Posted on 08/02/2005 10:27:42 AM PDT by quidnunc
"Why do you think Canada is breaking up?" This perfectly straightforward question from a reader took me aback. What appears obvious to me, may not appear so to others; and vice versa.
The short answer is, because there is nothing left to hold it together. Anything that was particular about the country not about regions but about the country as a whole has been obviated by government legislation, or put quite purposely into disuse. We are no longer a Dominion; we have a Queen only on paper; our system of Crown-in-Parliament has been negated by the quasi-presidential rule of a succession of "federaste" prime ministers from Quebec. Our history is no longer taught in schools.
We are reduced to waving a Canadian flag and that is itself an imposture. The current Canada is something that was invented from scratch, in Liberal party advertising agencies, and dates approximately from the invention of that flag, in 1964. But successive Liberal governments could think of nothing with which to replace the old symbols. Hence, a "new Canada," defined by a bunch of nothings.
Ask a Canadian who is waiting for a bus or more likely for a CAT scan what Canada means to him, and he will say something like "multiculturalism" or "tolerance" or "universal health care." These are nothings. There is nothing Canadian about any of them. Every postmodern country has all these things, and none of them are worth having.
But this is old news, dating back to Pearson. The late Pierre Trudeau made no secret of his contempt for Canada and Canadians as a national group, and instead put his faith in universal abstractions. We got what we deserved by repeatedly electing him.
-snip-
Not stupid, creative my friend, creative. Canoe screwing is an art form.
You are up here, where?
Toronto is on a different planet than ,say, Calgary.
Canada can't produce a Disraeli?
I think maybe it can.
But both are cool. Halifax rules, though. ;)
Possibly. But remember, Disraeli was Christian. He was Jewish by blood, but he was baptized when he was born. His dad had a spat with the local rabbi or somesuch and converted to Christianity.
Like drinking Lite beer. ****ing near water.
Kelowna, BC.
LOL.
You haven't been to Toronto in a while, have you?
Toronto....leading the country in gun deaths and muggings.
Well that explains your POV.
Kelowna has some pretty fine folks, for west coasters.
Welcome to Canada, FRiend. :-)
We have a lot to offer and I really enjoy living in my part of Ontario.
When I visit America, I find the US has a lot of great people as well.
You do realize that polls from people who have never been to those places are just getting their views from what they see on TV. That ranking is laughable and absurd.
(late bump!)
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