Shwa

Yep, there is. Hitting a man when he is down is gutless and cowardly. Unless you would like to change that cultural tradition which would be difficult since you seem to be unaware of most Canadian tradition. Nope, football, hockey and lacrosse. Like I said, real Canadian sports. See above. When you keep whiffing like that, you might want to re-evaluate your instructor's effectiveness. Or your ability to follow simple directions. Or both. Phantom bubbas is pure kimmy. "oh no you didn't" snap-snap-snap Ooo, some anonymous chickie on the Internet is calling out my screen name. Oh, the bravery! There are exceptions to every rule. But I did notice how you conveniently side-stepped the issue of sucker punches in MMA. Oh wait, that isn't a Canadian cultural tradition either.

What? It looks like you are drawing a parallel between provincial and federal politics.

Then what is the "context" for our trains running late, the blackouts we have experienced and the impure water that makes people sick from time to time right here in good ol' Canada?

Banned or forfieture of the match? Maybe a fine. Such transgression of the rules in hockey and lacrosse also usually result in extra penalties. Except when punching somehow who is turtling. As far as I can tell that is the only permissible time to hit someone when they are down. I know plenty of refs in both sports and they sometimes allow an extra shot or too for educational purposes. Every rule has it's exception, even long standing traditionally cultural ones.

I don't recall saying MMA wasn't a real sport, played by Canadian men; but I cetainly question the sporting knowledge of anyone that would "probably" think that football, hockey and lacrosse was some sort of whites-only, non-immigrant "code." Good one tiger, your stripes are showing.

No it isn't. This is like saying we will have to offer government services in all 183 official languages.

Nope, neither. I have coached enough real Canadian sports played by real Canadian men to know that they know hitting a man while he is down is dishonourable as is turtling after you start a fight. Also, so is sucker punching someone, that is gutless and cowardly too. Is that allowed in MMA rules? Debate that against 'cultural tradition.' Naw, you're just another hysterical girl and just want to argue, nothing more. You probably punch like a girl too - remember, thumbs on the outside of your fist kimmy, on the outside... You tell me because the answer to that would indicate how much you actually are paying attention. Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha That's hilarious kimmy!! Apparently, you lack some basic knowledge of your own country. Must be that rarified Calgary air and all those phantom bubbas you've been hanging out with. You see? You aren't paying attention. I never said anything about MMA not staying in Canada, I could care less. Just that hitting a man while he is down is gutless, cowardly, un-manly and un-Canadian. So as long as there are real Canadian sports around, like hockey, football or lacrosse, MMA isn't much more than the WWF.

That would be like the pot calling the kettle black then wouldn't it? I think you are just an alienated Canadian ignorant of our cultural traditions by choice. Let me guess, you were the last picked for sports teams right?

Has nothing to do with anti-immigrant obviously, but more like trying to find an explanation of your ignorance. Lacking intimate cultural knowledge could be a result of many things. Another is alienation. But first I suggest you go ask your mother. If she and her mother were born here, then she would know.

Let's not get too serious. The Simpsons didn't: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs0Vr6pnOdU

The only culture I am measuring is Canada's as suggested in the OP. If you want to discuss trains running on time, electricity 24/7 or pure water, then I guess we introduce relativity into the discussion, because there have been late trains, blackouts and impure water being consumed by the public right here in good old Canada hasn't there Wild Bill? If you want to use a measurement, try formulating the degrees to which people will advance specious arguments that generalize about a culture and then assign those attributes to a portion of those people in an absolute way. Are you saying that somehow an Indian immigrant contains superpowers that can override the Canadian ethic? We have a culture that can make trains run on time, but cannot resist the awesome super powers of Indian immigrants and their culture. It must be in the curry. So now, not only do they have the awesome superpowers to completely turn us into the third world, but our fate lies in their hands. How absurd. Raise a Somalian child in Canada and you get a Canadian. I like their chances much better that either Somalia or Scotland. And yet there is absolutely no reason for you to formulate this bogus reality whatsoever. It actually goes direcly against the accrued experience of Canada. Seriously, even a cursory read of Canadian history will help you out with this. I dunno how about... AGRICULTURE? Bill, India isn't moving to Canada bud. Neither is China. Some of those people over there would rather come over here to make their way, but the entire countries aren't moving in. Your "fear" is the key concept and that is all it is. And it is an irrational fear with no basis in reality. And all you have to do is pick up a book, like the Illustrated History of Canada; very easy to read, reasonably comprehensive and informative. And I would make a safe wager that many of our immigrants have already picked it up and had a read. Maybe you ought to as well.

Well for one, if you mother wasn't born in Canada, then that would explain it: your knowledge of traditional Canadian values might not be adequate enough for you to understand. In that case, let it be a lesson to you. And, if my opinions are so "meaningless" why do you keep responding to them? Just admit it, I touched a nerve.

And this is a nice segue isn't it? Not to you specifically WB, in general. I mean, we deplore giving people our style of freedoms because it somehow - inexplicably - infringes on our own freedoms. As IF they are coming here to implelent their own bordered nationality in our midst. Kind of like the Brits did to the Indians and French right? But not so fast. The Brits were a major contributor to the Canadian culture - no doubt - but whatever they contributed was always, and is still constantly, being modified by Canadian perspectives and values. The very thing thing that Mr. Green is afraid we are losing is the very thing that spawned our concept of immigration to this country in the first place! The sorts of old-crank refrains such as the off tune caterwauling we have from the esteemed Mr. Green is as old as immigration itself and we have weathered worse, let me tell you. Or better yet, crack open a history book and take even a marginal read of how Canada survived in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Otherwise, this caterwauling simply becomes mindless borderline xenophobia. And in the grand scheme of things, in these modern times, this simply won't do as anything near the sort of public policy that Canadian values have input into thus far and what the Canadian public has come to expect.

So hurtful. So very, very hurful. I mean, some anonymous chickie on the Internet hurled insults at my screen name. How much closer to the heart can you get than that? This is all because you are a girl. Aw, the chickie is trying to bate me again. Whiff. If this were a discussion about baseball I would be saying, "A swing...and a miss." Well, let's keep that in mind as we move forward into other subject areas shall we? Especially the "It never works" part since it might be used for further citations. Would you like to elaborate on that a bit? No, whether that is relevant or not is irrelevant.

Oh, but it does exist. Go ask your mother or the relative closest to having exposure to traditional Canadian values. Right. Some believe ice hockey started in the Netherlands too. That MMA is a recent cultural import - from the evidence that you supplied - there had to be something here before. Let me guess, a big Walmart shopper eh?

Nope. If my mindset is "outdated" that is your opinion, but the cherished cultural tradition stands. All you are doing is making excuses for poor behaviour. Again.

It has everything to do with cultural tradition. The fact that you would use the word 'prude' simply confirms that and reveals that you are likely familiar with such a cultural code. Thanks for helping me out. Again.

For some reason, we have plenty in the running this time around. We got rid of the ward system, so that might have something to do with it. But I preferred the ward system simply because there was someone in my ward I could go to when I had a beef. 7 for 1 Mayor position 27 for 7 City/Regional Councillor position 18 for 3 City Councillor positions 8 for 3 Public School Trustee positions 7 for 2 Catholic School Trustee positions That is 67 candidates for 16 positions. Lots of people involved. It's good to see.

From the Star: Canadas prostitution laws unconstitutional, court rules Could this result in an Amsterdamnation of Canada? Edit: CC section on Bawdy Houses

I just might be that, but a cherished cultural tradition is a cherished cultural tradition and I resent those who think they can just move in and start changing them because it suits their purpose. Not in Canada is what I say. Not now. Not ever.

Because anyone that self-righteous needs to be taken very seriously. But not for the reasons they think.

Then the answer is clear isn't it? Back to bible school for the majority of the adherents. And not just any old bible school, but the new! and improved! bible school that reflects modern, martial sensibilities about other religions and their inferiority. I can imagine the ad campaigns crusades now, likely on Fox. Onward Christian Soldier...

Meh, your whiffing is of no concern to me. Keep working on the punching bag sweetie, one day you'll get it. Otherwise, hitting a man while he is down is culturally and traditionally a sign of cowardice and gutlessness. Every red-blooded Canadian man knows this, but you are exempt of course.

It is also easy for some to turn immigration into a threat against the majority, wouldn't you say? How do you define sensationalist rubbish and does it work both ways? Because you seem to be only advocating one side only, and hoping for a civil and informed discourse. Fair enough, but it is incumbent for you to generalize on an even basis, meaning that you include all the Chinese, Americans, French, British (and other Europeans) when we say the word "immigrant." Fair enough? Now look at the charts that have already been provided, but which I will provide hereas a courtsey. By the way, if you want a picture of the typical immigrant, choose Chinese or European. Most immigrants today are the same. Couple with the advances in learning technologies, assimilation has a far better chance at success than a wood worker 60 years ago. See this table for more information about skills and occupations in the immigrant population. Wrong. See table above. Wrong. See table above. Not all 1950's immigrants were jewels thus your reference to a specific group is neither here nor there. Wrong. See table above. Specific reference that is neither here nor there nor even relevant. You need to educate yourself on India. France, Britain, the USA or Chine as "primitive cultures?" Wrong. You need to educate yourself - even a little - about our immigration system. As long as they support their family - and pay taxes - who cares. Neither here nor there. Wrong. Do the math on the table above and realize that you don't know what you are talking about. Oh yes we can and often do. Take a moment to acquaint yourself with the Canadian immigration system. So what's your problem then?? We are not spending enough on ESL classes??

Right. So this leads me to two further questions: How do they determine that their questions and testings are unbiased and that it actually achieves a level playing field? And; If they determine that their questions and testings are biased resulting in an uneven playing field, how do they change that?