Confessions of a reader cont'd

The phenomenon of Canada is that some how, despite ethnic and religious variety, we seek to forge an identity. We (and when I say 'we' I refer to Canadians since July 1st 1867) have continuously tried to sculpt what exactly it means to be Canadian. I firmly believe that one of the most pervading aspects of Canadian culture is the geography of our country. Despite the way we roll our eyes and laugh condescendingly at the "Igloo Theory" apparently upheld by the majority of American citizens, we adore jabs about the cold, about maple syrup, 'eh', hockey and so on with carefully concealed fervor- stereotypes at the very least mean that some sort of identity is perceived!

Carly left a most insightful comment today, if you care to look. She raised a point that is certainly worth exploring: that an ingrained part of Canadian culture (and consequently Can-lit) is our multi-culturalism and, more to the point, the diversity of faiths that accompany it. However, in this haven of cultures, we are privy to freedoms that account for and define the individual. With regards to Life of Pi, I would draw attention to the freedom(s) of religious practice. In reference to my original post, if religion affects every facet of a culture, what kind of culture- no, what kind of individual member of a patchwork culture does a multi-faith population create? That is to ask, are we made fuller beings by the interaction of so many cultures? Or as a whole do we lose grip on a solid identity both as a whole and individually? I know which way I would answer, but the apologia is a formal presentation of Life of Pi. I plan to explore the answer primarily through my novel.

If at all possible, I aspire to mold this question into the body of my apologia, along with an exploration of self and survival. I haven't worked this part out yet; early stages of developement n' all that.