My America

[Taxi]

Originally Posted by Xenephex [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Alongside, it should be noted, many Canadians, who fought as ably and in disproportionate numbers in both those wars. But, the history of the first of those wars (from Canada's perspective) highlights something about your country that ought to give you pause. Because as much criticism as can be rightfully laid at the feet of the U.S. in regards to our racial and ethnic difficulties, you still have to wonder at the long history of a country who really only ever had two significant ethnic groups.

Two groups who are as closely related as almost any pair of distinct countries (remember the Normans); two nationalities separated orginally only by a narrow channel and who have had considerable interaction with each other since Europe became civilized.

And yet those two groups, in comparison to the multitude of cultures in the U.S. have been unable to get along for the majority of the country's history and still maintain considerable enmity on some issues. The vast majority of your population is of European descent and the overwhelming majority of that is still from France or the British isles, and you still have trouble getting along. Explain that please, especially in light of your criticism of the U.S.

Its quite simple actually, the french canadians were Canada's version of black people, although we were not subjected to slavery like blacks were. Montreal in 2010 has lost most of its linguistic animosity where most people are like me, bilingual. Its mostly gone, with uncertainty about if Quebec will ultimately decide to stay within Canada or become sovereign.

Your question lies on a flawed premise, that why couldnt you guys get along? Well thats cause anglos used to tell us to "Speak white" (english) and treated us like shit and economic slaves for a long, long time, so it takes time to heal. I think this is one of the reasons why french canadians are noticeably less racists than some other places in North America, because we know how it is to be oppressed, even though we are "whites" by skin color.

Originally Posted by Xenephex [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

You can choose to participate or not participate in foreign conflicts and have been able to remain free from any concerns about foreign military intervention in your country in no small part because of the presence of a large and very powerful nation immediately to your south, with which you have a rock solid relationship. Who the hell is going to attack Canada when they know they will face the wrath of the U.S. in response?

Well, we might now be attacked by terrorist groups because Harper is a little puppet of the US. You say it increases our national security, i say its detrimental to our national security because we are seen more and more as lackeys of the US. All these "gifts" from the US that people dont want. I dont want your fucking protection. If the russians invade (lol) ill pick up a gun and join a militia. Its like profiting and getting protection off a mafia boss, you could argue that there are advantages, but there are also consequences and it can spiral down quickly and blow up in your face.

Originally Posted by Xenephex [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

And you feel free to sit up there with your one Vietnamese neighbor (I couldn't throw a rock from my house without risking hitting a Vietnamese or a Somalian) and judge us. Judge away, my friend; nobody here is going to stop you, but hold off on the frickin' fascist accusations and accompanying rhetoric. We've done a little too much on that front to deserve that one.

I worked in a school in Montreal in 1998, thats 12 years ago. We had 84 different nationalities of children at the school. 84. So yea "You canadians with your igloos and maple syrup and hockey rinks and hmmm your 2 nationalities" speel needs a little work on. The haitian community in Montreal alone has 100,000 people, with 3.5 million people living in Montreal. To compare, France, a country with 60 million people (With historical links to Haiti and partly responsible for the sad shape it is in, in 2010), has a community of 80,000.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Montreal

For the fascist part, its just history. The US has supported, armed, trained, supplied fascistic groups/regimes in the rest of the world alot since WW2.

Your country is also in the midst of a disturbing transformation (that is also radiating throughout the western world, another "gift") and its not a given that the US will stay a democratic country. I have been looking to confirm that it is now illegal in the US in 3 states to film police officers while they are on duty. I could give many examples of how the US's democracy is slowly getting flushed down the drain but its late and i dont think im up for it right now, i can elaborate tomorrow if you really want me to. And its not a surprise given the US support and spawning of fascistic regimes around the world for the last 60 years that the chickens are now coming home to roost, like Malcolm X said.

Heres a lecture by Naomi Wolf talking about the disturbing trends that are emerging in America that im referring to if you feel like it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc

[Xenephex]

Originally Posted by Taxi [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Your question lies on a flawed premise, that why couldnt you guys get along? Well thats cause anglos used to tell us to "Speak white" (english) and treated us like shit and economic slaves for a long, long time, so it takes time to heal. I think this is one of the reasons why french canadians are noticeably less racists than some other places in North America, because we know how it is to be oppressed, even though we are "whites" by skin color.

So, you're saying that a majority of Canadians are racist (towards people of the same race), but not you or your group.

Gotcha.

[Xenephex]

Oh, and you toss out the Haitian population as if it's an example of your internationalism. Haitians speak French and it is a crappy place that generates a lot of refugees. Where are they gonna go? Cameroon? Switzerland? They're not an example - they are a relatively singular population in Canada for reasons of their language.

[Taxi]

Originally Posted by Xenephex [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Oh, and you toss out the Haitian population as if it's an example of your internationalism. Haitians speak French and it is a crappy place that generates a lot of refugees. Where are they gonna go? Cameroon? Switzerland? They're not an example - they are a relatively singular population in Canada for reasons of their language.

Actually Haitians speak Creole, they have to learn french, a new language to them, although similar in the same way that french and spanish is similar. Only the professional class such as doctors and lawyers speaks french.

[pickled_heretic]

Originally Posted by Taxi [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Actually Haitians speak Creole, they have to learn french, a new language to them, although similar in the same way that french and spanish is similar. Only the professional class such as doctors and lawyers speaks french.

Lol. creole isn't a language, it's a type of language. Hatian creole (the language) is based on French and French is one of Haiti's official languages.

[Taxi]

Originally Posted by pickled_heretic [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Lol. A creole isn't a language. Hatian creole (the language) is based on French and French is one of their official languages.

Yes, i meant they speak haitian creole, i thought it was obvious. I speak french and i can positively tell you that although being "based on french" its quite impenetrable to me, although ive been hearing it for 20something years. So its not like, emigrate to Canada, sit in school, start studying in french. Its really learning a new language. And although french is listed as the second official language of Haiti, that is only because the tiny economic elite of the country speaks it.

[pickled_heretic]

Originally Posted by Taxi [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Yes, i meant they speak haitian creole, i thought it was obvious. I speak french and i can positively tell you that although being "based on french" its quite impenetrable to me, although ive been hearing it for 20something years. So its not like, emigrate to Canada, sit in school, start studying in french. Its really learning a new language.

But it's not, because French is one of Haiti's official languages. They receive their public education in French from what I understand.