Observations of a News Junkie

I am Canadian to the core (despite the title of my last post). 

While I am able to see the flaws in some aspects of the nation, I am a firm believer that my home and native land is the best place in the world to live. I am fiercely patriotic and loyal. I take pride in our accomplishments, pray for solutions to our problems, and do my best to follow what is going on at home and abroad.

In my patriotism, I also recognize that other nationalities will be partial to their own countries. I think that is absolutely right and proper. I don’t expect Colombians to think Canada is the best country in the world.

The problem is, they don’t think Colombia is either.

I’ve informally chatted with several students in and outside of the classroom who answer “Estados Unidos” when asked what country they think is number one on the planet. 

Now, living as the USA’s closest neighbour probably makes me slightly biased against it, but no matter where I am from I still believe everyone should have faith and pride in their own nation. The fact that many Colombians don’t have that in their country bothers me. It’s not everyone – in fact, one teacher here is extremely patriotic and has mentioned a few times how glad she is to be Colombian – but it’s the young people, those who are the next generation of leaders and business owners and contributors to society.  I hope what I have heard is not a representation of the entire demographic, or Colombia is going to have serious issues in five to 10 years when half their employees and students leaves the country.

Colombia has been enundated with products from the United States over the last decade as the two countries strengthened their partnership to fight the drug war here and expand trade. Movies, computers, books, music – so much of the media and consumerism is hugely influenced by America, and Europe as well (France and Germany were a couple of other answers to the question). I understand that, and I can see how that in turn has impacted the young people’s view of the world. But even though Hollywood is sending films with Spanish subtitles to Colombia, it shouldn’t change how these youth view the globe. 

It’s true that there are probably more opportunities in North America or Europe than in a nation still working to change the perspective that the only thing here is drugs and more drugs. But I hope this generation of young people realize that they can be a part of that change; they can help to bring more opportunities to Colombia and to make improvements, rather than leaving the problems to others and heading to the United States for jobs and education.

However, if they must head north, they should keep on going and come to Canada. It is, after all, the best country in the world.