The U.S.'s View on Social Issues Is Opening Rifts With Canada

[MrMonk]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/02/international/americas/02CANA.html

Canada's View on Social Issues Is Opening Rifts With the U.S.

"Canadians and Americans still dress alike, talk alike, like the same books, television shows and movies, and trade more goods and services than ever before. But from gay marriage to drug use to church attendance, a chasm has opened up on social issues that go to the heart of fundamental values.

A more distinctive Canadian identity — one far more in line with European sensibilities — is emerging and generating new frictions with the United States."

<snip>

"Of course there have been frictions before, for instance during the Vietnam War, when Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau welcomed American draft evaders, but the differences in those years were more political than social. Analysts say that Canada and the United States have always been similar yet different, and that the differences are often accentuated at the margins.

But today, many analysts and ordinary Canadians said in interviews around the country, the differences appear to have moved center stage, particularly in social and cultural values."

It's on my mind. I was searched (again) coming back to the U.S. The search was less thorough than in the past. Maybe because I took the freeway rather than a less-traveled road. Maybe because I wear my beard short now. But still... :eyes:

On edit: I've changed the subject line to better match the facts. Thanks to post #2.

[mrgorth]

1. Good

we'll need someone on our side when the civil war starts.

[jumptheshadow]

2. This headline made me chuckle this morning

It sounds like it's Canada's fault that we have the rift!

[Spazito]

3. LOL! Blame Canada!

It is our fault, we were BAAAAD because we said NO to Bush re Iraq! How dare we!

[Tyler Durden]

4. And THIS was the best line of all:

Chris Ragan, a McGill University economist, observed: "You can be a social conservative in the U.S. without being a wacko. Not in Canada."

I'm tired of living in the World's Largest Insane Asylum.

[iverglas]

6. hate to say it ...

"I'm tired of living in the World's Largest Insane Asylum."

... but that's not far off how a whole lot of us see that place down there. Good one. ;)

.

[HEyHEY]

5. Glad to see we aren't selling out

[Screaming Lord Byron]

7. God, when did we become so cool, it's like we're Holland or something

with our lax morals and laissez-faire attitude. Ha!

[HEyHEY]

11. Ha ha... yup no more silent nice guy at the party

Now we're throwing it!

[tom_paine]

8. Of course we have rifts with the Free World of which we were so

recently a part of.

(yes, yes, I know tyranny hasn't "trickled down" to our level and that our lives are still mostly like they were, as far as we can tell, but that's how it was in Rome until the Imperial Family had ruled for some decades)

As Imperial Amerika continues it's transition from what it was (an egalitarian nation with strong individual protections) to what it is becoming (an aristocratic, Orwellian-Totalitarian "kinder and gentler" Empire and Police State), these rifts will increase, as rightfully they should as the Free World looks at us aghast.

[damnraddem]

9. But it has opened even-bigger rifts ...

within America.

[GOPBasher]

10. Canadians, I MUST tell you something:

I am sooo jealous of you! You may be the best country in the world right now. I'd move up there if my whole family weren't here.

[Spazito]

12. Thank you for your kind words...

I AM pretty proud of my country, I think we are doing the right things for the right reasons.