blaim someone else

Having spent the Canada-day long weekend in a remote area of the Rocky foothills, I failed to celebrate the maturing of my country by one more year. I think the subject came up once - "Hey, isn't it Canada Day today?" and was promptly forgotten.

Since I am so incredibly patriotic, I cannot let this dissing of my birth nation pass by unnoticed. Here is a list (in no particular order) of thoughts on Canada, Canadians and what we like to call our "culture":

1. Although the Canadian dollar is now over 90 cents US, no one seems to notice or care that much of our Canadian-US pricing is not reflecting our dollar's value. Take a look and see for yourself - we're getting ripped off.

2. We still are laid back - we're like, almost totally sleeping, eh? As long as it doesn't take too much effort or passion, we're cool with corrupt government bodies and pocket-lining old boys clubs, low voter turnout, flagrant market dishonesty and exploitation, poor health care, high education prices, and a flaccid justice system.

3. All that "I am/We are Canadian" stuff? The beer, the rant, the commercials, the Canuck mockery of the US, the impassioned national pride it inspired? Yeah, it was sold to an American company. One of the oldest Canadian "institutions", sold by a profiteering Molson son, to a US buyer. Quite amusing. Does it indicate a market trend? I hope not.

4. "Multiculturalism" as it is is fracturing our society. We are unintentionally segregating ourselves, and blocking the ability to really understand each other and what drives us. We are dissolving common identity and values and creating misunderstood factions.

5. We know lots of people and have very few real friends.

6. Born and raised Canadians are one of the most polite (sometimes painfully) people groups in the world and are extremely space-oriented. We like our personal space "bubbles", in everyday interaction we don't get too physically close, don't touch very often, and like our privacy.

7. Customs and Immigration Canada waivers between Totally Anal and Totally Nonsensical. Did you know if you are approved as a permanent resident of Canada you only have to live in Canada two of five years to be eligable for reapplication? Someone can be a card-carrying permanent resident and only have to physically be in Canada for 24 months in a period of five years.

9. We have lots and lots of mosquitos in Canada. I personally can count nearly 80 bites from one weekend of camping, and will enjoy killing any mosquito I see for the rest of the summer.

10. We are valued in the non-governmental agency world for our strong work ethic, intelligence, diplomacy, and ability to get alot of places others can't with our Canadian passports.

11. Finally, this would not be a good list about Canada without a disclaimer.
THE OPINIONS AND OBSERVATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS LIST ARE THAT OF THE BLOG OWNER AND DO NOT REFLECT THAT OF THE BLOG PUBLISHER, SERVER, INTERNET PROVIDER, OR ANYONE IN FACT RELATED OR MARRIED TO THE OWNER OF THIS BLOG. NO CONTENT IN THIS LIST IS MEANT TO DISPARAGE OR OFFEND ANYONE WHO MAY CALL HERSELF OR HIMSELF A CANADIAN BY HERITAGE OR BY LEGAL PROCESS. ANYONE WHO HAS LOTS AND LOTS OF FRIENDS CAN AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFY THEMSELVES FROM ARTICLE #5. IF YOU HAVE NO FRIENDS AND WOULD LIKE TO FEEL BETTER ABOUT IT, SEE ARTICLE #5.