Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 1998. [Vol. 5.] Eger Journal of American Studies. (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 25)
Book reviews - Judit Ágnes Kádár: Virginia L. Sauvé and Monique Sauvé: Gateway to Canada
offered by J. Say well in Canada: Pathways to the Present or the chapter entitled "History and People" in Inside Guides: Canada (ed. H. Cunningham), which apparently both give a bit deeper understanding of Canada's past. The authors' personal view of these matters is counterpointed by the dominance of others' opinions in the later chapters, especially the one entitled "Challenges for Canadians'", where central contemporary issues such as unemployment, racism or the question of native land claims are diagnosed. Professional readers might wonder about the selection of facts, personalities and details included in the text. We all have our personal preferences as do the authors; no one textbook can include the immense factual detail behind the scope of its investigations. However, let me express the doubts of an outsider (being a Hungarian teacher and researcher of Canadian culture) I might share with some Canadians, too. The authors mention that they invited others' views to accompany their own. Nevertheless, a more pregnant solution, the use of quotes from authentic resources of opinion would have been welcome, especially in chapters like the one on Canadian identity. There are some in other chapters, but I think to introduce others' views on national (and regional) identity and self-definition would greatly enrich the reader's access to a better understanding of what Canadians think about themselves. Moreover, that would provide a multiple perspective without inclusive and simplifying views and there would be no need any more to put everything under the cover of first person plural statements on what a proper average Canadian citizen is expected to be proud of (especially related to the U.S.Canadian controversies). The writers here seem to overemphasize the need to sustain the integrity of Canadian national identity against the Southern neighbor. It is especially unfortunate since in my view a lot of Canadians are excited about their regional and ethnic definition at least as much as about the American impact on the nation's economy and culture. Besides, there is little indication of the diversity of opinions on ceratin problematic issues (for instance the U.S.Canadian relations are viewed differenty by Canadians living along and close to the 49 t h Parallel, who are naturally more influenced by the U.S. and less concerned about questions of Canadian national identity, than other Canadians might be). If the authors can devote only a very limited length of text on the issue of identity, probably the mention of
