I am proud to be a Canadian

Because of the beauty of our land; the majesty of the mountains; the far horizons of the prairies; the sweep of the shorelines; the abundance of the farm lands; the sparkle of ten thousand lakes and rivers...even the forbidding barrens of the North.

Because of the rich diversity of our people. We are not a melting pot, but a unique union of minorities; each of us proud of his origins but prouder still to be a Canadian.

Because we are a multilingual country; two basic languages and (woven through the fabric and enriching it) the sound of other tongues, all united in praise of "the true North, strong and free".

Because our country was not born in nor does it live in violence, we harbor no hate, we covet no territory, we envy no other people.

Because our heritage confers such bounty. Our laws and our traditions have been built on faith in God and man, on an unflagging love of freedom and on respect for the rights of others. Our physical resources have not yet been fully contemplated, much less measured.

Because in Canada the operative word is tomorrow, not yesterday, our greatness rests not only in our history but in our future. Our destiny has yet to be fashioned.

Because my pride in Canada does not cause me to respect other nations or other peoples less . . . I am proud to be a Canadian, yes; I am also a citizen of the planet earth and a brother of every man.

Author Unknown