instant. People hold high the portrait of the famous football player Ba Shen and shout "Itaya" wave after wave. Italy's feelings and sense of identity moved onlookers.

The author interviewed nearly 10 people who participated in the parade at random. Unexpectedly, most of them think that they are Canadian first, then Italian, and say that they love this country where they can freely express their feelings and values. Only two interviewees gave different answers to the questions raised by the author. One of the young men excitedly said to the author: "At this moment, I don't even know which country I am from! But I know I love Italy and I am proud of her. " Another man in his fifties made it clear that although he is a Canadian citizen, he does not agree with this country because it is unfair and excludes immigrants. For example, he said that he had a doctorate, but he could never find a decent job. He also said that he hates Jews in this country because they monopolize everything, monopolize good jobs and wealth, and live in very good lots. (Afterwards, the author asked a Canadian professor to verify this view. She said that there is no problem of Jews controlling wealth and public opinion in Canada, but there is a clear polarization between the rich and the poor in Canadian society. She said that from the perspective of urban spatial layout, Toronto has formed a ternary pattern in which the rich, the middle class and the lower class live together, and Jewish houses belong to the rich areas. After the parade, the author interviewed a boy of 10, who was walking alone and wearing an Italian team jersey. He claims to be Italian, not Canadian. When I asked him why he was born in Canada instead of Canada, his answer was surprisingly simple: "Because football in Canada is very poor!" " "

Generally speaking, illegal, non-British European immigrants are generally in the "middle class" in Canadian society. On the whole, their fate is not as ups and downs as that of China people in history. Most of them always have a spiritual attachment to their motherland, while maintaining a different degree of identity with Canada. On the one hand, this attachment is due to cultural and blood relations, and on the other hand, because Canada, as a moderate immigrant country, has never had a single nationalist spirit to unite a certain nation and express the radical feelings of mankind.

National Identity Day of Chinese in Canada

1 July is Canada's National Day, and the author came to Queen's Park early in the morning to hold a celebration ceremony. Unlike the situation where whites should account for a considerable proportion, most of the people attending the ceremony were Asian faces, including many Chinese or chinese canadians. The author noticed that when the national anthem of Canada was played, a lady China, who was sitting on the side enjoying the green space, hurriedly pulled up her two children, and the family of three stood solemnly and saluted the Canadian flag.

Later, I learned that this China woman has been naturalized in Canada 10 for many years, and her two children were born here. When the author asks, "Is it true that only immigrants who have joined Canadian citizenship will pay special attention to and show your national identity with Canada?" She said, "not exactly", mainly because they really love this country, because this country is rich in civilization, clean in politics, beautiful in environment, simple in interpersonal relationship, regular in competition and high in people's literacy. She also specifically mentioned food safety and children's education. She said: "In fact, in a word, I feel that living here is very safe and practical." Speaking of safety, the author specifically mentioned some recent murders in Canada. I didn't expect her reaction to be very calm: "That's because the news in Canada is independent, and the big things can't be hidden. In fact, Toronto is one of the safest cities in the world. "

Generally speaking, in terms of national identity, chinese canadians's attitude can be roughly divided into three types: the first is to completely identify with Canada and only regard China as the country of cultural origin. These people are often second-generation immigrants born in Canada and beyond. They are generally well-educated, have no language barriers or cultural barriers, and have decent jobs and incomes. The second is to identify with Canada politically and China culturally. This group generally has a good academic background and language barrier-free, but it has a sense of cultural isolation and a good career and income; The third is that they don't agree with Canada politically and culturally. Many people still insist that they are "China people" even after many years of naturalization. Most of these groups do not have a good educational background, or although they have a certain degree, they cannot find a decent job and earn a decent income in Canada because of language and cultural barriers (racial discrimination is not excluded). Most of them work in factories, restaurants or tourism, and many people find their own way out and choose their own jobs. This group belongs to the marginal group of Canadian society in many senses.

Visiting Ramadan —— "National Identity" of Muslim Community

Ramadan, called Ramadan in China, is a month for Muslims to carry out major religious activities, and it is no exception in Canada. Muslims in Canada come from all over the world, including at least 50 nationalities or ethnic groups. Although there are obvious differences in nationality, culture and tradition, under the basic teachings of Islam, they have formed a Muslim community with mosques as the core in Canada. The mosque in Ramadan has become an ideal place to investigate the identity of a Muslim country in Canada.

The author visited more than 50 Muslims from different countries, and those who were most impressed were Muslims from countries or regions with serious civil strife or war. When asked whether they agree with Canada more than their country of origin, most people don't want to answer directly, but choose to state their feelings. An Iraqi middle-aged man's view is quite representative. He said to the author at the entrance of the worship hall, "God, I'd rather live in Canada. Canadian society is tolerant, open and free. I dare say that no country in the world has true freedom of religious belief like Canada. " When asked "what is true freedom of religious belief", he cited some countries in northern and western Europe and the United States as examples of obstructing the construction of mosques. He said that in those countries, the so-called freedom of religious belief only refers to the freedom to believe in Christianity. He also said that he had just returned from Baghdad, saying that the situation there was "terrible, with only five hours of electricity every day and people living in fear". The author points out that most people who are glad that they are "Canadians" and thus identify with Canada are immigrants from Iraq, Somalia, Lebanon, Ethiopia and other countries.

In addition to immigrants from these countries, immigrants from other countries are more objective and pertinent in national identity. They generally believe that Canada and its home country or country of origin have their own advantages and cannot decide which is "better". When the author further asked them which country they agreed with more, they all seemed a little embarrassed. On the contrary, an old man who looked "smart" gave them a general and indirect answer. He said: "people always like people, things or places that bring them joy." They (people who don't want to answer the identification questions directly) leave their motherland and come to Canada because Canada can bring them happiness, so you don't have to force them to ask which country they identify with more. Their behavior has given the best answer. " The facts seem to verify this. Among the more than 50 Muslims interviewed by the author, although they have different immigrant backgrounds, they all declared that they "like this country".

From the external observation, after decades of development and integration, Muslims in Canada have shown some obvious "characteristics", which are manifested in various activities within religion and in a larger social level outside religion. From the former point of view, the pluralistic and inclusive atmosphere of Canadian Muslims has become quite prominent. Not only do people of different sects have no conflict in carrying out religious activities in the same mosque, but people who believe in other religions and even atheists are also welcome to dine or communicate in the mosque. As a Pakistani Canadian said, "We believe in Islam, but we don't exclude any other religion. On the contrary, we are willing to discuss with them various ways to get close to God. " He believes that "religion is a means to get close to God". Obviously, the Muslim community in Canada has a certain "liberal" temperament.

From the daily life, the dress of Muslim girls in Canada is also very expensive. Some people wear very traditional clothes-headscarves, hijabs or headscarves (which means "curtains" or "hijabs" in Arabic), and even show only two eyes, while others are quite fashionable and modern. It is worth noting that the status of women in the Muslim community in Canada is increasingly prominent. In various activities, women are especially respected and protected, and "ladies first" has become a habit in the community.

The tentacles of the Muslim community in Canada have been widely extended to the society. For example, there are no restrictions on people who want to visit the mosque (clothing, religious belief, nationality, race, etc.). ); Set up publicity points in crowded places such as websites and downtown areas to publicize and introduce the customs and habits of Muslim communities and Canada; Actively hold various seminars, cultural lectures and even publicity meetings to promote mutual understanding and knowledge among people with different cultural and religious backgrounds; Establish various non-governmental organizations (including charitable organizations and human rights organizations) to help and rescue Muslims and non-Muslims in trouble (it is worth noting that such organizations also extend to various universities, such as the University of Toronto and York University, and Muslim student organizations are very active); Muslim commercial outlets are all over Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa and other big cities.

Due to the increasing influence and contribution of Canadian Muslims in the mainstream society, since 2004, various media in Canada have begun to report a lot on the life and social activities of Muslim communities, and Canadian Muslims have become indispensable citizens with multicultural identity in Canadian society.

While Britain, Germany, France and other countries complain that their Muslims refuse to learn the language and "refuse to integrate", fluent and pure English comes from the streets, campuses, government agencies, communities and even mosques in Canada from time to time (100% of the more than 50 Muslims interviewed by the author is that their children can only speak English or French, or their first or best language is English or French, and their mother tongue is English. The situation in the Muslim community shows that Canada's tolerant multicultural policy is being exchanged for greater recognition and tolerance in the Muslim community, and the multicultural policy seems to have received a positive response in the Canadian Muslim community.

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