Freedom

1) Don't forget that American capital played a huge role in bringing the Nazi's to power. 2) First of all, explain the strategic reasoning behind which Canada would ever have been a nucular target, don't bother because it's a buch of paranoid bullshit! Second of all, "the brilliance of Ronald Ragan"? It's talk like that, that makes me hope for Bush to be assasinated, seems like no matter what kind of idiot he is, he'll be remembered as some kind of heroic wise guy, because the fascists say so. I'd just like to see him die young. WOW, I seldom reply to comments of no value, but sir, i'll make an exception this time around. Any pure historian will tell you what a solid role Ronald Reagan played in bringing an end to the Union Of Soviet Socialist Republic. I never said Canada was a nuclear target, rather it was likely for Canada to become an unfortunate peaceful nation, geographically wedged between 2 superpowers. If a 5000 pound lazer guided bunker buster can go array in Iraq and kill the innocent, I wouldn't wanna think how much of a chaos Canada would have been, had the cold war ice begun to melt. Would you care to explain how American Capitalism played a huge role in bringing the Nazi's to power. Was it Capitalism or the Industrial revolution ? And was it the Americans who started that ? You must be the only Bush hater who wishes that he was assasinated. Is it trully your wish for Dick Cheney to run the world ? Sticky sands, the world can deal with but mad-cow dung is a different ball game. For the sake of the world, you ought to pray that Bush stays in the best of health for the next 4 years, unless of course, Cheney's cholesterol decks him sooner.

I woke up Christmas eve for the first time wondering if I should go to church. For the first time I questioned what the christian faith stood for. Christians are known the world over for compassion and for helping the unfortunate ones. How then, could the Evangelicals in the US turn a blind eye to the sufferings in Iraq, and so one sidedly vote for Bush ? It seems that not only is the US drifting so far away from the rest of the world, but so is american christianity from its European roots. My belief is that American Evangelicals have evolved into a sub-category christian cult, whose leaders constantly manipulate and brainwash its members. Isn't Osama also manipulting the words of the Koran?

i never see hockey fights as fair. it seems that the guy who is better able to balance and ballet dance during the jersey grabbing wins. 1 handed fights are not real fights, maybe that's why its called thuggery. i'm glad they have baseball fights, that would be the only exciting thing about that sport for me.

I completely agree that its purely foolish for the baseball championship to be called the "world series". much of the world doesn't care about boring baseball. Certainly, after getting rattled recently, US Basketball cannot claim the NBA champions to be world champions. However, it's important to note that the fastest growing sports in the US (and very silently) is soccer. US lost narrowly to germany in the last world cup semifinal in a game that they dominated. Its the most played global sport and the US is already knocking on the door for championships, something the sports world is extremely bitter about. Sports is going through an evolution in the US. Me not being able to see the puck- i don't think it has much to do with vision, but understanding the game, something i won't have because of lack of interest. nice responses guys

The past few years that I've lived in Canada, I've tried hard to "like" hockey. I am a huge sports fan. Even the boring baseball grabs my attraction during the world series but never hockey. I am just baffled by Canadian infactuation with this sport. I feel that one can adapt to a liking of any new sport, but the passion of hockey in Canada is probably something that people have to be born with, to wholly appreciate. What is the thrill in 10 individuals sliding up and down a horizontal slope, chasing after a flattened mad-cow burger look alike ? And worst of all to a newcomer like me, could the tv broadcasters please circle in the puck in motion like they do with the first down lines in the NFL because I simply can't see it with my 20/20 vision ! I've seen the wierd ways of the sport. One can get kudos for big hits, yet if its from a wrong angle, like poor MR burtuzzi, then you've gotta plea bargain. Makes me appreciate that other great canadian sport, Curling. Neither the rocks nor the Walmart brooms would dare get you in a courthouse, no matter how much you scream on the runaway ! And then there's the strike and as CBC likes to call it "THE COLD WAR". There are hours and hours of analyzing individual players, their reactions, even past great hockey games are put on. How crazy can Canadian hockey fans get ? Now here's what really bugs me. In the midst of all the NHL drama, the Canadian Juniors win the world championship, so now the broadcasters proclaim that Canada owns hockey championship in the men's, womens etc etc ie. in every hockey category. TRUE, but let's get real here. Does any other country really play hockey ? yeah finland shows up, as does russia and the swedes, czechs etc, but for them this is a winter activity always second to soccer. And the Americans ? I am one, and this is what I observed- in southern california, there are 2 hockey teams, and i have yet to spot a public ice rink. There might be, but you get the point. This is a Canada only passion. No other country deserves championships in hockey. What is it about hockey that drives people in Canada nuts ? please tell me

I would argue that this is historically inaccurate. Where was the US in the fight against Nazi Germany before Dec 7th, 1941? Not sacrificing lives on the battlefields of Europe like Canadians, Britons and others. Good question. Lessons of WWII evolved the US into what it is today. Americans had the attitude that is was Europe's problem initially, and later realized that tyrants need to be stopped early before they spread their cancer. My friend, especially at that stage, Canada WAS pretty much Britain, so Canadian involvement was almost required

I don't think WE Canadians are too blind or trusting. We got George Bush's number and certainly do NOT miss his shortcoming or aggressive nature and we certainly do NOT trust him or his policies. Oh yes caesar, of course you're not trusting of Bush, no doubt about that and I don't think it really matters to Bush whether you do or not. what i really meant is that Canadian society is just like the cindarella story where its hard for people to see the rude side of life. i can see how shocked people are here watching horrific images of people in asia suffering from the tsunami disaster and canadian by far have a much bigger heart than americans, no doubt about that. however, god forbid, if a similar mishap occured in canada, how would people deal with it. Canada has been known to unknowingly harbor terrorists.

You make it sound like Canada only played a minor role in WWII. (And not to mention WWI.) But you know, Canada is much too modesty go on endlessly bragging to the world how we won the war. The fact that Canada only had to ask the Queen should tell you something important about Canada. (And I shudder to think what you already think about this.) Yes, Virginia, independance without a drop of blood is possible. Gandhi tried it too. Canadians know about fighting for our own freedom. The last time we did it was when the Americans invaded in 1812. Also, Americans ought to learn a little more about their own history; how Canada was a major factor that helped push American colonists over the edge (so to speak). Some of your greatest heros were real Canada-haters. There's much more to freedom than spending on the military. That is why so much of our tax dollars go towards public education, healthcare, and other social issues. Knowledge is power. We don't try to create a need for people to enter the millitary as a career option as a last resort. Those who enter the military do so on their real intentions. And lastly (of course there is so much more), you tend to equate GWB-bashing as American-bashing. When Canadians bash our own PM, there is a distinction made. That it is the PM and his governing party that is criticized but not the whole country. We recognize our PM is a human being and not the supreme being so we can criticize him and his policies and actions accordingly. Bet you still can't understand this concept because Americans stand behind their Commander-in-Chief regardless of how wrong he or they believe he is. you brought in the best defence on behalf of canada, and i will respond. in combining my response to your first and second last paragraph, let me remind you that Robert Borden had to persuade a divided Canada to come to Britain's aid during WWI. That trend has not changed, and it demonstrates my point that Canada, as a result of these challenges on the federal leadership has become centrally weak. I personally do not like GWB the slightest bit, but I am glad he's the commander in chief. Kerry would have made me very nervous. I don't know where you get the belief that GWB suffers from lack of criticism. The criticism on his foreign and domestic policies are always going to be there, but at the end of the day would you really expect an american to have greater faith in a paul martin or chretien to make the best choices for the US ? I think not. The fact that Canada had to ask the queen tells me nothing, except for the fact that many early immigrant Canadians had British lineage, Canada was a part of the commonwealth active in British wars (of the non empire building nature), Canadian climate was far too difficult for the Brits, and the combination of those things allowed an easier transition of power. I'm not a fan of Gandhi, because I believe it would have been much more beneficial in the long run for Indians to intensify violence towards the british and eliminate them from south asia. Gandhi's peaceful ways led to the formation of pakistan, the kashmir conflict, and probably the only place on earth likely to have a nuclear war. the one truth remains, at war or not, the US is always guaranteed its togetherness, whereas no Canadian can predict that all these provinces will continue to be a part of the union 10 years from now. you said "there's much more to freedom than spending on the military" ? you see, that's the key difference between the 2 scopes of thought processes. you never had to sacrifice (yeah except for WWI and II for the brits) and you never will because even though big brother is constantly criticized, why would one need a military when you got big brother keeping a guard ? i stand behind the commander in chief 100%. thanks to him the kurds are free, political prisoners are no longer killed, Gaddafi saw all this and just gave up his stockpile without a single bullet being fired. afghan women are free.

George Bush has been bashed in every way in Canada. I remember how disgusted and shocked people were when he was reelected. Canadians think that Americans are out of touch, that Americans are war mongers and that Bush waged an illegal attack on Iraq. I'll try to not be bashful, but justify why the US does what it does. America had to be won by the Brits, the Brits lost, yet they remain in Canada as the head of state. Americans had to fight in WWII and end NAZISM so that all (and very much Canada could have its freedom). The brillance of Ronald Reagan eventually sent USSR into demise and saved Canada from Geographically being the battleground of 2 nuclear armed countries. I respect those courageous Canadians who fought in normandie, but all canada had to do for freedom was to ask the queen politely. Freedom comes at a cost, and Canada never really had to pay for it, so Canada doesn't know. Americans know, and its their know how that has allowed North america to be free. Canada doesn't understand that if it weren't for the Americans, that its own military capabilities are so pre-historic, outdated and lacklustre and its borders so fragile, that it wouldn't take much for someone LIKE saddam to force his will. Americans may be self-centered and not know world geography as much as Canadians but they understand that sacrifice is a part of freedom and that dictators and tyrants need to be stopped in a hurry. My fear with Canada is that it is such a loving, caring, gentle and giving country and that because of that, Canada is blind and too trusting. Until you sacrifice you never know. A huge proof of that is in Canadian identity. People in Canada do not proudly display the mapleaf as much as Americans, and in that much abundance. The union of all the provinces and territories is fragile, probably the most fragile in the free world. every province has its own identity, and about half are willing to opt out of the confederation. There isn't any event or sacrifice that ALL canadians can be proud of enough to put them together as one people sharing a common goal, and that is completely different south of the border.

I hope Canada doesn't let in too many people with your Anti-Canadian attitude! I wish people who say that kind of thing would once in a while offer some concrete support for it. response to both quotes. Firstly, I am not anti-Canadian, but very much pro albertan. i didn't understand the fragile nature of the Union between Canadian federalism and its association with the provinces and territories until I arrived in the country. You suggesting that I, as an immigrant may have an anti-Canadian attitude, yet recently a certain premier from the maritimes ordered the maple leaf down, someone born in Canada. Certainly we are not that extreme in Alberta, but we do understand (and the same applies to others here in the west), that our values are not represented in Ottawa, although our finances is fair game. Anti-Americanism- when you walk into a bar, when you're in a group having casual conversation and the subject turns to politics, its very easy to see the American bashing. I saw what people were doing with the star spangled banner during Bush's visit. The bottom line is (and I am gonna be critical of both places), most Americans are dumb enough to not even know that Canada exists North of them. And many Canadians despise that Americans might have a warmer climate, economically Canadians might feel that they are being held hostage sometimes in things like lumber dispute, mad cow etc. heck, canadians love to assemble a grand top notch hockey squad lined up by Gretzky and then just beat the heck out of the Americans- except that for the average American, hockey is no more important than washing your neighbors car !

opps, message went right after the response to the quote thanks

yeah the posting times are really odd. might be an adjustment the administrator needs to make. the time of my posting is at least 3 hours off of what it should be.

I beg your pardon; we get plenty of sunshine in Vancouver. In fact, the sun is shining lovely today, as it did yesterday. We do get a good share of rain which keeps us looking green. We seldom have to shovel snow. Expensive; to be sure and getting worse everyday. In BC; Kelowna is a great choice. Much cheaper (but getting more expensive everyday) with most of the amenities and shopping but retains much of a small town friendliness. Even found an honest car mechanic that found nothing wrong with my car (pebble in the wheels making strange noises) and charged me nothing. That would have cost me probably at least 500 dollars in Vancouver for???? Of course, I could mention that our minimum wage is $8 compared to Alberta which at 5.90 is the lowest in Canada yeah, you see caesar, i love the snow but can't stand the cloudy weather and rain. rain just depresses me, i guess it's personal preference. I like Kelowna, great town and the okanagan is amazing in the summer. However, the shocking thing about kelowna is the number of poor homeless people and drug addicts there, kinda like a miniature vancouver east hastings. its sad and unfortunate. your minimum wage should actually be lots more than $8. we don't get taxed as much. the good thing about alberta is not just the abundance of jobs but the flexibilty to find better paying ones. i do agree, we ought to increase our minimum wage and share the prosperity of alberta much more evenly.

I was a Senior in college when I met my wife to be on a southern california pier. I pursued her despite the presence of her strict parents. She was wonderful and unlike any other human being I had ever met. When she explained to me that she was from Edmonton, Canada, I had to look it up in the map later on and politely asked her if she had ever seen a computer ! Yes I was ignorant, a very ignorant American, but its hard not to be when the 50 states provides you with pretty much everything that the rest of the world has to offer in terms of material wealth. We got married and the shocker came afterwards when she refused to live in Los angeles because "it wasn't homely like edmonton" and the daily car chasing by cops on tv on southern california scared her. we tried to compromise, looking for a middle ground. in tems of neutral weather suitable to both of us, we looked at Oregon. We didn't really like it there because she didn't have any friends and family around and it just wasn't an exciting city like Los Angeles for me. Vancouver was "very expensive for a place that didn't provide sunshine", and Calgary- well by then I had developed a liking for Edmonton, and accordingly, a cute, rivalry style dislike for Calgary. I was jealous at their flames, and that my oilers were struggling. I laughed at their road systems which seemed so disoriented and disorganized unlike Edmonton, and their lack of real parks with lots of trees and was thrilled that we had the world's biggest or second largest mall and they had crappy old ones. So i left my parents beach front home and my surf board and moved to West Edmonton, bought a decent 2000 square foot home, had 2 kids and a wonderful wife. For me, the choice wasn't as broad as Canada or the United States, but rather Los Angeles or Edmonton ? Politically, I am a moderate. I like Northern Alberta, and although a dual citizen now, at heart I will always be American and Albertan (not Canadian, because to me Canada means "Ontario only"). In Edmonton, I have never felt unwanted, never heard a single anti-american slur. Alberta is just like home in California, and after having lived here for 5 years, I think it has a lot more in common with mainstream America than anything Canadian. I like the toughness of Ralph Klein, and the will of politicans like stephen harper. When i turn on the cbc and hear broadcasters from Ontario, Ottawa and Quebec question America's right leaning moderates, i chuckle because the root of Canada's economic prosperity comes from the conservative west. Anti-Americanism in Canada is real, but it has a deep liberal and NDP root attached to it, something that we can hopefully continue to expel from our beloved alberta. I am a proud American, a proud Albertan, and the only threat that I see to cross border relations is left leaning politics from those in Ottawa. For someone who was an ignorant American, i feel that I have an above average IQ on Canadian politics than an average Canadian. cheers