Canada; Strong and Free? - An essay on Canada from the U.K.

[woodbuck27]

I think of myself as a "conservindepentarian"

That would almost be me Patler but more this.

"a Progressiveconserindependentarian" a PCI

Now that we almost established that, or OUR political leanings.

Would anyone like to take a critical or otherwise stab at the Article. I will say this. The author nailed it, he pulled no punches.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Have you ever studied Political Science?

Sort of. I was interested in Political Science, and took a couple of classes in college. Then, I decided Computer Science was more to my liking. It was at the University of Minnesota though--which runs about 8 liberal professors for every conservative professor. Fortunately, one of my Political Science teachers was a fair-minded individual (and great teacher) who wanted his students to see both sides. He wanted you to think--rather than just regurgitate campaign slogans.

[MJZiggy]

We had one that wanted to argue politics no matter what (in the communications dept. no less). He always claimed that there was no one further to the left than him and I believe wanted to argue not for the politics, but just to get us all to think and define what we believed. (By the way, I believe he was right. I've never met anyone before or after who was more liberal than he was)

[Patler]

Would anyone like to take a critical or otherwise stab at the Article. I will say this. The author nailed it, he pulled no punches.

I certainly can't make a critical comment about it, I found myself agreeing with his every remark.

In some ways I think what he describes for Canada has occured in many of the Allied nations after WWII. With WWII having followed quite closely on the heals of WWI, the victorious nations subconsciously wanted to make sure that they would oppress no one. Thus, a desire to be open and accomodating to everyone. This is not a bad goal, but when the definition of oppression becomes "The exposure by a minority class to a fundamental belief or practice contrary to their own" you start developing a state that is oppressive to the majority, and controlled in many very fundamental ways by those holding extreme minority opinions.

The result is what we see happening with the fundamental rights of Christians to practice their religion in public. Nativity scenes banned, Christmas festivals banned, bibles banned, certain speech banned.

The mere exposure of a nonbeliever to the activities of a believer is not oppression of the minority by the majority so long as there is not forced participation or restirctions on the minority in practicing whatever their belief is or isn't. I believe this has been forgotten in the zeal of many to protect the religious minorities in our countries.

[woodbuck27]

Would anyone like to take a critical or otherwise stab at the Article. I will say this. The author nailed it, he pulled no punches.

I certainly can't make a critical comment about it, I found myself agreeing with his every remark.

In some ways I think what he describes for Canada has occured in many of the Allied nations after WWII. With WWII having followed quite closely on the heals of WWI, the victorious nations subconsciously wanted to make sure that they would oppress no one. Thus, a desire to be open and accomodating to everyone. This is not a bad goal, but when the definition of oppression becomes "The exposure by a minority class to a fundamental belief or practice contrary to their own" you start developing a state that is oppressive to the majority, and controlled in many very fundamental ways by those holding extreme minority opinions.

The result is what we see happening with the fundamental rights of Christians to practice their religion in public. Nativity scenes banned, Christmas festivals banned, bibles banned, certain speech banned.

The mere exposure of a nonbeliever to the activities of a believer is not oppression of the minority by the majority so long as there is not forced participation or restirctions on the minority in practicing whatever their belief is or isn't. I believe this has been forgotten in the zeal of many to protect the religious minorities in our countries.

Your seeing exactly what I'm seeing. I only speak for myself, as I believe that proper government works fairly, based on the individuals rights as he/she see what's best for him/her - living in a Democratic Society.

It's really gone ass backwards up here in alot of respects. Life isn't better as I once knew it but alot more strained and far less personal with emphasis on greed. It seems to affect everyone in one manner or another.

We are all victims today of too much. You would be absolutely shocked at the commercialism of the Montreal area. It would blow your mind Patler. This is a fast-fast place. Incredible disparity between the very very rich and the dirt poor - street people.

It's just sickening compared to my home in Saint John, New Brunswick. A poor class there also, but not on display as we see on visits to Montreal proper (the island of Montreal). I live in the more affluent Montreal ( South Shore) - South of the St.Lawrence River, and soon after that on a short drive one arrives at the American border. Vermont.