Are we lucky, or what?

[Guest American Woman]

Sitting outside in my yard, enjoying all that I have and feeling like "The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA," I felt the need to say how fortunate I am and wondered how many others here feel the same way -- how many people really appreciate all that we have. There's really four nations-- the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia-- that share our heritage, and while I've never been Down Under, I don't think that I'd make that great an Aussie, and while I've loved England, I don't think I'd make the world's best Brit either, but I sure am happy to be an American, and I know I'd make a damn fine Canadian, too.

It's the Luck-of-the-Draw where we are born, so with Canada Day and the Fourth of July just days away, what better time to appreciate all that we have-- and express appreciation for our neighbors, too. So Canada, I can't think of any other nation I'd rather share a border with. !!

Edited June 30, 2008 by American Woman

[Drea]

You got that right AW!

We are sooo lucky to live where we do.

Hubby is in Vegas and gets to celebrate both -- lucky bugger LOL

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

&

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

[eyeball]

I think we're "or what" myself. It marvels me that the rarest most exotic mysterious stuff we've ever encountered in the universe is us. It never ceases to astonish me, ever.

The improbability of the draw is humbling.

[Guest American Woman]

Well, I think we're very fortunate, and I think we should recognize and appreciate it. I guess judging from the lack of response to this thread, most people don't stop to think about how fortunate we are, but I sure do. I sure appreciate the hand I've been dealt with regards to where I was born, and I think the days we celebrate our nations is a good time to give thanks for all we have.

Happy Canada Day to all the Canadians on the board. Hope you're enjoying your day.

[Michael Hardner]

It's a holiday, AW, don't take the lack of response to mean anything at all.

Yes, we're very lucky.

I'm on my way to Toronto Island to enjoy the day.

[Shady]

Well, I think we're very fortunate, and I think we should recognize and appreciate it.

You're absolutely right. I just wish we (Canada) had a better name for our holiday. Independence Day, and Bastille Day sound so much better.

[Fortunata]

There's really four nations-- the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia-- that share our heritage,

New Zealand?

And yes, we are incredibly lucky. I'm happier living in Canada than anywhere else I've been (although in 30 - 35 years I might not mind retiring to Italy if it is still the same as now).

Shady, Canada Day fits us. It's a day of rest, relaxation, celebration, inclusion - just doing what ever one wants to do. Which is Canada is it not?

[guyser]

Happy Canada Day to all the Canadians on the board. Hope you're enjoying your day.

Thank you and I sure did !

Once the final coat of paint was applied I was off to the beach in time for the anthem and a burger.Glad to see all the people were out to enjoy the beach and water.

There is a cool tradition at my cottage. Sometime during the night a swarm of people go through the town and plant little flags everywhere. Every driveway , tree, mailbox , crack in the sidewalk , everywhere you look is festooned.

And to our brethren and neighbours , have a safe and happy Fourth of July !

[Guest American Woman]

Glad to hear you all enjoyed Canada Day! I appreciate your responses-- I enjoyed hearing about your plans/day/traditions-- it makes me feel that much closer to my neighbors. Looks as if we're going to have a beautiful Fourth, too. I'm lovin' the three day weekend already.

[g_bambino]

There's really four nations-- the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia-- that share our heritage, and while I've never been Down Under, I don't think that I'd make that great an Aussie, and while I've loved England, I don't think I'd make the world's best Brit either, but I sure am happy to be an American, and I know I'd make a damn fine Canadian, too.

Add New Zealand to your list and you have the Anglosphere; four nations with common British roots; though each, of course, with its own distinct character. That said, if you think you'd make a fine Canadian, then, and speaking from my experiences in this country, the UK, and Australia (not been to NZ yet), you'd probably make an okay Aussie. And, if you didn't think you'd fit into England, there's always Scotland to live in! While living in Australia, I was struck by the similarities between they and Canadians; I even started matching their cities with ours in terms of character (Sydney=Toronto, Melbourne=Montreal, Perth=Vancouver, etc.). In the UK, too, I felt comfortable enough in vaguely familiar surroundings. Of course, I haven't mentioned the US yet; I've saved it for last because I feel it to be, of the five Anglosphere countries, kind of the odd one out. Four kingdoms, one republic; four reserved nations, one loud one; and, I can't quite put my finger on it, but something about the American ethos that doesn't quite gel with the others. I am, after all, only speaking from personal experience here, but in my travels I've seen that it's harder - not impossible, or even all that difficult, just harder than for the others - for Americans to fit in where Aussies, Canucks, Kiwis, and Brits so easily slide. Anyway, I don't mean to sound disparaging, just expressing my observations. In the end, there is still much to like about the people and the geography of the US, for the similarities and the differences; Scotland is where my family's roots lie, so I'm biased there; and Australia is kind of like a second home to me now. As for the politics, however... well, I'm sure we all know where to discuss that.

Edited July 4, 2008 by g_bambino

[bush_cheney2004]

....I haven't mentioned the US yet; I've saved it for last because I feel it to be, of the five Anglosphere countries, kind of the odd one out. Four kingdoms, one republic; four reserved nations, one loud one; and, I can't quite put my finger on it, but something about the American ethos that doesn't quite gel with the others.

There is a very good historical reason for this, and it has everything to do with how the lone "republic" came to exist.

[HisSelf]

Yeah right. We are lucky.

How about those who sacrifice so we can be lucky?

Our luck is built on a jury-rigged system of international law controlled by the usual suspects.

How many people in Iraq feel lucky right now?

Screw you and your technologically enhanced weapons enriched luck.

Luck has nothing to do with it.

Change the title of your post to: "Are we powerful or what?"

[g_bambino]

There is a very good historical reason for this, and it has everything to do with how the lone "republic" came to exist.

Yeah, I'm well aware of what two and a half centuries of trying to be everything but British can do. Still, you guys couldn't shake it all off! Americans still love the Queen, after all.

[g_bambino]

Screw you and your technologically enhanced weapons enriched luck.

It's your nap time, Billy. Straight to your crib, now!

[HisSelf]

It's your nap time, Billy. Straight to your crib, now!

You wish.

Sticks and stones, babyface. Sticks and stones.

[g_bambino]

Sticks and stones, babyface. Sticks and stones.

Precisely. So, follow your own advice.

[HisSelf]

Precisely. So, follow your own advice.

Reflection. LOL.

[capricorn]

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY to our friends and neigbours to the south!

Party on.

[AngusThermopyle]

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY to our friends and neigbours to the south!

Party on.

Hear Hear!

I second that.

HiSself, grow up! All you are doing is showing people an example of the pampered spoilt self indulgent Western person.

You obviously have no idea of how fortunate you are to live where you do. You live in a place where you can spout vitriolic juvenile displays of anger against your country and many of your fellow country men without worrying about a bullet in the back of the head one night.

You live in a country where you don't see people walking around looking like living examples of the death camp survivors. Where you know you can eat, even if it is at a shelter or from a food bank. A country where you can ask for help and you will receive it, not a visit from some rival group and the bloodshed that goes with it.

As I said, an example of the spoilt Westerner, enjoying the luxury of a freedom that allows them to rail against the very things that make their life, and temper tantrums, possible in the first place.

[DogOnPorch]

Sitting outside in my yard, enjoying all that I have and feeling like "The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA," I felt the need to say how fortunate I am and wondered how many others here feel the same way -- how many people really appreciate all that we have. There's really four nations-- the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia-- that share our heritage, and while I've never been Down Under, I don't think that I'd make that great an Aussie, and while I've loved England, I don't think I'd make the world's best Brit either, but I sure am happy to be an American, and I know I'd make a damn fine Canadian, too.

It's the Luck-of-the-Draw where we are born, so with Canada Day and the Fourth of July just days away, what better time to appreciate all that we have-- and express appreciation for our neighbors, too. So Canada, I can't think of any other nation I'd rather share a border with. !!

Zippidee-doo-da-day! Happy Birthday USA!

-----------------------------

Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.

---President/General George Washington

Edited July 5, 2008 by DogOnPorch

[jbg]

Sitting outside in my yard, enjoying all that I have and feeling like "The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA," I felt the need to say how fortunate I am and wondered how many others here feel the same way -- how many people really appreciate all that we have. There's really four nations-- the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia-- that share our heritage, and while I've never been Down Under, I don't think that I'd make that great an Aussie, and while I've loved England, I don't think I'd make the world's best Brit either, but I sure am happy to be an American, and I know I'd make a damn fine Canadian, too.

It's the Luck-of-the-Draw where we are born, so with Canada Day and the Fourth of July just days away, what better time to appreciate all that we have-- and express appreciation for our neighbors, too. So Canada, I can't think of any other nation I'd rather share a border with. !!

What a beautiful post!!! (with apologies to Donna Fargo)

[Guest American Woman]

Add New Zealand to your list and you have the Anglosphere; four nations with common British roots; though each, of course, with its own distinct character. That said, if you think you'd make a fine Canadian, then, and speaking from my experiences in this country, the UK, and Australia (not been to NZ yet), you'd probably make an okay Aussie. And, if you didn't think you'd fit into England, there's always Scotland to live in! While living in Australia, I was struck by the similarities between they and Canadians; I even started matching their cities with ours in terms of character (Sydney=Toronto, Melbourne=Montreal, Perth=Vancouver, etc.). In the UK, too, I felt comfortable enough in vaguely familiar surroundings. Of course, I haven't mentioned the US yet; I've saved it for last because I feel it to be, of the five Anglosphere countries, kind of the odd one out. Four kingdoms, one republic; four reserved nations, one loud one; and, I can't quite put my finger on it, but something about the American ethos that doesn't quite gel with the others. I am, after all, only speaking from personal experience here, but in my travels I've seen that it's harder - not impossible, or even all that difficult, just harder than for the others - for Americans to fit in where Aussies, Canucks, Kiwis, and Brits so easily slide. Anyway, I don't mean to sound disparaging, just expressing my observations. In the end, there is still much to like about the people and the geography of the US, for the similarities and the differences; Scotland is where my family's roots lie, so I'm biased there; and Australia is kind of like a second home to me now. As for the politics, however... well, I'm sure we all know where to discuss that.

I guess I don't think of New Zealand when I think of the four nations I mentioned-- maybe because I think of New Zealand along with Australia just as I think of Scotland and Ireland along with England. I do hear New Zealand is supposed to be the most beautiful place on earth, which I suppose has nothing to do with the topic, but maybe one day I'll get down that way. In the meantime, most of my experience with Aussie's has been on travels to places where Aussie's tend to visit.

As for your "four reserved nations, one loud one" observation, I can only respond with -- ?? Canada "reserved?" I don't think so. Canadians are hardly reserved. You let your emotions show/fly too.

But fyi, the opposite of "reserved" isn't "loud," and "reserved" isn't necessarily a positive trait. Americans aren't loud so much as they are exuberant, and that's a good thing. It's one of the things I like about us. It was contagious yesterday as strangers were all friendly to one another telling each other to get down and party and celebrate the Fourth-- even on a trip to the grocery store. We have fun, and it's natural for us to show it. That may come across to others as "loud," but seriously, I don't see why people see our exuberance as a negative trait-- and I'm glad I'm among the exuberant crowd rather than the crowd who would 'tsk tsk' it.

As for this observation: "...speaking from personal experience here, but in my travels I've seen that it's harder - not impossible, or even all that difficult, just harder than for the others - for Americans to fit in where Aussies, Canucks, Kiwis, and Brits so easily slide."

Americans for the most part aren't wanting/trying to "fit in;" they just want to be themselves. Granted, that's not always a good thing, but it's not always a bad thing the way it seems to be being portrayed by your post, either. It's just the way we are. Furthermore, I see plenty of people from other nations who aren't exactly "sliding" into the cultures they are actually moving to, and I see that in Canada, too. In fact, Canada promotes/celebrates that about itself as a nation-- it's diversity and tolerance to other cultures, does it not? So why is it seen as a negative when Americans don't "easily slide into" another culture?

[Guest American Woman]

Zippidee-doo-da-day! Happy Birthday USA!

Thanks, DoP! I like that.

And again, thanks to all of you who've expressed your wishes for a happy Fourth. It's very much appreciated. It was, as I said, a beautiful day-- a day for celebration and appreciation and thanks. As I said earlier, we have great nations. Americans and Canadians live in beautiful countries with freedoms worth celebrating.

[DogOnPorch]

You're welcome. I'm a big fan of old and traditional

.

Our July 1st fireworks were against the backdrop of a massive approaching lightning storm. Quite incredible.

-----------------------------------

What so proudly we hail in the twilight's last gleaming...

[bush_cheney2004]

.... Furthermore, I see plenty of people from other nations who aren't exactly "sliding" into the cultures they are actually moving to, and I see that in Canada, too. In fact, Canada promotes/celebrates that about itself as a nation-- it's diversity and tolerance to other cultures, does it not? So why is it seen as a negative when Americans don't "easily slide into" another culture?

Good question....I have always wondered why/how (some) Canadians can judge Americans in such a light when faced with glaring challenges at home (e.g. Quebec or Western separatism, multiculturalism), something that Americans also dealt with in a very American way. Europe is only now coming to grips with abject failure in this regard wrt Muslims.

My own limited (military) experience in the "Anglosphere" as an American demonstrated a more kindred (rebel) spirit with Aussies over others. No matter, since kibitzing about the degree of "luck" (or power) is a good position to be in compared to the alternative.