Thursday, July 27, 2006

Proud to be a Canadian

More reasons why I continue to celebrate the fact that my sense of pride as a Canadian has been renewed since P.M. Stephen Harper took office:

Check out these comments on the American blog, LGF. (H/T to Rempelia Prime and Kerplonka.)

How did Canada luck out like this? What a sane man. Bless him.

It is wonderful to have Canada back on the team.

Harper is doing us non moonbat canadians proud




It sure beats having to endure all that self-serving U.S. bashing from Paul Martin during the last election!

33 comments:

Red Tory said...

How sad that you’re dipping into the virulently hateful cesspit of Little Green Snotballs. Ugh. I can’t say I’m all that surprised.

Forward Looking Canadian said...

Joanne, I don't know about that American blog, but I agree it is GREAT to have a PM that understands the U.S. relationship and doesn't just bash the U.S. for the sake of bashing.

Anonymous said...

What in the world are you talking about RT?

I'm glad that our relations with the US are improving.

trustonlymulder said...

RT what should we dip in? That cesspool of de-evolution Kos?

Zac said...

I continue to celebrate the fact that my sense of pride as a Canadian has been renewed since P.M. Stephen Harper took office

I take from this that your not much of a Canadian if your pride in your country swings with what party is in charge.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

I take from this that your not much of a Canadian if your pride in your country swings with what party is in charge.

Man, is that some kind of Liberal mantra you guys chant? RT and JDave said the same thing!

My motivation to even become interested in politics started with the previous government (Martin). It fueled my rage.

Chretien had a bit of class. I wasn't embarrassed to have him as my PM. But Martin... ugh!!!!

Zac said...

Embarresment in your government and pride in your country do not go hand in hand.

Peter Rempel said...

"How sad that you’re dipping into the virulently hateful cesspit of Little Green Snotballs."

Yeah, that was my reaction too when I read the quotes that Joanne included in her post. "How virulently hateful!"

What's a cesspit? The pit that a cesspool exists in?

Peter Rempel said...

"I take from this that your not much of a Canadian if your pride in your country swings with what party is in charge."

Things don't exactly work that way, Zac. Twelve years of Liberal, anti-Alberta government had drained alot of us of any of our political efficacy. Turnover of government solves that problem.

And I take it that you haven't read any of the lefty bloggers who have written that they're ashamed of Canada a scant hundred days after Harper has been in power.

Zac said...

And I take it that you haven't read any of the lefty bloggers who have written that they're ashamed of Canada a scant hundred days after Harper has been in power.

And I would say the same thing to them Peter.

I'm not a conservative and don't agree with many of Stephen Harper's policies but I'm still proud of my country.

Forward Looking Canadian said...

Zac,

I think Joanne refers to pride in the country in a the fact that you could be embarassed by your governments actions.

When Martin decided to ceremoniously tell the world we would not participate in BMD, I was embarassed to be a Canadian because of my governments foolhearty actions. What our government does reflects on our country. When Martin told the U.S. privately we would sign onto BMD, when we had everything ready to participate, and then he gets cold feet cause of the Quebec caucus and publicly acts like a baby and renounces it, it made me EMBARASSED.

Joanne is a Conservative both in political terms and in social. I can see why she would have pride restored when a CPC government is put in place and the result is that Canada takes clear positions on issues and doesn't jerk around.

It would be the same pride I would have felt if I'd been old enough to watch Trudeau repatriat the constition, Pearson negotiating UNEF, and when Chretien stoof up for federalist Quebec the night before the referendum.

I think Canadians feel a stronger sense of pride when their government acts decisively, and does what it says.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

What Riley said. :)

Thanks, Riley. Very eloquent.

I am having some technical problems at this end, so if your comment doesn't get on in a timely fashion, it's probably due to a glitch.

Nicole said...

Well, I really don't like to disagree { wink wink} but I kinda agree with Zac. Regardless of whom is in power, because with having a democratic country, there will always be people not happy with who is "in charge". I will ALWAYS be proud of being a Canadian and can honestly attest to saying there is NO other country I would rather live in....ok IF Dryden ever gets elected, we'll talk LOL
I am proud to say that underneath my shirt is a big maple leaf..{ ok maybe 2! haha}
Zac....maybe down the road YOU should run
Zac S for PM...I'm down with it :-D

Joanne (True Blue) said...

I think what we're really arguing about here is semantics. And all this started when I mentioned that some people called in on a talk show and said that their pride in Canada has been restored or something to that effect when Harper took over.

I too feel much prouder as a Candian than I did in those gloomy Martin days. I felt the country was going down the wrong track (scandals, etc.), and now I have hope.

It doesn't mean that I hated being a Canadian before. It simply means that the world view of Canada has improved, in my opinion, and that has increased my pride as a Canadian. I don't think I can make that any clearer.

If someone has an issue with that, fine.

Zac said...

Riley,

I, personally, don't see the government as the be all end all representative of my country. Sure, it is the government but even if I don't agree with it, I can still feel pride in my nation.

When I walk through downtown Hamilton and see people who came here from all over the world to start a new life for themselves, I feel proud to be a Canadian. When I go up north and canoe through our beautiful rivers and camp under trees that are hundreds of years old, I feel proud to be Canadian. A bit silly perhaps, but when I think of my nation, the first thing that pops into my mind, isn't the government - its the people, the places.

To say that you only feel pride when you agree with your government I think is fairly narrow sighted. There is so much more to this country than simply the talking heads in Ottawa. No matter who's in charge, the country is still great. I'm sorry that some people can't understand the breadth of this nation is greater than simply politicians.

Nicole said...

Zac...if you ever decide to run, can I PLEASE be your C. M. ?
Zac for Pm, and Captain Obvious would make a great team dontcha think?
I'll even give up my extra-curicular activities { jdave's Fanclub president, and my cougarish ways....think it over}

Zac said...

Nic, the only running I'll ever do is away from a putting my name on a ballot. I like complaining and discussing politics, but I've spent too many years around politicians and have learned how horrid the life is. Too little time for family and friends and too little praise for a job well done. It ain't pretty.

Anonymous said...

Since Zac et al seem to declare that they are proud to be Canadians, are you all willing to die for Canada ?

Nicole said...

Since Zac et al seem to declare that they are proud to be Canadians, are you all willing to die for Canada ?

I usually don't respond to anon's { pick a name any name behind doors # 1, 2 or 3}

Being that this is Canada, not the US, I don't think we are expected to have to promise to die for our country. Being proud to be Canadian and dying out of pride is stupid and redundant}
I have 2 kids, and if I had to give my life for their safety\lives, now that is a diff story

Zac said...

Since Zac et al seem to declare that they are proud to be Canadians, are you all willing to die for Canada ?

Well I think you are suggesting a war. If not, your a pretty odd fellow.

I think your question should probably read "would you be willing to fight for your country and put your life on the line?"

Well, if we we're being invaded or attacked, yes I would fight for my country. Does that suffice?

Zac said...

I don't think we are expected to have to promise to die for our country. Being proud to be Canadian and dying out of pride is stupid and redundant

Nic, we're not expected to have to promise to die for our country, but if we were invaded I would certainly fight back.

Nicole said...

Nic, we're not expected to have to promise to die for our country, but if we were invaded I would certainly fight back

well yeah Zac but I took his comment to mean the other. Of course if we were invaded, we would fight. I don't want to be an american :-D
But that doesn't mean that I am going to go fight a war that I don't believe in, just because I am proud to be a Canadian either

Zac said...

But that doesn't mean that I am going to go fight a war that I don't believe in, just because I am proud to be a Canadian either

Thats true, guess I didn't take that into consideration.

Forward Looking Canadian said...

Zac,

Spare me your sentiments. You should know I didn't mean government is the be all and end all representative of Canada. Come on I think you're smarter than that. You come back with this drawn out "when I walk the streets of hamilton" hand-over-your-heart stuff as if I'm some cold bastard only believing in Canada when the government makes a move I agree with. I don't expect this nonsense from you.

You'll notice I used words like "reflects" and "stronger sense". I definitely did not say Government actions dictate pride, or that pride is basedly solely on one's political leanings.

Unfortunately this threat has been hijacked by a "who loves Canada more" brigade rather than Joanne's commentary on the fact that someone called in to make a comment about Harpers decisiveness.

I don't need to be lectured on how much pride I have in my country, and what I base it on. Nor does anyone else.

Zac said...

Did I say you were a "cold hearted bastard"? Did I write something to belittle you in any way?

This doesn't seem to be the first time you gotten on me about what I write. If you have a problem with me, come out and say it.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Wow, what do you call a "cat-fight" for guys? Well, I have to step out for a while. I'll open the flood-gates when I get back.

Forward Looking Canadian said...

Zac,

I don't have a problem with you. I have a problem with some of your posts, and I do think I normally come right out and say it.

If you read your retort to my earlier post you'll find you wrote "To say that you only feel pride when you agree with your government I think is fairly narrow sighted....I'm sorry that some people can't understand the breadth of this nation is greater than simply politicians."

I rolled my eyes at that. You implied I don't understand the breadth of this nation. I replied that I didn't need a lecture.

There's no catfight, I'm simply responding to your post. Relax.

When you write melodramatic posts, I'll say so. I don't have a problem with you so don't get yourself all up in knots over it.

Red Tory said...

Mr. Screw -- I don't visit DKos that often for the same reasons I don't like LGF. Although I have to say that there's a good deal more thoughtful commentary, diaries, etc. on DKos than is the case at that other place.

Red Tory said...

Steph -- What in the world are you talking about RT?

The things that are said on that blog as a matter of course by those who inhabit it are deeply offensive. It’s a fine representation of the most extreme aspect of the political right-wing. Hateful, narrow-minded, prejudiced, bigoted, etc. and just seething with anger at anything perceived as infringing on their pretty little lives.

Saskboy said...

"It sure beats having to endure all that self-serving U.S. bashing from Paul Martin during the last election!"

So you think any praise is good praise, even if it comes from one of the most extreme and vile websites on the Internet? We should set the bar of pride in our country a little higher than blushing over the endorsement of LGF for our PM.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Chacun à son goût, mon ami.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

No matter who's in charge, the country is still great. I'm sorry that some people can't understand the breadth of this nation is greater than simply politicians.

O.K. Zac. I've thought about this for a while.

Rephrased Statement: I feel a whole lot more pride now as a Canadian, than I did when Paul Martin was my Prime Minister. However, that may be purely coincidental.

If that still offends anyone, I suggest they call the Emotions Police and have me charged.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Well said, Tango. The corruption tainted all of us by association.