Attacking our

[scribblet]

Thought I'd put this up for comments, I liked it.

http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2005/07/ca...y_in_canada.php

7 Things You Can’t Say in Canada

Attacking our sacred cows may turn you into a pariah--but it can also be a lot of fun

BY MARGARET WENTE

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Every culture has its unacknowledged taboos—x

snip

[b[Margaret Atwood writes some really awful books.[/b[

The queen of CanLit bestrides the literary world like a colossus. Nobody has won more awards than she has, and nobody is more feared. There is no such thing as a bad review of a Margaret Atwood book in Canada. That’s too bad, because many of her books are tedious and unreadable, full of tortuous plots and unpleasant characters. Why will no one say so? Because we’re grateful that she’s put us on the global map. And because if they do, they’ll never work in this country again.

Recycling is a waste of time and money.

Once upon a time it was easy to put out the trash. Today, the Garbage Gestapo rule our lives. Every household has become a mini version of the village dump, and every one of us has become a garbage picker, carefully separating our organics from our bottles and papers, and worrying about where our dryer lint is supposed to go.

Don’t try to sneak a wine bottle into the wrong bag! The trash police will punish you. The truth about recyc-ling is that it’s a giant waste of dollars and doesn’t help the environment. But don’t tell your kids. They won’t believe you. They’ve been brainwashed.

Only private enterprise can save public health care.

Tommy Douglas, the CBC’s Greatest Canadian, brought us universal health care. But even his plan didn’t originally pay for everybody’s ingrown toenails. His primary goal was to make sure nobody faced financial ruin if they got sick.

Today we have a system where controlling costs is more important than treating patients, and where ideology is crippling us. In some places, including Toronto, people go blind waiting for cataract surgery. The government could restore their sight tomorrow simply by sending them to a private clinic instead of to a hospital. The cost to the government would be exactly the same. But in Canada, private is a dirty word, and so the government would rather you go blind. Poor Tommy would be spinning in his grave.

David Suzuki is bad for the environment.

From global warming to farmed salmon and genetically modified crops, David Suzuki has just one message: The End is Nigh.

He is our homegrown prophet of doom who preaches the essential wickedness of the human race. Like a modern Savonarola, he warns that unless we cast our material possessions into the bonfire, we’re all going to hell.

The trouble with this apocalyptic vision is that people are starting to tune out. And our hugely expensive investment in the unworkable Kyoto treaty, which Mr. Suzuki tells us doesn’t go nearly far enough, will crowd out more practical measures to cut smog and clean up our waste sites.

A national daycare program won’t do a thing to help poor kids.

Cheap national daycare! Who could be against it? It’s supposed to give kids a better start in life, and nobody can object to that. But in Quebec, where the program started, universal daycare has turned out to be nothing more than a giant (and extremely costly) subsidy for relatively well-heeled middle-class parents. Few poor parents use the system.

No doubt convenient daycare is a godsend for many. But so far there is no definitive evidence that kids who go to daycare go on to do better in school or in life. So if we want to invest billions in helping kids, why are we spending it on the kids who need help the least?

snip

The United States is the greatest force for good the world has ever known.

Of all the shocking things you can say around the dinner table, this is the most shocking one. After all, America-bashing is part of our national identity.

At best, we see our neighbour as a well-intentioned but arrogant and blundering bully that throws its weight around too much. At worst, we see our neighbour as one of the most evil nations in the world. And yet, right now, hundreds of millions of people in India and China and other desperately poor parts of the world are being liberated from millennia of suffering and serfdom. Why? Because of the United States, which has spread its idea of economic freedom—and its purchasing power—around the world.

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Which widely held belief would you like to challenge—and at the same time start a good dinner-table fight?

[Hydraboss]

One more....

Immigrants should follow the laws of Canada

God, I wish I was just being sarcastic.

[Argus]

One more....

Immigrants should follow the laws of Canada

God, I wish I was just being sarcastic.

That's not a sacred cow. That's actually heresy to the politically correct, who believe immigrants should retain all of their customs, cultures and habits, and that even asking them to learn our language is akin to sending them to concentration camps for extermination. In fact, even suggesting they might conform a little to Canada's homegrown culture puts one in exactly the same category as a Nazi concentration camp guard - or worse, since jew hating is now acceptable among the left.

[uOttawaMan]

Lol and please please explain to me what Canadian culture and identity is, because as far as I can tell, in English Canada, its Tim Hortons, hockey, and anti-Americanism.

More like what are we not than what we are.

[Leafless]

uOttawaMan

You wrote- " Lol and please explai to me what Canadian culture and idenity is because as far as I can tell in English Canada, it's Tim Horton's, hockey and anti-Americanism."

Well, you almost got it right except for the anti-Americanism bit which is flavoured more in Quebec.

What's the matter with mirroring the American culture as both countries were born of the same Queen and stock?

[uOttawaMan]

uOttawaMan

You wrote- " Lol and please explai to me what Canadian culture and idenity is because as far as I can tell in English Canada, it's Tim Horton's, hockey and anti-Americanism."

Well, you almost got it right except for the anti-Americanism bit which is flavoured more in Quebec.

What's the matter with mirroring the American culture as both countries were born of the same Queen and stock?

My whole point was referring to Argus, who seems to believe that Canadians actually have a national identity and culture, to which he thinks that all immigrants should be forced into.

[tml12]

There never really was a Canadian identity beside Liberal myths of bilingualism, kinder nation, etc.

Is there a Canadian identity aside from our morbid and ridiculous obsession with not being American? Probably not.

But after all, I voted Conservative so I'm not really Canadian, right?

[uOttawaMan]

There never really was a Canadian identity beside Liberal myths of bilingualism, kinder nation, etc.

Is there a Canadian identity aside from our morbid and ridiculous obsession with not being American? Probably not.

But after all, I voted Conservative so I'm not really Canadian, right?

I especially agree with the second point you made, Canadian culture is basically just trying to seperate ourselves from the Americans. Logical maybe, at one point neccessary for survival surely, but nowadays what real purpose does it serve? Other than to make people think that if we hold our noses, we must be better liked abroad than the US.

Lol at the last line.. no no your definetly Canadian.. but what that means.. who knows.

[tml12]

There never really was a Canadian identity beside Liberal myths of bilingualism, kinder nation, etc.

Is there a Canadian identity aside from our morbid and ridiculous obsession with not being American? Probably not.

But after all, I voted Conservative so I'm not really Canadian, right?

I especially agree with the second point you made, Canadian culture is basically just trying to seperate ourselves from the Americans. Logical maybe, at one point neccessary for survival surely, but nowadays what real purpose does it serve? Other than to make people think that if we hold our noses, we must be better liked abroad than the US.

Lol at the last line.. no no your definetly Canadian.. but what that means.. who knows.

You see uOttawaman, compassionate conservatism is what it's all about (that's why the crime rate in my nation is so low..."progressive social policies in education and welfare.")

[uOttawaMan]

There never really was a Canadian identity beside Liberal myths of bilingualism, kinder nation, etc.

Is there a Canadian identity aside from our morbid and ridiculous obsession with not being American? Probably not.

But after all, I voted Conservative so I'm not really Canadian, right?

I especially agree with the second point you made, Canadian culture is basically just trying to seperate ourselves from the Americans. Logical maybe, at one point neccessary for survival surely, but nowadays what real purpose does it serve? Other than to make people think that if we hold our noses, we must be better liked abroad than the US.

Lol at the last line.. no no your definetly Canadian.. but what that means.. who knows.

You see uOttawaman, compassionate conservatism is what it's all about (that's why the crime rate in my nation is so low..."progressive social policies in education and welfare.")

You are gonna laugh at this.. my nation went from "Scandanavian Liberal Paradise" to "Capitalizt" with a "z". Must be the influence of you cons on this forum...

LOL.. aww crap.. I just checked it now.. I now preside over a 'Capitalist Paradise" . Times, they are a changing.

[Leafless]

uOttawaMan

You wrote- " My whole point was referring to Argus who seems to believe that Canadians actually have an identity and culture to, to which he thinks all immigrants should be forced into."

We do have a culture and identity and whether or not it happens to be an inherited U.S. identity and culture so what.

The fact is immigrants settle in Canada's largest cities primarily Toronto.

There they are surrounded by a large Canadian (U.S.) culture means they will be assimilated to a large degree and not sheltered like Quebec.

But on the same hand by not having the federal government aggresively promote assimilation could or already has resulted in pockets of various cultures fractionating Canadians on a cultural basis which in my estimation could cause a serious conflict at some later time that could cause serious unity and or security problems on top of the Quebec one.

Argus has a point!

[uOttawaMan]

uOttawaMan

You wrote- " My whole point was referring to Argus who seems to believe that Canadians actually have an identity and culture to, to which he thinks all immigrants should be forced into."

We do have a culture and identity and whether or not it happens to be an inherited U.S. identity and culture so what.

The fact is immigrants settle in Canada's largest cities primarily Toronto.

There they are surrounded by a large Canadian (U.S.) culture means they will be assimilated to a large degree and not sheltered like Quebec.

But on the same hand by not having the federal government aggresively promote assimilation could or already has resulted in pockets of various cultures fractionating Canadians on a cultural basis which in my estimation could cause a serious conflict at some later time that could cause serious unity and or security problems on top of the Quebec one.

Argus has a point!

But why should assimilation be forced upon people? (this next bit has nothing to do with the so called anti-American part of Canadian culture, im using it strictly as an example) The US has a melting pot assimilation style view of immigration, and I would not say for certain that they have any less, or the potential for any less cultural fractioning. If anything, I would say they are largely culturally fractured.

At the same time, I acknowledge your point, what I just stated does nothing to say that the same thing could not happen to Canada without addressing it. My whole point is, if you really think about it, Canadian's sense of nationalism (such an artificial thing of which i am highly skeptical) is based on very few things that all can agree upon.. its more like combined regional pride.

[Wilber]

Ever wonder if a country that tries to be all things to all people is in danger of meaning nothing to most of them?

[tml12]

Quebec has never been a multicultural society.

I used to LMAO when Chretien talked about "Canada's cultural mosaic" vs. the hardcore "everybody's all-American" U.S. melting pot. It is not a black and white issue and it is not so different in either country (for the record, I think both systems suck).

But in Quebec, society is staunchly French and Quebec is most certainly a melting pot before anything else. Not only must Quebec approve your immigration application before the federal CIC looks at it, you had better speak French and adopt Quebec values or you're not going to be approved.

Just another instance of the "two gaps" which are still very divided. The one thing I'll give our GG is that she's right that multiculturalism is a bunch of BS.

[tml12]

There never really was a Canadian identity beside Liberal myths of bilingualism, kinder nation, etc.

Is there a Canadian identity aside from our morbid and ridiculous obsession with not being American? Probably not.

But after all, I voted Conservative so I'm not really Canadian, right?

I especially agree with the second point you made, Canadian culture is basically just trying to seperate ourselves from the Americans. Logical maybe, at one point neccessary for survival surely, but nowadays what real purpose does it serve? Other than to make people think that if we hold our noses, we must be better liked abroad than the US.

Lol at the last line.. no no your definetly Canadian.. but what that means.. who knows.

You see uOttawaman, compassionate conservatism is what it's all about (that's why the crime rate in my nation is so low..."progressive social policies in education and welfare.")

You are gonna laugh at this.. my nation went from "Scandanavian Liberal Paradise" to "Capitalizt" with a "z". Must be the influence of you cons on this forum...

LOL.. aww crap.. I just checked it now.. I now preside over a 'Capitalist Paradise" . Times, they are a changing.

LOL!!!

We've converted another one...

[Leafless]

tml12

You wrote- " Quebec has never been a multicultural society"

I don't think it was never meant to be.

Many french Canadians living in Quebec called for bilingualism, biculturalism, autonomy and equal staus.

This resulted in the Liberals under Trudeau in 1969 a Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism.

But this was never implemented because of to many Canadians disagreeing and the Bilingualism and Biculturalism policy was replaced with the Multiculturalism policy which at the time worked exclusively for Quebec inclunding implementing English and French as 'official languages'. The Charter also became a reality with even more power for Quebec.

It is only relatively recent Canada's multiculturalism policy became commonly applied and directed towards immigrants.

[yorkman]

Perhaps someone could articulate for me what American culture is? Hollywood? Reality Television? Italian Opera? Russian Ballet? There appears to be a strong Black component to all "American" music such as jazz and the blues and rock but I'm never quite sure what american culture is other than what we see from Hollywood and television. Other than that it is really rooted in European and British culture except for the black component. American culture - whatever that might mean or be to any one person - has certainly seen better days.

[tml12]

Perhaps someone could articulate for me what American culture is? Hollywood? Reality Television? Italian Opera? Russian Ballet? There appears to be a strong Black component to all "American" music such as jazz and the blues and rock but I'm never quite sure what american culture is other than what we see from Hollywood and television. Other than that it is really rooted in European and British culture except for the black component. American culture - whatever that might mean or be to any one person - has certainly seen better days.

The way I learned it in Canadian history class was that Americans have the Revolution/Foundations of Presidential Democracy and we have Heritage Minutes that simplify history in an attempt to unify Canadians.

[tml12]

tml12

You wrote- " Quebec has never been a multicultural society"

I don't think it was never meant to be.

Many french Canadians living in Quebec called for bilingualism, biculturalism, autonomy and equal staus.

This resulted in the Liberals under Trudeau in 1969 a Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism.

But this was never implemented because of to many Canadians disagreeing and the Bilingualism and Biculturalism policy was replaced with the Multiculturalism policy which at the time worked exclusively for Quebec inclunding implementing English and French as 'official languages'. The Charter also became a reality with even more power for Quebec.

It is only relatively recent Canada's multiculturalism policy became commonly applied and directed towards immigrants.

On national unity, the one thing I'll give Trudeau was that he called for a strong government and no special/unequal status for any province or territory.

Giving Quebec the right to, for example, set its own immigration policy is, in and of itself, a violation of Canadian sovereignty. And what about the fact that French speakers from Morocco pay less to study in a university in Hull than a resident of Ottawa. As far as I'm concerned, Quebec, in many aspects, has already separated.

There is already an unequal partnership in Canada.

[Argus]

uOttawaMan

You wrote- " Lol and please explai to me what Canadian culture and idenity is because as far as I can tell in English Canada, it's Tim Horton's, hockey and anti-Americanism."

Well, you almost got it right except for the anti-Americanism bit which is flavoured more in Quebec.

What's the matter with mirroring the American culture as both countries were born of the same Queen and stock?

My whole point was referring to Argus, who seems to believe that Canadians actually have a national identity and culture, to which he thinks that all immigrants should be forced into.

I remember the flicker of sadness and anticipation at the smell of a chill autumn breeze at night which carried with it the certain coming of winter. I remember the foretelling of spring in the warm March sun which lit the winter landscape and the sight of ice melting along the edges of the sidewalks, the first sight of trickling water, the first few bits of grass beginning to show. I remember the scent of wood smoke on a cool evening night, the smell and sounds of a neighborhood arena on a Saturday morning, the chill of the water during an early morning swimming lesson. I remember the sun rising over the trees at the cottage, and the absolute darkness of the night save for the moon glowing on the river.

I remember the feel of ice under my skates as I tried to keep my ankles steady, and the race down the sideline of a soccer field trying to keep up with the ball. I remember the magic and wonder of a shopping mall. I remember the anticipation of school, the anxiety on the first day, the discomfort and special smell of new clothes. I remember following parades in the summer, keeping up with the bands. I remember throwing my books away on the last day of school, and walking home, joyously knowing I had almost literally forever before school started again. I remember fireworks on Victoria Day, and the lazy, sleepy Dominion Day holiday which every celebrated in typical Canadian fashion by doing not much of anything, and the way we quietly looked down on those loud, brash Americans for all their howling national bombast with face painting and flag waving and fairs and guns and super patriotism.

I remember half crippling myself carting a giant pumpkin home that was almost as big as me. I remember the joy of spotting the first Christmas decorations put out in the shopping mall. I remember holding my hands together in church, feeling a bit awkward, and terribly bored. I remember being on the road with my parents, and the fascination of every new mile of grass and cows and run down trailer parks. I remember the delight of hotels, with elevators you could ride up and down – and up and down – and up and down in. They had real ice, too, just down the hall, and it was FREE. I remember throwing up at the Ex after eating too much and going on a fast ride. I remember wandering along the river skipping stones. I remember building a tree house in the woods. I remember building a skating rink in the back yard, building snow men, snow forts, and a snow house. I remember the thrill of racing down a long hill on a toboggan, and jumping off a high fence to land in a deep snow bank.

I remember standing in line in the gymnasium in front of the number which represented my school bus, or at least, hoping it was my school bus. I remember school picture day. I remember freezing my ass off at recess in the winter when it was forty below, trying to shield from the wind in a narrow doorway. I remember the satisfaction of body checking someone and having them fall down. I remember summer nights and cars, and girls, and baseball analogies, if you take my meaning. I remember Jarry Park at night, with the Expos clobbering the Mets. I remember my first subway right alone. I remember my father teaching me to drive, and very lightly scraping the side of a car as I backed out of a parking space. I remember the theme music from Expo 67. I remember how the theme for the Stanley Cup Playoffs used to thrill me – every game. I remember the woods, the quiet, the heat, the bugs, the feel of water on my paddle. I remember taunting the dog, having it chase me, chasing it back. I remember contempt for those poor guys who only had cats. I remember the excitement of thanksgiving dinner, the awe and anticipation of Christmas eve, the joy of Christmas morning. I remember chocolate bunnies at easter, and that funny old-people smell when visiting grandparents houses. I remember whole mornings and afternoons devoted to colouring and cutting out santas, and Christmas trees, and elves, and candy canes at school. I remember amazement that the band actually sounded pretty good at the Christmas concert, and the choir wasn’t half bad either. I remember the first sight of colour on a television.

I remember Saturday movies with my brother and friends. I remember amazement at all those tall buildings downtown. I remember hide and seek, pickup football, and long, lazy summer evenings wandering suburban streets with my friends, getting into very mild trouble, and thinking we were cool. I remember my first job, at a self service gas bar. I remember being fired from my first job at a self service gas bar. I remember my first television, twelve inchs, B&W, which I bought with my first and only cheque from my first job. I remember New years eve, babysitting, working at a club, partying. I remember seeing how high I could make my bike jump, and hot summer days when I drank an entire coke non-stop after riding a long distance. I remember school trips to upper Canada village, to a cottage resort, to museums and maple syrup runs and parliament hill. I remember seeing how late I could stay out without my parents yelling for me, how late I could stay up without my parents yelling at me, how late I could sleep in without my father overturning my bed. I remember waiting to be wakened on a school day – when it snowed – watching each minute tick by and hoping against hope nobody came in – which meant it was a snow day!

I remember the vast disappointment when my mother rushed in to say she’d slept in and demand I hurry up and get ready. I remember being very careful not to say anything that would tick off my father, who was very scary despite never, to my memory, hitting me, except maybe a very rare cuff to the back of the head. I remember firecrackers.

I remember eagerly waiting for Thursday, which was, coincidentally, allowance day and the day the new comics came out at the corner store. I remember camp fires, and the smell of burned hot dogs. I remember camp songs, and sleeping in a cottage or tent with a half dozen other boys. I remember the bad food in the mess hall. I remember getting to ride a horse. I remember riding in the back of my dad’s station wagon down the highway, staring at the cars behind us. I remember moving into a new house in a new city, with everything so – new. I remember building a hideout in the basement, and my delight when the basement flooded, stomping around in the water, and not caring that it smelled a little. I remember Dairy Queen ice cream cones in the summer, beaver tails in the winter. I remember Flintstones every day at lunch, Brady Bunch, Bewitched and Gilligans Island after school. I remember how great it was to be just too sick to go to school, but without pain or real discomfort.

I remember the mustiness and mystery of an old attic. I remember the library every Sunday, and taking out all those Hardy Boys and Famous Five books. I remember walking on train tracks as the train approached. I remember the thunder as it crossed a tiny bridge over an old creek – from underneath. I remember GI Joe dolls, and my sister’s Barbies, Tonka construction trucks, Matchbox cars with an entire case to carry them. I remember flipping baseball and hockey cards with my friends, winning more than I lost. I remember Crystal Beach, and La Ronde, Niagara Falls, and Frontier Town. I remember visiting family, staying in my cousins’ room on a cot, the pool his family had. I remember visiting the House of Commons and showing my pass to the guards. I remember how big and impressive everything was, and how green the House was, and how amazing it was to see all those people in person I’d seen on my TV for so long. I remember the guard confiscating the sheathed hunting knife on my belt with a genial smile, promising he’d look after it for me till I got out. I remember voting for the first time, at 18, and determining I would never be one of those people who didn’t bother to vote.

I remember all this and more, and all this and more is what makes me who I am. And all this and more and less is what I share with many, many, many Canadians who grew up in this country, living much the same lives, with some variation, in subtly different ways, learning the same lessons from family and school, experiencing the same experiences, feeling the same joys and fears and sorrows and hopes and dreams and thoughts. And in all of that we were alone but in all of that we were together, because while we were all different, we were pretty much the same, so that others joked about how polite we were, and how clean we were, and how we’d obediently, if a bit restless at times, stand at quiet street corners waiting for the light to turn green, even though there wasn’t a car in sight. We were solid, through and through, self reliant and proud, but quietly so. We knew there were other countries, because we were bored silly in Geography class every day, but we didn’t really care about them, or think about them. We were Canadians, with an amazing degree of confidence in ourselves and our country, and that was all the world that really mattered to us

[geoffrey]

Bravo Argus, you couldn't be more correct.

Canada does have a culture, and its not just American.

[uOttawaMan]

Where did he copy that from?

[BubberMiley]

Are they really sacred cows or just things conservatives disagree with and feel contemptuous that others feel differently

[August1991]

I say well done too Argus. No mention of paper shacks but maybe someone else will give a Western reply.

There is an authentic English Canada that somehow disappeared or went underground in the 1970s.

[uOttawaMan]

I'd like to know from what source Argus copied that cute little compilation.