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Able Quote by John Diefenbaker

“I am the first prime minister of this country of neither English nor French origin. So I determined to bring about a Canadian citizenship that knew no hyphenated consideration…I'm very happy to be able to say that in the House of Commons today in my party we have members of Italian, Dutch, German…” quote by John Diefenbaker
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“I am the first prime minister of this country of neither English nor French origin. So I determined to bring about a Canadian citizenship that knew no hyphenated consideration…I'm very happy to be able to say that in the House of Commons today in my party we have members of Italian, Dutch, German, Scandinavian, Chinese and Ukrainian origin and they are all Canadians.”

John Diefenbaker

About This Quote

Source Speech: House of Commons, Canada, 1958

Advocating for a unified Canadian identity that transcends ethnic labels.

In simple terms: Promote a shared national identity over ethnic divisions.

Key Takeaway

Embrace inclusive citizenship.

Themes

national identity multiculturalism politics

Mood

reflective pragmatic

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

  • political debates
  • immigration discussions
  • community events

Key Concepts

integration social cohesion policy nationalism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can policies respect diversity while fostering unity?
  • What symbols best represent a shared identity?
A Different Perspective

Balancing unity with cultural preservation can be challenging.

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