Newfie Canadian

According to a poll reported by CTV, there are diverging views among the populace on at least 2 other issues: religion and the death penalty. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...276/?hub=Canada

Comedic geniuses Sweal. "I told him 'Julie don't go!'"

I would suggest that to define a specific identity for a nation as diverse in culture as Canada is difficult. I think the only way to describe the Canadian identity is to say just that: it's Canadian. Sometimes believing in something is the only way to make it real.

He was 31 on the list. I confess that I don't know too much about Pierre Burton or his work, to my own detriment, but I know he was a proud Canadian and an icon.

My man Mike didn't win. I'm not too disappointed with thte selection of Douglas. He was a valid option.

Is anyone else getting a kick out of this person? Yes, and it will take effort on both sides of the border.

I suspect the average Canadian doesn't hold ill will towards Americans, but the current administration. Given the opportunity, I would guess a majority of Americans don't even know the name of our PM, let alone have a reason to scorn or insult him. I assume you're implying that American tourists are harrassed her. I doubt that to be true on a wide scale. That's ignorant. You keep on thinking that.

Paul Bernardo. Not just what he did, which was monstrous enough, but the smugness displayed by him was horrific

I think it would take a coordinated effort by Canada, the EU and Japan to make some progress. Canada alone won't change much.

You don't see diverging views in both the citizenry and political establishment of Canada and the US on such fundamental issues as the importance of multinational organizations, same sex marriage, marijauna and trade issues?

It's getting interesting. The WTO has imposed sanctions on some US goods. http://edition.cnn.com/2004/US/11/26/wto.s...s.ap/index.html

It is true that many Newfoundlanders consider themselves Newfoundlanders first and Canadians second. I am not one of those people. I also kow that many Labradorians consider themselves Labradorians first, then Canadians and then Newfoundlanders. Remember, or for those who didn't know realize, that in 1947 the vote to enter Confederation was carried by a 1% majority. But I don't believe a majority of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians consider themselves (or want to be) their own countries. Unfortunately, I also agree. This I'm not so sure about August. I've always considered nationalism as a practical feeling, a feeling that your nation's individual choices, workings and needs, political and economic, are worth your devotion. Patriotism on the other hand, I've always considered more abstract and emotional, a feeling that what your country stands for as a society is worth your devotion. It's unconditional. Look at the WJHC, coming up in December. I'll watch and I'll cheer, not because of nationalism, but because of patriotism. I fly my Canadian flag because of patriotism, not nationalism. When the WHO or the UN comes out with stats saying that Canada is near the top in some of it's living/health indexes, I'm proud because of nationalism. When the Canadian government made a choice to stay out of Iraq, I was happy because of nationalism. I dont know how to explain it. I may be making no sense at all.

Some of what your describing ndpnic, can be considered a provincial matter, like drugs and OHIP. Those are provincial jurisdictions where the feds have little say, or is that part of your point, that the feds should be more involved in helping out?

I don't know caterpillar, this is a sensitive subject for sure. I generally support a woman's right to choose. Since becoming a father almost 6 years ago though, I think some consideration should be given to the rights of the potential father. How that would work I don't know. It may not even be practical in some cases. Too complex for me right now. Maybe tomorrow.

With the recent divergence of the political spectrums between Canada and the US (Canada more to the left and the US more to the right), I suspect that is becoming less true in certain areas Argus. There are of course, obvious exceptions. I don't believe that mutual interest and cooperation = patriotic feelings or tendencies. I believe you can believe in another country, admire it, respect it, even love it, but I believe in your heart of hearts you can only be truly patriotic to one.

Apologies Cartman. I was regerring to this quote in maplesyrup's post. My point was that if one was to associate the CPC with an American party, I would suggest they would be akin to the moderate/center part of the Republican party. Canadians, in my opinion, have generally practiced a quiet patriotism. That kind of sounds strange. They are proud of their country, they like what their country stands for and they are all round patriotic Canadians, but for some reason, we don't show like some others.

The moderate wing of said party, I would venture.

What makes you think I don't, or haven't. You know nothing of my situation ndpnic, just as I know nothing of yours. I said as much.

IMO, yes. I do. The problem is (in the context of your question) is that we are on the doorstep of the US, and therefore affected by and subjected to their culture and all the symbols, icons and values. Because we are so close to the US, we are costantly inundated by the US media, which is what many people watch and listen to for information. What's your favourite TV show? If every Canadian, right or left, answered that question, I would suggest the majority would answer with an American show. American culture, symbols and all, are all over the place, and we as Canadians have done a bad job in supporting our own. Look at the film industry. Instead of supporting local and Canadian content, the industry, in the pursuit of the almighty American dollar, largely ignores Candiana. In regards to the right in Canada identifying with the US, we have to be careful there, as the US appears to be heading more and more towards to far right than the moderate center. If we assume this to be true, the Canadian right may not identify with the US for that much longer, at least not on the scale that we are used to saying. I hope all that made sense to someone.

Perhaps not Cartman. But I live on a fixed income, and only for the help of family I may very well be in that situation. I have thought, often, of what it would be like to be in other countries in my situation, and from what I know about the political, societal and economic structures of some other countries, I don't think we're doing that badly. Could we, as a society and government, do better? Certainly. Should we? Certainly. Hopefully one day soon, we'll get it perfect.

To put this in perspective ndpnic, watch some of the coverage of Martin prancing around Africa, catch just a minute glance at what they live through, and then think about what there is to be thankful about living in Canada.

You know, I can think of many worse places on the planet to live and raise my daughter in than my beautiful Canada.

Sheila Fraser has come out swinging again. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories So my question is, is there a money toilet in every department, or is Ottawa just one big throne?

The troops are the instrument through which the government enforces policy. They don't make policy, which is where the real problem is in Iraq. The way I look at if a person shoots someone, I don't blame his arm (troops) I blame his brain (government).

http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageSer...r?pagename=IDEA I guess the basic premise is the schools are required to provide whatever programs are available to help a disabled child, in this case an autistic child, learn. That's the way I read it anyway. I may be incorrect.