It is easy to be snarky about the War of 1812. Someone on the radio today did precisely what I have done in the past -- compare the North American war to the invasion of Russia. I always follow that quip up by referring "of course" to the fact that the war was a real turning point for Canada.
But today I have reason to wonder. I was in a university library looking at the section where they keep books on 1812 written from the Canadian point of view and I noticed that there are more books on 1837 than on 1812. A LOT more.
Hunh.
All you readers, US, Canadian, or Other can now look up 1837.
1837 indeed. Got itself a decent beer named after the event, with a great graphic.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of the War of 1812, I think of how little Canadians have to celebrate for it:
- there was no such thing as a political entity Canada
- or much sense of one
- it was a British victory
- and the balance of power that let the British win was Native allies
- the promises made to them were not kept