"We need to remember that we are a country" is not something that will likely ever be uttered, let alone seriously considered, by the senior members of the current team at the helm in Ottawa. If their playbook includes redefining Canada as "the world's first post-national state", then the elimination of borders will remain a key goal. Such an unrestricted flow of humanity between countries and continents around the globe promises to blend the bright colours of traditional cultures and national identities into a bland sphere of beige. Perhaps for some mental prep, I should rewatch "The Prisoner" television series.
When Hemingway used to write for the Toronto Star, he was known to call Toronto "boring," and lament that it was a place "without an identity." Boy, was he right.
Eventually -- and potentially -- yes. The push to have PRs vote will certainly start soon enough. (We've already seen it trial-ballooned in orange downtown Calgary.)
However, as it stands, the Conservatives poll very well with Sikhs, for example.
The only two demographics the Liberals and NDP are polling well with are, and I kid you not, Muslims and atheists.
I feel you were channeling Rex. So many great quotes. TNTC as they say in my industry. Well said Alex. Definitely sharing this with family and friends- as well as the Toronto Sun piece.
That's very generous, Karen. I went to write about Rex, but not having known the man it didn't feel appropriate. And yet, he has undeniably inspired so many of us. He was in many ways the prototype of the journo-opinion columnist, with unapologetic views. I'm under that learning tree somewhere, along with quite a few scribes I admire.
Justin is a POS. His policies are just awful. I'm an American and the guy gives me the creeps. Twenty-some years ago I worked as a dockmaster on an island in western Lake Erie that gets tons of boating visitors from all sorts of places, like Pelee Island Ontario. The island makes sure to celebrate Victoria Day and the Independence Day that Canada celebrates before the US Independence Day, July 4th. Our national park, Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, shares equally, posting the US, Great Britain and Canadian flags every day. However, the Canadians who visit this place are pretty much uniformly anti-American, saying things during our July 4th parade in town, like "Oh, run up the flag, have a parade," and then trying to skip out of paying their dock fees -- or even producing a tip at the island restaurants or at the docks. where we watch over their boats to prevent damage etc. They suck. Sadly what I've also observed is that they have no CASH to buy a meal at any of the restaurants/bars on the island.. Canadians SHARING a plate of french fries is a common practice. Sad but true!
No disagreements here, doc! Sorry to hear your experience with these Canadians was so negative. I've never understood that wholly unearned sense of moral superiority that many effete Canadians hold over Americans. We have family in the South, and I've never had anything but the utmost respect for a country with a) actual patriotism b) less self-loathing c) a rich unvarnished history, where most adults are allowed to take the good with the bad d) lesser amounts of societal passive-aggression.
Twenty+ yrs ago when I had these unpleasant encounters I did not know the term "passive-aggressive" but it is something I notice frequently these days, wherever I am! Growing up outside of NYC my family enjoyed knowing several Canadian families and the same was true with my husband's family in NE Ohio, with a godmother-relation from Toronto among the closest friends of my late mother-in-law.
A couple of more observations from my summer as dockmaster (that's what my nickname "doc" stands for!): the Canadians crossed the lake having gotten a $20 US roll of quarters to use for tips, for restaurant help and dock workers like me. Occasionally they'd slip in a "loony" which was the same size but not worth as much, obviously!
The other thing was they'd bring along a weekend's worth of Molson's or the other brand (can't remember now as I don't drink beer) on their boats, drink it up aboard the boats 'cuz you can't leave the dock holding an open container, and then at their Sunday afternoon departure, they'd untie their craft from the dock for their getaway and toss a bag with the empty cans onto the dock for us to pick up! Nice;-)
As Karenbytherideau said... "I feel you were channelling Rex."
Trudeau has fostered an ethnic and cultural divide among both immigrants and Canadians to the extent that we no longer have 'Canadians of -Insert for prior culture here-' rather we now have Balkanized 'Prior Cultures' who live in Canada. It will get worse before it can possibly get better with a change of government with 'common sense' ideas.
Keep pounding those keys Alex, you're doing a great job!
Thank you Peter, and yes it's such an insult to see such a divide created in the first place. We had a pretty good balance going before. I think it's important to let folks know that even if we returned to pre-Covid LIBERAL TARGETS, this all starts to become more manageable, and less needlessly divisive. When an onslaught is this profound, with such limited efforts towards meaningful employment or integration, many fantastic newcomers are being viewed as competition, and not as neighbours. That's not their fault, but it is absolutely the fault of the federal government, provinces like BC and Ontario who have dined out on cheap Indian labour and fake colleges, and the now millions who have deliberately tried to fast track to a PR.
Every non-bad actor involved deserves much, much better.
"We need to remember that we are a country" is not something that will likely ever be uttered, let alone seriously considered, by the senior members of the current team at the helm in Ottawa. If their playbook includes redefining Canada as "the world's first post-national state", then the elimination of borders will remain a key goal. Such an unrestricted flow of humanity between countries and continents around the globe promises to blend the bright colours of traditional cultures and national identities into a bland sphere of beige. Perhaps for some mental prep, I should rewatch "The Prisoner" television series.
That is a great television series...
When Hemingway used to write for the Toronto Star, he was known to call Toronto "boring," and lament that it was a place "without an identity." Boy, was he right.
Only 18 more months!
If I was any better at coding, I'd install a countdown clock on the home page. :)
Here ya go Alex...
https://www.tickcounter.com/countdown/5220439/trudeau-gone?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1tqzvGdyf8PtMsEdyHXpwFlwud3bGCFvEaSvmflSvyK_o4xYl6Ev_W1Qk_aem_AagsIBVqpPUwKn8678x5ILhhVT0VBi5YDbuczX211ltvq5X9VXKB3FBgTyTSXZRQRT1WSJqy0MhrnCQfqoHt_W7G
Hah, love it! You're hired.
Hi Alex... I can't take credit for it I found the link in a 'X' post a few days ago. Someone else had shared it.
Cheers.
These policies are deliberate. 2.5 new Liberal voters.
Eventually -- and potentially -- yes. The push to have PRs vote will certainly start soon enough. (We've already seen it trial-ballooned in orange downtown Calgary.)
However, as it stands, the Conservatives poll very well with Sikhs, for example.
The only two demographics the Liberals and NDP are polling well with are, and I kid you not, Muslims and atheists.
I feel you were channeling Rex. So many great quotes. TNTC as they say in my industry. Well said Alex. Definitely sharing this with family and friends- as well as the Toronto Sun piece.
Oh how I wish you lacked material to write these!
That's very generous, Karen. I went to write about Rex, but not having known the man it didn't feel appropriate. And yet, he has undeniably inspired so many of us. He was in many ways the prototype of the journo-opinion columnist, with unapologetic views. I'm under that learning tree somewhere, along with quite a few scribes I admire.
His legacy will live on.
Justin is a POS. His policies are just awful. I'm an American and the guy gives me the creeps. Twenty-some years ago I worked as a dockmaster on an island in western Lake Erie that gets tons of boating visitors from all sorts of places, like Pelee Island Ontario. The island makes sure to celebrate Victoria Day and the Independence Day that Canada celebrates before the US Independence Day, July 4th. Our national park, Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, shares equally, posting the US, Great Britain and Canadian flags every day. However, the Canadians who visit this place are pretty much uniformly anti-American, saying things during our July 4th parade in town, like "Oh, run up the flag, have a parade," and then trying to skip out of paying their dock fees -- or even producing a tip at the island restaurants or at the docks. where we watch over their boats to prevent damage etc. They suck. Sadly what I've also observed is that they have no CASH to buy a meal at any of the restaurants/bars on the island.. Canadians SHARING a plate of french fries is a common practice. Sad but true!
No disagreements here, doc! Sorry to hear your experience with these Canadians was so negative. I've never understood that wholly unearned sense of moral superiority that many effete Canadians hold over Americans. We have family in the South, and I've never had anything but the utmost respect for a country with a) actual patriotism b) less self-loathing c) a rich unvarnished history, where most adults are allowed to take the good with the bad d) lesser amounts of societal passive-aggression.
Twenty+ yrs ago when I had these unpleasant encounters I did not know the term "passive-aggressive" but it is something I notice frequently these days, wherever I am! Growing up outside of NYC my family enjoyed knowing several Canadian families and the same was true with my husband's family in NE Ohio, with a godmother-relation from Toronto among the closest friends of my late mother-in-law.
A couple of more observations from my summer as dockmaster (that's what my nickname "doc" stands for!): the Canadians crossed the lake having gotten a $20 US roll of quarters to use for tips, for restaurant help and dock workers like me. Occasionally they'd slip in a "loony" which was the same size but not worth as much, obviously!
The other thing was they'd bring along a weekend's worth of Molson's or the other brand (can't remember now as I don't drink beer) on their boats, drink it up aboard the boats 'cuz you can't leave the dock holding an open container, and then at their Sunday afternoon departure, they'd untie their craft from the dock for their getaway and toss a bag with the empty cans onto the dock for us to pick up! Nice;-)
As Karenbytherideau said... "I feel you were channelling Rex."
Trudeau has fostered an ethnic and cultural divide among both immigrants and Canadians to the extent that we no longer have 'Canadians of -Insert for prior culture here-' rather we now have Balkanized 'Prior Cultures' who live in Canada. It will get worse before it can possibly get better with a change of government with 'common sense' ideas.
Keep pounding those keys Alex, you're doing a great job!
Thank you Peter, and yes it's such an insult to see such a divide created in the first place. We had a pretty good balance going before. I think it's important to let folks know that even if we returned to pre-Covid LIBERAL TARGETS, this all starts to become more manageable, and less needlessly divisive. When an onslaught is this profound, with such limited efforts towards meaningful employment or integration, many fantastic newcomers are being viewed as competition, and not as neighbours. That's not their fault, but it is absolutely the fault of the federal government, provinces like BC and Ontario who have dined out on cheap Indian labour and fake colleges, and the now millions who have deliberately tried to fast track to a PR.
Every non-bad actor involved deserves much, much better.
Will keep pounding away!