Personal Response on the 'On the Rainy River'

“We are indeed, and are still today, like a youth starting out on his path, glancing over his shoulder at the ancient glories of his home in Britain or France and, when he looks ahead, dazzled by the glitter of the United States.” (Hutchison, Bruce. “The Canadian Personality.” p. 71)

Canada like Laurence, was forced to face the hardships involved with growing up. However, the black marks in history does not define Canada , it is how Canada learns from their mistakes and moves forward. Laurence explains through her microcosm of a prairie town that along with growth comes the formation of perspective that will forever affect one's future decisions .

Identity is a complex topic for Canadians. How can we define ourselves as a nation if individually we are all different? The country of Canada became united under one flag and one anthem in 1867. Today, separatists like Douglas Christie and Tom Best have a hard time connected with the anthem, our countries means of unity. In the documentary ‘Disunited Sates of Canada’ Douglas Christie speaks to the comparison of the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ to ‘O Canada.’ He says that when he hears American’s sing there anthem he feels passion behind it and it leaves goosebumps under his skin. Yet, when he sings or hears the Canadian anthem he does not feel confident in his nation. This statement touches on an emotion felt by many Canadian citizens today, including myself.

     Tim O’Brien, the author of The Things They Carried, is still undecided of whether to doge the draft and lose the respect of his family and friends, or go to the Vietnam War and lose his life, in the chapter “On The Rainy River”. Elroy’s actions reveal his good qualities that help Tim make this important decision, without any words of judgment or criticism. Elroy’s actions reveal heroic qualities. He is a silent Observer who helps Tim overcome his fears.     

In the memoir The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien, the chapter titled: On the Rainy River has a central idea of resentment, embarrassment and eventual acceptance to change. The author creates this central idea with the use of a regretful tone, man vs society conflict, and dreary imagery. The theme of this chapter contributes to O’Brien’s intentions for the book because it demonstrates the struggle, shame, and or confusion each man drafted into the war experienced.

Initially, when Tim O’Brien was drafted to fight a war, he needed to make a decision between personal desire and societal expectation: his point of views was more tend to be self-preservation. He believed that according to his qualities, “[he] was too good for this war.”(2,32-33) he refused to go to the war because he had “a full-ride scholarship for grad studies at harvard”(2,35-36) that would make his future much more better than going to a war that he felt unjustified. The notice that about he was drafted to fight the Vietnam War became a mess in the life he planned out for himself. “[Tim O’Brien] did not want to die”(3,26-27) and lose his bright future that would bring him happiness.

When one thinks of Canada, he/she is most likely to stereotypically comment on a subject regarding hockey, beavers, maple syrup, and cold weather. However, not many stop and wonder about how Canada became the peaceful nation it is today. Throughout Canada’s relatively short and brief history, it has managed to flourish into a strong and powerful nation. Canada’s peaceful identity has been formed with meaningful historic events that have occurred throughout our history.It’s identity has been characterized by Lester B. Pearson's role during the suez canal, their involvement in the Vietnam war, and its engagement in peacekeeping missions around the world.

Canada is a nation built on immigration, and as the world becomes an ever increasingly hostile place more and more have chosen to try and make Canada their home. This melting pot of different cultures has created an overall atmosphere of acceptance, and is teaching younger generations a sense of community, empathy, and togetherness. Sharing our space and learning to grow with different ethnicities has perpetuated our status as a friendly, caring, and loyal nation, that many are willing to risk everything for in exchange for becoming a part of it.

Freedom and Nature. These are both things Chris McCandless longed to dwell in. He took his steps into becoming everying thing he had hoped. But were his dreams and aspirations worth the ‘’Betrayal” of everyone who had ever cared about him? Do we owe our families anything in the first place? By looking at McCandless’s actions and reasonings we can see that he is justified solely on his passion and courage. People would like to say that he was irresponsible, ignorant and careless in his actions. However, all he wanted was complete freedom. He didn’t have to be sorry for anyone just because he was letting his heart guide the way.

To me, being a Canadian means that you will stand by your country, and hold it strong well you are at war. It means that you will not give up your home and native land. We might have been a British colony for centuries, but we embrace that. We love our heritage and I would not even try to change who I am. For Canada is my life. Canada is not just a country, it is a home, a refugee, and an enemy. In this essay I will show to you the way that Canada is a home, a refugee and an enemy.

More than 100 years ago Canada was a small child, progressing through life trying to find her place in this vast world. During the time periods of 1914-1945, 1950-1970, and 1971- 1990, there have been many factors that have helped induce her independence, including recognition due to military achievements, her international relationship with the United States, and uniting as one country. Through these times of hardship and glory Canada has succeeded in finding her autonomous identity in the world, as a middle power.

"Oh, Canada, glorious and free!" these words from Canada's national anthem draw many immigrants to "the true North strong and free." Austin Clarke's short story "Canadian Experience," portrays the struggles of a Barbadian man who has moved to Toronto, Ontario Canada - against the wishes of his father - to find his fortune. Clarke does not name the principal character until closer to the end of the story. He has had to change who he is to make a meaningful life in Canada. George struggles with the fact that "he is ready for bigger things" but is finding it difficult to reach his goal. When ones race and morals are different, moving to a new country can be the most difficult transition of life.

In the short story “On the rainy river” Tim O’Brien has to make decisions in difficult situations that are influenced by the potential consequences of his choices. His main decision and what drives the story’s plot is the choice to go to the Vietnam War, Tim O’Brien has an anti-war stance and has a plan to go to Canada to escape the military drafts, on the rainy river he chooses to go to war instead of running. This decision was influenced by the potential consequences of his decision of leaving to Canada. He mainly choose to stay and go to war because he “was embarrassed to not” this shows that O’Brien cared about his image and what others thought of him. This reflects his personal identity shows how individual’s decisions in difficult times are influenced by the potential

What is Canada? What is a Canadian? Canada, to employ Voltaire's analogy, is nothing but “a few acres of snow.”. Of course, the philosopher spoke of New France, when he made that analogy. More recently, a former Prime Minister, Joe Clark, said that the country was nothing but a “community of communities”. Both these images have helped us, in one way or another, try to interpret what could define this country. On the other hand, a Canadian could be a beer, a hockey-playing beaver or even a canoe floating in a summer day's sunset. A Canadian could also be a “sovereigntyphobe”, refusing to see the liquefaction, albeit political, of the second largest country in the world.

As the 20th century comes to an end, Canada is a transcontinental nation whose interests and representatives span the face of the globe and extend into every sphere of human behaviour. However this was not always the case. When the four colonies of British North America united to create Canada on July 1, 1867, the new country's future was by no means secure. Canada was a small country, with unsettled borders, vast empty spaces, and a large powerful neighbour, the United States. Confronting these challenges was difficult for the young country. Though Canada was independent in domestic matters, Britain retained control over its foreign policy. Over the next fifty or so years, Canada's leaders and its