Tourism Commission Looks to Woo Gay Couples to Canada

CFRA News Talk Radio ^ | June 16, 2006 | Josh Pringle

[UnbornChild]

Tourism Commission Looks to Woo Gay Couples to Canada Josh Pringle Friday, June 16, 2006

The Canadian Tourism Commission wants to attract same-sex couples to Canada.

The agency has launched an advertising blitz in the United States to woo gay couples to tie the knot in Canada.

If you want to express your objections:

http://www.canadatourism.com/ctx/app/en/ca/contactSubmit.do

I encourage Americans to write as well. You just know American gay couples will use this to get their unions acknowledged by American courts.

[spatso]

"To make a big issue out of these 'gay' mounties would be futile
and only give them more of the attention they seem to crave."

You are probably right and clearly the people closest to the situation understand the situation better. But, part of my training and interest has to do with the power of symbols. Mounties are an incredibly powerful symbol of the Canadian people (honest, strong, fair). In theory you want to believe the Mountie symbolizes the best of what Canada is and be. So, when people hype the gay Mountie story they may also be altering (symbolically) the image of Canada are undermining the emerging image of a Canadian conservative agenda. Do you think the hyping of this story by the media is an accident? Or, is it possible, the story is a clearly intended strategy by various interests to entrench Canada's liberal pedigree.
Was it your intention in using the donkey cartoon to portray me as stubborn? I would not dare show that post to Mrs. Spatso.

[spatso]

"Must disagree, the President has spoken at length about Hispanic family values, at times in Spanish."

You are right. I did not say it well. Perhaps, it would have been more accurate to say that the President has been wise not to let the debate degenerate into a discussion that is fueled by allegations of racism.

[proud_yank]

Awesome! Still reading 'How to Talk to a Liberal', excellent read.

[proud_yank]

Nah, HERE's the challenge for you Spatso: Come visit rural Alberta, and voice your opinions.

[proud_yank]

ROFLOL!

[spatso]

If this year's Canadian FReeper cruise takes place in rural Alberta I will certainly try to make it. I believe that is where they made the movie Brokeback Mountain, I heard the scenery is spectacular.

[fanfan]

I do not believe I have said a single negative thing about your new conservative government.

Wrong again.....

Spatso said.....

What bothers me is the Canadian government in really dangerous times appears to take a soft position on all this stuff.

At the very least, you would expect the leader to step forward and express some concern in regard to the overall message that is being conveyed.

It points to a government that does not seem to be able to set its own agenda.

I would like to hear some people, other than myself, say the Canadian administration needs to get their priorities straight.

I am beginning to think that planning for strategic priorities in Canada is being coordinated by Comedy Central.

Some people want to assume a new conservative Canadian government immediately means all is forgotten and forgiven. Perhaps, but I don't think so.

So, you elect a new administration and you want everyone to be happy. So, you tell me what has changed.

I do want to hear just one person say the Prime Minister made a mistake.

I could keep going, but surely you get the point.

You liberals lie, and mislead, and then ask for 'reasoned debate'.

Spare me.

[FrankR]

Good idea...send them all up there...one way.

[fanfan]

He's a typical liberal, all talk no action.

[GMMAC]

As you never commented on same specifically, I'm wondering if this point really sunk in:
".... which likely skews your perceptions as to Canada is that, with under 1/10 of America's overall population, local matters/reactions become national ones much more easily & frequently up here." ~ GMMAC

Ergo, there's likely a considerable amount of outrageous gay - as well as all sorts of other leftist - activism as well as shocking & appalling incidents occurring Stateside but not receiving 'national' coverage.

As an example of the latter, here's a recent story which you may well not have heard about - unless you happened to live in upper New York State - but which doubtless would have made 'national' headlines had it happened in Canada:
Missing nun found dead
Buffalo nun who worked with ex-convicts found murdered

Note: this isn't to imply right or wrong or even differing biases when it comes to our respective msm's but only to demonstrate that, with over ten times our population & that much more 'news', logically many more 'local' items are going to be effectively buried 'nationally' Stateside.

[kanawa]

But, I cannot figure out who is in the picture in the upper left hand corner.

He's the Monty Python, "I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay!" guy.

Btw, could you make out the disclaimer in red at the bottom of the post?

[Snowyman]

Can't help but wonder how J. Edgar Hoover would have reacted to two gay FBI agents marrying.

Try envious.

[spatso]

As seems to be your nature you have misrepresented what I said to suit your own purposes. I don't know whether your purpose was to be dishonest or you simply did not understand the rule of political discourse that you violated. What I said and what I stand by is as follows.

"If you find I have criticized Canadian conservative leaders as individuals or in their personal capacity than I have committed a grave error and, I would, of course apologize. If, on the other hand, my criticism is of Canadian policy or strategic choices than I think that is fair in terms of any dialog as it would be for you."

[fanfan]

As seems to be your nature you have misrepresented what I said to suit your own purposes.

Right back at you.......

I had been responding to this unfounded, 2nd hand accusation from you.......

When we started the mother of this thread a few weeks ago, another FReeper mailed me to say I was wasting my time. Specifically, Canadians could attack and could be critical of American policy but, they will not tolerate any negative comment about there own situation.

You posted it, so show me where I have done so.

[fanfan]

LOL!

I missed it the first time.

BTW, he said his wife thinks he's an idiot.
I guess she and I have that in common.

;-)

[spatso]

No, no, no, no you are saying the exact opposite to my point. And, I guess I must assume responsibility for having failed miserably in being able to make it more clearly. I did not hear the story about the murdered nun. So, I agree an order of magnitude by a factor of 10 does distort perception. So, in a large country murder is a local story in smaller cities. Murder becomes a neighborhood story in large cities.
I never meant to imply that Canada is more gay than the US. But, Canadians have a cleaner, softer, more tolerant image of their nature. Being a tolerant people may be an admirable quality but, do you really want that image at this point in your history? I used to think that Canadians reputations for niceness and tolerance (except for fanfan of course) was a fake. But, just think about the diversity of opinion on this thread and even on the mother of this thread. Not one Canadian person has attacked a person's right to be gay. Indeed, several people including yourself have stepped forward to make it clear it is unacceptable to attack the gay person as a person. So, even on a conservative web site you have these deeply entrenched liberal values.

[spatso]

It was a straight line I could not resist. Creative punch.

[spatso]

re: disclaimer

No, I just thought it was a read line, I just adjusted my glasses to read it...I will get her to read it, but i don't think she will respond.

[spatso]

Geez man, I don't think your interested in my opinions, I just think your trying to make me work.

[spatso]

"When we started the mother of this thread a few weeks ago, another FReeper mailed me to say I was wasting my time. Specifically, Canadians could attack and could be critical of American policy but, they will not tolerate any negative comment about there own situation."

"You posted it, so show me where I have done so."

I don't know what the "so" means in the above, I would appreciate if you could explain.