Canada losing status as prime U.S. ally??

Canada is becoming redundant in world affairs ?? To the best of my knowledge , the definition of redundant means exceeding what is needed , or normal - Extra , so I'm not sure what you mean . I agree that Canada should beef up it's military , and I have stated this in some of my other posts , I think the maple leaf needs a few thorns on it ( Figuratively speaking ) . Aside from that , Canada isn't the first , nor only country to have foreign policy screw - ups . I'm also wondering - who might invade Canada ? , who is going to cross ANY ocean and necessitate canadians taking up arms to defend against a foreign invasion ? Canada could suffer a terrorist act , but that isn't an invasion . I've said it before many times - the biggest threat to your country is sell - outs with business interests within your own ranks . Just like there are business elites in the u.s. , Britain , Australia , and dozens of other countries - that have way too much influence on the political process . Canada has the right to decide what actions ( or lack of ) it needs to take that are in it's best interest . The best way to do that is through the united nations - which the u.s. supposedly thinks so highly of , and sometimes ,( god forbid ! ) Canada might not agree with the United States on everything . As for your questioning the likelihood of Canadians defending their homeland , I'll leave that to the canadian posters to handle , who no doubt will give you an education . Cheers !

I think you should stop worrying about our country and giving us suggestions on how to fix things, and take a look at your own.

OH!!!!!!! I read that again, and I owe you an apology Electricbuford. I misinterpreted things and I'm sorry :oops:

Thanks for taking a second look at my post . Worrying about my own country is a valid point , but I truly believe it's too late to change the course it is on . The main reason I comment so much on this site is because I'd hate to see Canada go down the same path as the United States , regardless of whether or not I am ever able to move up there . I think I've said it before , but if Canada loses it's unique identity ( or it gets watered down ) , then it will be a loss for the whole world , and not just Canadians . Your nation is probably the last chance the world has for a country that truely lives up to the ideals of what the U.S. was founded upon and used to be a long time ago , and of course the Canadian model has some positive differences that emphasize the good of the society , over that of the individual . Like Douglas Copeland said , Canada is still a relatively young country , and still growing . If you learn anything from the U.S. - learn from it's mistakes . By the way - how many Canadians would take up arms in the event of an invasion ??????

Your post reminds me of my favorite quote, the one at the top of the frontpage.]

"When IÂ’m in Canada, I feel this is what the world should be like"

I would take up arms. "Stand on guard for thee"

Plus couldn't they "legaly" in the Charter still invoke a draft?

I cant speak for everyone, but IMHO if some one tried to invade, Canada wouldnt need to draft anyone...

I agree with you RH. It's the quiet ones you got to watch out for!

I think We'd surprise the hell out of who ever tried to invade. No, wait. I KNOW we'd surprise the hell out of them.

Thanks for the reply Buford, it was very well put. But I think KA, RH, and Twila just made the points that I would have..........

When I think about America , I often think about my grandparents generation , especially those men and boys who did not return from WWII . I ask myself , what would they think of what this country has become , and of the state of our democracy ? We fought Hitler and his racist cohorts , yet even today almost sixty years after the fall of Berlin , we still have a problem with race in this country . We are finding new enemies everyday because we help to create them due in large part to our lack of credibilty in handling world affairs . The U.S. fails to maintain a fair and consistent standard in promoting democratic values and basic human rights . Instead , our foreign policy seems to be based soley on what we think is best for us . None of this is justification for terrorist attacks , but It does offer some explanation for why the U.S. is so hated in some quarters . In some cases the world is just jealous of America's power and prosperity . One would think that with all that power and prosperity , the U.S. could help make the world a better place , but perhaps it makes better business sense to maintain the status quo . I am still wondering why there has not been an investigation into 9/11 ? I am still wanting to know what really happened in Florida during the last presidential election ? I want to know why so many people lost their life savings , pensions , and just plain old money - like I did in companies like global crossing , enron , aol tIme /warner , etc. ? Plus a dozen other questions - yet to ask many of these questions you risk being labeled ( GASP ! ) UN - AMERICAN . Everyday I go out and quietly observe life in my small town of approximately 70 ,000 people . I see folks taking important calls on their cell phones in the middle of dinner in a restaurant from someone just wanting to say HI , I see lone teenagers driving suvs , people oblivious to what is going on around them as they colide into you at the grocery store . I often see $ 30,000 vehicles parked in front of $ 10,000 trailer homes , I see lots of new strip malls , but no new decent jobs available so that most people could afford to shop at them . I read the local online polls , just to see what some people think of different issues , and in almost every case , they are either on one extreme , or the other , and NEITHER side seems well informed . Mostly I see a microscopic piece of a much larger society that , for the most part , does not care about it's community , it's neighbors , the outside world , or the future . In the many different states I have travelled in - I've seen pretty much the same thing . There are some fine people in this country , and exceptions to what I said above , but overall , most of what I said is at the core of our society , it is who we are and it doesn't make any difference who is in the white house . With great power and wealth comes great responsibility , and the need for ' Gentle domination ' . I didn't even get into our destruction of our enviroment , ungodly dependence on foreign oil ( See lone teenagers driving suvs above ) , high crime , poor education , yada ,yada , yada. Aside from a few bitchers like myself , it seems like overall the country is just fine with the way it is . I think I've said this before , do your homework - apply critical thinking to the data you find and seek the truth . Go to a protest march for a cause you believe in . Be kind to your neighbor , and help to inform them of the issues . Write your congressman and let em' know how you feel about issues . It's funny though - people have been doing these things for over 30 years , and what has changed really ? - aside from no more WHITES ONLY water fountains , and cable t.v. for the poor in West Virginia. Seems to me we have grown farther apart as a society , as has the gulf between rich and poor . Looking on the bright side though , our military is the most powerful in history - I guess some would consider that an achievement .