SIR,—II is a great pity that so far the only
Canadian reactions to Desmond Hcnn's articles on Canada have been such narrowly negative ones. As a Canadian, and a very devoted one, 1 had hoped for something a little less provincial in tone. Contrary to what outsiders reading these reactions might think, Canada—and I include even mid-western Canada—is not wholly made up of people who are incapable of viewing their own country objectively.
Canada is not, after all, the sort of country which might conceivably disintegrate in the face of honest criticism. What Mr. Henn writes is, unfortunately, true. It is unpleasant for any serious Canadian to read such things about his own country, but bitter medicine is not necessarily bad medicine. Surely we Canadians who want our country to improve as it grows up should be willing to listen—and listen politely—to the opinions of outsiders.
Well-written articles such as Mr. Henn's should not be regarded as personal insults but as food for constructive thought. If we can do nothing but protest when we are criticised, it won't be very long, methinks, before someone begins to feel that we do protest too much.
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