Issue date: 1/28/05 Section: Opinion

Daniel Feild

So I used to be like most Americans, I laughed at Canada. I had seen Strange Brew, Canadian Bacon and I was aware of the horror known as Bryan Adams so it seemed reasonable that those guys were just down right goofy. Hahahaha, I laughed all the way to the bank. But then that changed. I had the pleasure of getting to know two Chinooks this past summer, and when they invited me to take a week long sabbatical from my native land and visit Vancouver, I figured that I would give it a shot. I mean these guys are just America Light, right? Wrong. I learned something from my visit to our neighbors to the wild wooly north: It is possible to be a North American country populated by mostly white English speakers and not be an ass while you are doing it.

Canada is a country that has figured out that when you are a strong, economically viable country it is okay to act responsibly and take care of your own, something that the United States has still not managed to do, (look at the most recent statistics on poverty and the Iraqi tar baby that we are currently involved in). As a country, Canada has accepted responsibility for itself and its actions. For instance, while there are a greater number of unemployed in Canada there are no visible signs of it, and crime (especially gun related crime), which is normally a by-product of poverty, is nearly nonexistent. While large, balding and WHITE conservatives everywhere would bemoan Canada as a nation of communists and liberal wieners they would not have to pay for a trip to the hospital if they needed it, nor would they have to worry about being able to send their children to good schools and colleges. Guess why? Instead of spending money on weapons, occupations and prisons, Canada spends its money on social programs for Canadians that also tend to keep Canadians out of prison. It is not just a political mindset, it is an attitude that seems to prevail among all. Canadians are not just polite when deciding policy, they are just down right nice people. I have never seen such polite drivers in my whole damn life! And even their diction is more polite! The adults prefer bum to butt and tummy to gut or stomach. The idea of free speech, free thought and free action thrive there in a more sanctified state than here in the land of the free. Racism and religiously fueled bigotry are not to be found in the land of "Aye." You can live a life that for the most part people will not judge you for your beliefs as long as you are not hurting anybody else.

Continued...

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