I hope more people come here to post their comments. Canada was a fascinating place to visit. I came back twice more because I was so intrigued with the culture. We have a good amount of multi-culturalism here in California, too! It's a big State and that isn't true about the whole State though. I was amused though because other Canadians thought we were the mecca of liberalism out here. I was sorry to tell them, remember, we have a Republican Governor, much like yourselves possess in a Prime Minister. The belief of many Californians is that we need a balance between Democrats and Republicans in our State.
I question this some and I give the ranking of our schools now, as proof ,that we aren't benefiting from either party's politics much these days. There are so many lies out in cyberspace. Many don't even know what the truth is and are too tired to really care. Honestly? They teach so little about Politics to the average High School Student. If they make it to Graduation, they are lucky they know what voting is all about. High School voting usually amounts to who is the most popular or will give you something you like. Like a new pony!
I am impressed with how advanced Canada has become socially and it really shows when you walk around the streets of Toronto. I fear, you too suffer some, from people grouping together a little too much. I wasn't sure how well equal opportunity employment was working out there in the Theatre Community but I could see that at least there were a good variety of production that represented different parts of your community.
I wondered, if you have a lot less crime, because you have overcome most of your fear of people from different cultures? It seemed you welcomed the variety? At least in big cities like Toronto. It seems in Canada too, thanks to universal heath care, issue like contraceptives, wasn't a big problem there at all. I was amused to find a condom store on a main street! That alone must make life a little less stressful. There was an advertisement for some sex education seminar! How shocking but innovative! It made America suddenly look like prehistoric cavepeople.
I wonder if you expect us to be carrying around clubs and grunting a whole lot. Well, most like to carry around weapons but many do grunt a lot. Though I have to say, using a term like, "eh!" isn't very commercial. It is used around here in America mostly by old people with low hearing aid batteries. I'd say you are more likely to hear us say, "oh, Canadians!" when discussing topics like healthcare and transportation. Then, someone will just laugh and say, well we are a richer Country, so what do they know? I'd say, quite a bit. I kind of figured since your population was smaller due to livable landscape, you don't get so bogged down or distracted by side issues like gay marriage or universal healthcare? I did notice that the votes were very close as far as gay issues seemed to go. We know from research, letting gay people get married only hurts some peoples feelings. It is booming business for others.
Most Canadians I have met seemed religious but I met a few who weren't or maybe are more agnostic to me? A nice thing is that you really do seem to want to get along with each other. I hear very little criticism in the City about each other. I have also found a bit of reluctance when it comes to sharing your honest views of some things. Perhaps because I was a tourist? I would get asked questions sometimes and when I asked why was this important for them to know, I would just get an evasive answer? So as to not offend me but being nosy, none the less.
Your Country is a very nice place to visit overall. I feel we are spoiled here in America because we have more agriculture and our greater size means we can offer more opportunities for employment. I feel we have less unemployment here. Though you may have more freedom of speech and more local support from your communities than we do? Yet finding Canadians less outspoken might contradict my statement somewhat? It seems it is more on the side of peace but I'm not too sure about that too much still? We have too many corporations and money doesn't end up being spread around as much as it should be here.
I feel too that Canadians have a better hold on their Government than we Americans do. It is harder for us to get rid of incompetent leadership because of big corporations and their hands in most of our Politicians bank accounts. This has finally led us back into a corrupt system of Government or in our case, the lack of Government based on a Constitution but one dictated to us, thanks to the almighty dollar.
So now, I at least look to Canada and Canadians to help us see the light. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be how Canadians do International Business? We need Canadians to say, "look what we have going on here! You can have this too!" I just see that as a Canadian attribute which is too bad for us. I know you need our business. We need your peace right now, unfortunately. We also need your commerce to keep building and stay in business. Instead of thanking us, I wish more of you would be saying, "America, get it together before you completely fall apart because of your bigotry and greed." It is time, now that we have fallen off of our "high horse", to start looking outward to our neighbors for a good example of how a Country can be, if people stop drawing lines in the sand and start accepting other cultures as a gift to us all.
I can't really say I feel persecuted for being an Atheist here? Just different and perplexed that more people don't feel this way too? Why so many of us don't want to see or imagine the world as one big happy family boggles my mind?
Yet, how can I really deny? A portion of our Country has made a fortune off of death and destruction? Churches have become powerhouse for favors and property because of the payoff and promise of forgiveness they sell even for the worst sins known to humankind?
As a Country, we have failed in our humanity. We are the richest but only due to size. We cannot ignore though that that we bought our status with your blood and the blood of all of those who rather spill their enemies blood, rather than win people over with freedom. A good portion of the world knows, without slavery, poverty and despair, their income would cease to exist. They would be denied the purchase of things they couldn't acquire without money or power. So how do we overcome these people? How can we convince them, when they feel already disadvantaged because they aren't popular enough? Loved enough? Or privileged enough in this world without destruction or tainted money?
We just keep trying. I love the Dune Series. So much of it reflects on our own lives and Governments. "We take one step forward, we take two steps back!" So true about America.
My true and honest hope is that we can learn from your example. And that you will stop building those sardine cans you call "condos"! I guess they serve a purpose but they charge so much for the privilege to own or rent a place that takes you forever to get out of? For some reason, I see those skyscrapers and the words, "Towering Inferno" keeps echoing in my mind. Building homes high enough for planes for hit them doesn't seem logical to me? Just something that made me question some of your building planning to me?
