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Where is the love? We all talk about Canada being the land of opportunity, sharing, trust, safety, and equality. Canadians talk about being morally superior, this is what the whole world should be like. I'm in the military, where we are supposed to be protecting human rights, and I hear, A LOT, about the French, immigrants, gay rights, religion, women - the list goes on. Why do so many of us have trouble with this? It's even all over these forums. The entire country is a cultural melting pot, most of us are immigrants. The first people here, ran over the native population, made all the rules. The rules were made in 1867 and there ain't no way they're changing now! We came to Canada, for whatever reason, and tried to make it the best country we could. New people are still coming, these new people with their cultures and ideas can only help to make the country a better place.
A few years ago I was in my Grade 2 teacher's house. (I come from a very small town in Saskatchewan, I still know most of my teachers. My Grade 2 teacher's sister-in-law was my Grade 5 and 6 teacher.) My dad and her were having a discussion about immigrants that I had to stay out of. My teacher said, and I quote, "Why can't they just conform?" I was floored. If you want to come to Canada and want to make Canada a better place, you are welcome aboard. All we ask is that you follow our laws and do nothing to harm anyone else or infringe on the rights of anyone else. If you want to deal with businesses/people outside of your house/ethnic community, please learn English or French, that's all. Set up your businesses/restaurants/homes, etc, and invite everyone.
Why are so many people against gay rights? They talk about Christian values. Are they any "Christian" values that aren't just good old family values? My gripe is what does it harm you to let two gay people marry? I get "marriage is what God intends between a man and a woman." I feel that people are hiding behind their religion just for the support of the position. Can you name the 10 Commandments? How many of the 10 Commandments do you follow? How many have you broken this week/today? The only commandment that we follow is the sixth "Thou shalt not kill." The other nine are inconveniences, some are broken more times than others. http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_rate.htm says that surveys/studies show that only 10% of Canadians go to church weekly, so how religious/secular are we?
If two consenting adults want to do something/anything that harms no one else, doesn't take away any of my rights, follows our laws why don't we let them? Why must we try to impose our will on those who are not exactly like us and not accept what they add to our melting pot?
We have to learn, and accept, that everybody is different. Even here, in Canadaka, flame wars start. Sure some people try to incite the flames, but accept those who are posting their honest opinions. I hope those opinions show more compassion and understanding.

   

Right on!

   

I agree with your post. Many Canadian issues can be attributed to "natavistic hostility" of the host population in the late 1800 to early 1900's. Canada was still just a dominion with a large land mass and economic opportunities. Our founding fathers (Laurier, Sifton, Borden and King). Set up immigration to help settle the west and promote economic growth.

What immigrants found was that public opinion of them was low and not welcoming. We still find these characteristics in todays canada. We must be the ones to stop this. It is through education, and speaking out that we can hope to stamp out these old backwards issues.
Ginwithtonic

   

It is not unreasonable to ask immigrants to Canada to become Canadian as opposed to French, Syrian, Chinese, or etc.

When people come to Canada and then refuse to assimilate, learn the language, and insist on retaining their native language and culture then they are not 'immigrants' by any stretch of the imagination.

Far from being immigrants they are colonists.

When Canada allows enclaves of Chinese, Muslims, or etc. to establish in Canada then Canada is being colonized by Chinese, Muslims, or etc.

Just like America is being colonized by Mexicans who move to America while retaining Mexican citizenship, flying the Mexican flag outside their homes and businesses exclusively, and contemptuously insisting on the Mexican dialect of Spanish being legally equal to English.

If I emigrated to Canada it would be to become a Canadian, not to just relocate and establish an outpost of the United States.

   

well, i partially agree....if someone immigrates they should be prepared to be expected to "conform" in language and some customs (like not wacking a chick's head off cuz she cheated)....but on the issue of gay/lesbian marriage, I think a lot of people hide behind their religion as an excuse for not accepting it legally.

   

I'm a colonist!

   

I disagree. Refusing to learn the language is one thing, but forgetting their culture to adopt ours is different. Back to: if it doesn't break our laws feel free to do what you want. Shouldn't Chinese people be allowed to open Chinese restaurants, worship Chinese gods, celebrate significant Chinese days, wear Chinese clothes? Can't Chinese people eat Chinese food?
I don't live in Vancouver, but I love all their restaurants. Vietnamese noodle shops, Vietnamese sandwich shops. You want it you can find it. I love and celebrate diversity in all things.

   

I love it!! Does it make USABABE upset that you brought your Canadian heritage and cultures to Kentucky? Does it make anyone upset?
Is it difficult to be a good Canadian and a good American at the same time?

I have to ask: Is USABABE a 'Rider fan yet? And are you able to see their games? This is their year. Please please please

   

Canada has the end result of such "diversity" and it is called Quebec.

   

My Canada includes Quebec.

Are you saying there is something wrong with having a Quebec?

   

Yes, there is. The Quebecois are so linguistically and culturally separate from the rest of Canada that Separatism has a strong and legitimate calling there.

And how will Canada reconcile all of this diversity when the Muslims eventually get their Sharia Law and you'll expect them to co-exist with homosexuals?

Japan rigorously enforces homogeneity among the few immigrants who successfully petition for Japanese citizenship and no one faults them for it.

Canada and the USA should do the same thing. Frankly, in the next cycle of European and North American elections over the next decade immigration will be the key issue on both continents. Part of the failure of the EU constitution vote is over the threat of a Muslim invasion via Turkey.

Frankly, Canada fears a US invasion (of sorts) with Deep Integration.

Canada should keep Canada Canadian.

   

There are many varieties of languages in Quebec as well as the rest of Canada, they predominantly speak French while the ROC predominantly speak English, they are not so different because of that, and Quebec is not more culturally diverse as they would like to believe.

   

I love different cultures! yeah, he's a bit of freak, but....just kidding

We don't get the games here....I'm lucky if I get any local tv and Robair doesn't even own one! (yes, we're wierd--we hardly ever watch tv)...good luck Raiders!

   

Raiders??

One of the biggest things to really get used to down here is nobody drinks beer. We had a bunch of her familly over for a Bar B Q and into my second I realized I was the only one drinking anything but soda. So.. not sure how that went over, but I think other than that my Canadianisms are accepted.

I miss getting together for a beer or six...

   

Japan is not a better country for their homogeneity - which is the strictest form of racism. They do not trust outsiders. In Tokyo I was chased out of one store with a broom, told at one bar "Japanese only." Osaka, however, was completely different, very friendly people. In defense of Japan, they have had their own culture for hundreds of years. Canada has not, we are an aggregate of many different cultures. And some are determined to stick with the European aspect of it. France is in Europe, so I don't feel that Quebec is that different from the rest of us.
Part of keeping Canada Canadian: the 1996 Census was the first we had that offered "Canadian" as an option under "Nationality". I wouldn't be Canadian, I'd be Norwegian. And we still all ask each other "Where ya from?" "Canada."
"No, where's your family from?" "You must mean Norway then, but I've never been there." We're a melting pot, keep throwing more ingredients in. Who decided when to put the lid on? You? Not me.

   

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