I like the idea of a qualified internationalism, GingerGoodwin. That's why I support the United Nations, and am very concerned about Khofi Annan's initiatives. There's a paucity of information or debate about them.

Canadians are very similar to New Zealand. Both nations share the experience of being overshadowed by larger, more aggressive neighbours. Neighbours, I might add, with propensity for media control.

Along these lines, in today's New York Times, concurrent with Martin's meeting with Fox and Boooosh, is a story by Clifford Krauss headlined "Canada May Be a Close Neighbor, but It Proudly Keeps Its Distance".

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/23/international/americas/23canada.html

It's fascinating to me how frequently various of our corporate nabobs will trumpet their "closer ties" mantra in the face of the incontrovertible evidence that the USA is not an accountable business partner.

I include Demorats in this. The author of the bill that is being cited to allow the US to simply keep the lumber tariffs is the senior Democrat in the Senate, Robert Byrd. Another Democratic Senator, Max Baucus of Montana is one of the prime forces behind keeing the border closed to Canadian beef at the same time that US beef producers are allowed to ship their herds north to Canadian feed lots.

There are no clean hands in the US government when it comes to living up to either the spirit or the law of this so called free trade agreement we supposedly have with them and still our corporate elites delude themselves into believing that if only we were more subservient or deferential the US would cease to be the dishonest traders that they are.

Canada likes to pride itself on being a fair trader and by and large that's true. We ought to find ourselves some other like minded trading partners.

A quick technical question, B.ghost, what is the formula for creating a direct link in these comments? (I tried to google the answer, but the only html programming explanations that came up were for web-page construction.)

All I did was copy and paste it, expecting the same result I became accustomed to in The Tyee's earlier incarnation. I was surprised to see it live.

I think these differences in attitude are real, but not as a result of Canadian culture as much as from demographics. Most Americans live in rural areas, most Canadians live in urban areas. That's your blue state/red state split right there.

Merci beaucoup.

Can't say I'm too impressed with Clifford Krauss' slant:

It's the "usual suggestion from Ottawa" and the "higher moral calling" that pick my nose. Where does he get that? It sounds like he just makes it up. No wonder Canadians wish we had a nice big moat, about the size of the Pacific.

You're welcome.

I agree with you regarding Krauss's slant but all in all it's minor compared to what usually passes for reportage on Canada in major US media.

I think the wild hair our corporate elites have has to do with the level of control and regulation Canadians still have a desire to exercise over their practices and behaviour.

Ever since all the crony capitalist scandales below the 49th the boys and girls in corporate Canada have been staying relatively mum about their wish to be able to "integrate our economies more fully". I'm fairly sure I'm not alone in reading that statement as their wish to be able to operate in a similarly less stringent regulatory and tax environment such as that the US provides it's robber barons.

The point that Krauss makes regarding the UEL who came north is an interesting one in this modern light.

Could there be a hankering in the genes of some of our more America-centric corporatists for that old Kentucky home their family left behind all those centuries ago?

Good points of view in this aticle, thats makes Canada's stand more clear on how and why we see Americans the way we do today.
this is something i have been trying to explain to many pro-American Canadians.
it is also important to make clear that most Canadians views are of American policy not the individual American person. I agree our tax system should be reviewed but atleast it is more fair now than it was when capt-America Mulroney was in power and we do have a very good health system, it has its problems it allways will but atleast it doesn't cost 2000 bucks for 3 stitches. I still don't under stand why MSP doesn't just come as a deduction off our pay cheques like EI and CPP..I guess they wan't to keep American collection aganceys in biz i guess. Wasn't that Glen Clark that did that? i don't remember having it as a law that you have to enroll or we send guito after you before Clark. If its law that we have to have it then it should be law that is comes as a deduction on our pay cheque. that would help alot in preventing outstanding MSP accounts..

What people outside of Alberta don't realise is how pro-american the Conservative party is. All they need is one term to sign away the rest of the country and they will do it.

If you read the editorials and columnists in the Sun and Canwest newspapers you will seldom find anything positive about Canada. It is rah-rah USA and Stephan Harper.

Canada's government and business community (the ones not branch plants of american companies)have to come up with a plan that doesn't focus so much on the United States. In this age of globalisation we are missing out on the rest of the globe.

Perhaps we should sign a deal with Mexico and South America to counter the U.S., that is if they don't think of us as the americans "yes" man.

Whatever happened to Canada, the middle power, the honest broker? When did we stop playing a role in a wider world, and start reading charts on comparative socio-economic statistics? Is there any Canadian identity at all beyond government policies and programs? And to the degree that it tends to revolve around government in many instances, how did we end up being fixated on purely domestic matters?

Good questions, Budd.

I - like Mel - suffer a mental cringe everytime I read or hear of the "Can-the-West" and/or spineless trade boards prostituting our widely accepted "Canadian" conscience (covering the basics of people and our temporary home - the earth - ahead of fast tracks laid by a stretch SUV and delusions of WMD) when they go lick the high heels of the american buck. Its just embaressingly tacky in a slimy kind of way - "icky" is as close to the feeling that describes that groveling pathos in action - but that is what being former CRAP is all about, eh?

I enjoyed Murray Dobbin’s essay on being Canadian.

When I first met my Canadian wife in Mexico City in 1968 I found that she spent most of the time explaining not what she was but what she wasn’t. She often had to say, “I am not American I am a Canadian.” I also found out quickly about the charisma of Pierre Trudeau.

Once we arrived to Vancouver in 1975 I began to feel Canadian as soon as I heard the correct pronunciation of Newfoundland on CBC Radio. CBC Radio helped me lots. Could I have been one of the few that loved Wayne and Shuster? Except for the massive signage when one drives by aboriginal reserves I associate Canada with a concern in keeping nature as pristine as one can. But I felt devastated when I first saw the Clayoquot Sound clear-cut pullout photo in the National Geographic years back.

I feel strongly about feeling and being a Canadian since I found out, not too long ago, that I unknowingly was a passenger on an Argentine Merchant Marine Victory Ship in 1967. I found out that it had been built in the Burrard dockyards. For me a country remains so only when it manufactures (builds objects). I am not too convinced that computer software is part of that. I am completely against the building of our ferries in Germany.

But principally I increasing shun US TV (that’s most of it) and American made movies. The entertainment section of our local Vancouver Sun and most other media is about US TV and movies. I have no time for it.

In fact I find that this very Tyee, for which I have a feisty fondness, has too much US TV and movie content.

Perhaps if we promoted Canadian culture at home we would be more selective of the barrage of stuff that comes to us from the South. While my wife used to say, “I am not an American, I am Canadian,” I now proudly reverse that to, “I am Canadian not an American.” I perceive a big difference there.

It seems to me that the US is becoming more and more fundamentalist every year. While their society is completely engrossed by the removal of one woman's feeding tube, we in Canada look down South in the same way you look at a car wreck. You want to turn away and ignore it, but your eyes cannot turn from the horrific incident.

I don't want to live in a country where the E-word (evolution) can't be heard in IMAX movies for fear of economic retaliation. The US just has too many examples of what I don't want to happen in my country. Perhaps that is why I am so scared of Stephen Harper and his party. He praises the Americans so often, you'd think he wanted to be one.

Just like to second Ginger Goodwin's comments on an anti-nationalist nationalism. I also think this is what George Orwell (that other great libertarian socialist like yourself, Ginger)mean when he contrasted what he meant by "patriotism" (love of place and way of being) with "nationalism" (which he saw as antagonistic and warlike) One other thing, "anti-American" - as used against Canadians or Europeans is neoconspeak for "critical of US foreign policy" and has little to do with hating Americans as a people.

I think that comment from Nationalist about msp is great. Cos I just paid 3 months of it unexpectedly and I am stoney broke.
It should come out of the pay packets.
I am not Canadian but I definitely think you should be proud of your identity. Cowering every time the big brute down below kicks you is no way to be a nation. Stand up for yourself!
The Big brute is just self absorbed. If you stand up and tell him firmly where to go, he will learn respect and perhaps even humility. It is long past time where Canada took retalitory economic action about softwood. (Free trade is hogwash, nobody believes in it really.) They dont practice it because it doesnt work in their interest.

Both the story and the comments are illustrative of why I want to leave the US for Canada. I have reluctantly become the poster child for the expat wannabe movement and have been interviewed by everybody from CBC to the New York Times to Vicki Gabereau.

Trying to be fair and balanced, I offered an interview to an American right wing rag called The Weekly Standard. I didn't expect fair treatment, but the result shocked me and I don't shock easily.

This scurrilous screed perfectly illustrates America's solipsism and ignorance. Don't read this if you have high blood pressure.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/349tpijp.asp?pg=1

I read Mat Labash’s Weekly Standard piece (ample proof that just because you have more room in a web-based newspaper doesn’t mean you should exercise that option). My blood pressure did not go up as Mr. Key predicted. They (the US) can keep Allan Thicke.

While Mr. Labash’s front end is occupied lampooning inferior Canadians I can only warn him to watch his rear. My experience at a plant convention three years ago in Raleigh, North Carolina will explain this. The convention was held in one of those huge chain hotels that are built far from museums and beaches and their only purpose is to hold conventions. With the exception of the Anglo Manager, from the assistant manager down to the bellboys, the housekeepers, the restaurant servers, the kitchen staff, the gardeners and the janitors were all Mexican, Nicaraguan, Guatemalan, Panamanian, etc. The lingua franca was Spanish. At our dinners my fellow plant lovers all wondered why I got second helpings of steak and desserts. Few noticed that I was speaking Spanish with the servers. They had explained to methat to make ends meet they had several jobs and the hotel hours made it impossible for them to learn English. In fact the hotel did not have incentives for learning English.

My guess is that someday soon, Matt Labash will wake up to find that nobody speaks his language anymore. The only fellow Americans left might be the ones living in Canada. In the 21st century Mexicans and fellow Latin Americans are going to peacefully take back the territory they lost in the 19th century.

'Tis a consummation devout'ly to be wish'd.

We have a great medical system. However, the "values" debate is a distraction used by federal Liberals to avoid discussing practical measures to ensure that it remains great and, indeed, gets better. While two successive Liberal PM's have campaigned against Alberta, a two-tier health system has been quietly developing in Quebec, led by Paul Martin's personal physician. The "asymmetrical" agreement available to all provinces has eroded Ottawa's power to enforce the Canada Health Act. None of the vote-chasing federal parties has wanted to discuss this, though in the last couple of weeks the NDP has finally started to ask questions in the House of Commons. Articles like Dobbin's may make us feel good today, but when the "inevitable" arrives for us, it's far from clear that the system and services will be there when we need them.

Over 46% of people who go bankrupt in the US owe it to medical costs. There is tons of money to be made in private health care and the pressure on Canadian governments to open the gates so rich guys can get richer must be huge. I don't believe that we want our medical system static and not change with the times, but we have to be interested in bringing health care to everyone and not only to those who can "afford" it.

That is what makes us "Canadian" in my view. We have a tendency to look out for each other rather than a "survival of the fittest" approach.

What is truly inevitable is the collapse of the US social safety net. Their social security is about to run dry and if you ever wanted to see what a "structural deficit" truly is you just need to look South. They will be making harder choices than us in the coming years ahead.

I have to thank the federal NDP for asking the questions we need answered. While Paul Martin seems content to turn a blind eye, and Ralph Klein shouts at our most disenfranchised citizens to, "Go get a job," Jack Layton is atleast holding to his ideals and being very public about it.

Layton's been virtually silent. Roy Romanow's been conflicted--going back and forth on the question of asymmetry. Dosanjh is scared s***less to say boo about what's going on.

Having read Mr. Labash's piece, all I can say is: The Ugly American is getting uglier.

And where do you stand Norman Spector??? Like to throw stones, do you? Like to poke fun but not really disclose where you stand? Shame on you. And, pardon many of us for being shell-shocked. Maybe you're not surprised because you already knew what was coming? Hmmm? The majority of voters who elected the Liberals because they were stone-cold afraid that the Conservative Alliance would sell us out to the U.S. are stunned at having been blind-sided by Martin and the Liberals. So pardon us if we have to take some time for it to sink in.

However, my main concern/point is this: has anyone else wondered about the virtual non-event this has been in all the major media outlets?? Aside from reporting the meeting and that the pact had been signed, the media responded by parroting a similar line to what Martin threw out in the press conference -- that this is "no big bang" just a big step forward or some such bs. Isn't that just a bit odd??? Does virtually no one in the Canadian public care, do you think? I don't think so. So, why are the media reacting in the same way -- so low key, you'd think this major, ground-shaking agreement to "harmonize with the U.S." never happened.

The complicity of the media, and the CBC in particular, is chilling. About the only in-depth media coverage I encountered on this matter was CBC Radio's open line show shortly after the announcement, featuring Tom d'Aquino for the first half hour then Murray Dobbin for the remainder. All but one of the callers expressed great concern and distress at this unexpected announcement. All but one. It was a very meaty, energized show. Yet the next day, the story virtually disappeared from newspaper, radio, TV coverage. Odd, don't you think, that this is so unimportant an issue that it doesn't merit the waves of coverage we get about the latest gunman episode or the keystone cops routines of the U.S. religious right fighting over the poor comatose woman.

I tuned in Thursday night to As It Happens, thinking surely they would have something. But no, the first story was a short, sharp grilling by Marylou Finlay of the lawyer for the U.S. desserter who was refused refugee status. She jumped all over him when he said they were citing the illegality of the war on Iraq as part of the case. She barks

Then she berates him with comments about how every desserter should be punished, there's never any excuse. I used to admire Marylou Finlay a great deal but lately she's been acting as if auditioning for Fox TV. It's quite bizarre. Check out her political stories -- she tore into Minister Pettigrew when Canada announced it wouldn't formally support the Bush administration's Star Wars campaign. I've never been a big fan of his, but he got my sympathy and admiration for his level and meaty responses that day in the face of rabid and unprofessional attack interviewing by Ms. Finlay.

Anyway, after this mercifully brief grilling of the lawyer, As It Happens filled the remainder of their first half hour with two big, important stories of the day: the lack of a hockey draft this year (hardly news, hardly important), and a lengthy piece on a ...smelly sneaker contest in the U.S. with an extensive interview with a good ol' boy from NASA who judged this important event. It had Marylou in stitches but really it wasn't that funny, even to the guy she was interviewing. (it maybe merited 5 minutes at the end of the show, but definitely not 15 in the opening segment). But nope, nothing on "harmonization." It seems like the media are desperately filling their slots with anything but the harmonization time-bomb. And time-bomb it is.

We're toast. In Canada, as of 23rd of March 2005, it became 1984. When the media presents such a critical, blind-side as this act by Paul Martin and the Liberals almost as if it is business-as-usual, something horribly frightening is happening.

I'm despondent and desperate. The U.S. already has secure access to our oil and electricity, in fact they have more rights to it than we Canadians do. If we encounter some weird cold winters in the future, we CANNOT use all our energy sources to stay alive because the U.S. has the rights to them, even if it's just to keep their air-conditioners and pools operating. Water is next because they're running out, such a greedy, wasteful society as they are. And, of course, they will be monitoring and controlling the movement of Canadians, in our own country (security, you know).

But what worries me most is that the U.S. may soon be looking to Canada to address the short-fall of "boots on the ground." In other words, they are short of military recruits. Even the blacks are balking at joining up. Bush has promised very publicly that he won't introduce the draft in the U.S. So, where better to seek recruits for their next war(s) than we compliant Canadians? Think I'm going way overboard? Think again. Think hard.

God save Canada, if he/she can from these rapacious Americans. They are nobody's friend.

Here's the column I wrote after the health accord was signed: http://members.shaw.ca./nspector4/globe13.htm

I don't think this event should be any surprise. The politico-economic elites of the world have more in common with each other than they do with the mass of little people they dominate and exploit. That a vast gap exists between the Canadian people and their rulers is to be expected as well. This difference could give rise to a mass movement to curb the power of the elite, by instituting genuine democracy - such a movement exists already in embryo and is our only hope.

When Canadians elect a PM with a huge bank account, you will get leadership that puts monetary value above all else. This is all these people understand. Close ties with Americans brings monetary rewards.

The more you have, the more you have to lose.

Guess my last comment wasnt so good. I think what you are wanting is to plot an independent canadian course for the future? How about this one! The fastest growing empire in the world may well be the European union. The unusual thingy about them is that they are not fighting any wars of conquest. Instead they are making life within so desirable that others flock to join. They have not done an oil grab to finance this society either. They have simply raised standards. Labour standards are high, energy is expensive, emission standards are severe (and enforced!).
They have not done the melting pot thingy either. There is incredible cultural and language diversity there. I think this model is prefered to the american way and if Canada opts for it, the northern states in the USA will take notice. Just as some former soviet states have thrown off the chains and joined the EU. At very least, we can moderate the wilder actions fo the US by going this route.

Norman,

Jack Layton's letter to the National Post (September 20, 2004),A blind eye to private medicine, can be found on the NDP website.
This, with his recent questions in the house, make him the most vocal political leader on this issue. I guess you have to jump up and down if you are the NDP leader and want the national press to cover anything you say.

Chris H,

I agree about the recent questions in the House, and mentioned them. Layton's September letter sucks and blows, which perhaps explains why there have been virtually no questions asked until recently by the NDP. It begins:

"There are two ways to judge the recent health agreement reached among the federal government, the provinces and the territories. One is on substance: A fair analysis suggests the funding agreement will improve our health care system in the foreseeable future. The First Ministers are to be congratulated. I and Bill Blaikie, the NDP health critic, attended the summit as observers, and our conversations with premiers of all political stripes showed a dedication that is praiseworthy.

The deal they reached is particularly noteworthy in its progression toward sustainable funding, and includes provisions that allow federal support to grow in line with costs. These are positive moves, as are the preliminary steps toward catastrophic drug coverage and a home-care system we will urgently need as our population ages. As well, it recognizes the difficulties of providing health care in the North. Though aboriginal people have every reason to judge Ottawa only by results, not words, the possibility of improvement exists.

The other basis for evaluation is whether the agreement honours Prime Minister Paul Martin's promises to fix medicare for a generation and stop privatization. On both these counts, it failed."

In fact, the agreement Layton applauded opens the door further to two-tier medicine, in Quebec and and beyond.

Norman Spector,

You are absolutely correct in your assertion that the agreement did nothing to stop the privatization of health care in this country. Layton did point this out as anyone can read above. I have high hopes that an open dialogue will improve health care across the country. Layton, whether you like him or not, is an important part of that dialogue. He can praise the extra funding while being concerned about privatization at the same time. We should be dearly critical of Paul Martin. He's the one with blinders on.

I'd say the Ammurricans are going to use Paul Martin to get their ball(s) rolling here in Canada, then with help from all the mainstream media (in Canada and the US) chewing incessantly on Martin and the Liberals, the Bush forces will help stampede the Conservatives into Power, cause they figger uh, who else have we got to turn to, eh? We stupidly voted for the Liberals thinking they'd keep us safe from the bible-thumping, Uzi-wielding hoards down south, didn't we? We swallowed hook, line and sinker.

So they think we'll all be so disgusted with the Liberals, we'll vote that straight-arrow Conservative crowd in in a landslide next time. Those holier-than-thou Conservatives, tricked out to masquerade their ugly parts, topped off by that oh-so-freedom-of-choice-minded Belinda, sitting pretty like the cherry on top to distract people from what's lurking beneath. If you don't think the Conservatives are twice as corrupt as the Liberals, you need another think. I was a member of the Conservatives, (the real ones, not the Alliance in Sheep's Clothing bunch). But I got a good grass roots look at them during merger time, and man, even the grandmothers (literally) had parked their morals at the door. Enough to turn your hair gray. That was a bitter shock, but a useful one, for me.

So the US, and the media will push, push, push on all fronts to take us over in all but name only (oh sure, Canada will still exist, just like Puerto Rico, right -- what do they call that "country" now? A U.S. protectorate? A pseudo-state? I don't know but it ain't no sovereign country, that's for sure.) Once the Conservatives get elected here, all hell will really break loose. The Bush Forces will just use the Liberals to soften up the Canadian public so, like the frog in the pot, we won't know the heat's being turned up until we're cooked. Then Presto(n)(hey, I just committed a small witticism), when the Conservatives get in, well, ya ain't seen nothing yet folks!

Again, watch what the media reports as the "news." It's just a riff on all the right-wing policies. Even the higher quality news magazines have been "softened." A good example yesterday was The House, CBC Radio's flagship show on Canadian politics. If anyone listened to yesterday's show, were you surprised that the Harmonization Agreement our prime minister just signed this past week wasn't even on the line-up??? It was as if it didn't even happen. Oh, except they did have one little cutesy piece late in the show about the "event" in Texas -- except it said not one word about what was signed, what the implications might be and so on. Well what was it about then??? Oh, it was a fun little piece set to the music from Rawhide, about just how tough it was for the poor suffering press to get close to the Ranch (the ranch, mind you, not the leaders; the ultimate objective for these (hand-picked) reporters, as it was stated in the piece). The reporter whined how their only chance to try get quotes from the leaders meant they'd have to get up too early (6-ish, so a number of them just slept in), and that at the formal press conference they weren't allowed to ask any questions, just listen to the leaders statements. They did say that at the end of the day Paul Martin held a press conference and answered all media questions. Odd then, that the piece didn't tell us a single word of what Martin told them at that press conference after the "summit." I guess it's just for the media to know, not the Canadian public. I guess it couldn't have been very important, could it? Otherwise they'd tell us, wouldn't they? Wouldn't they??

Like I say, watch the mainstream media very, very carefully. They have been co-opted, and it is they who determine what constitutes news; they who determine what we hear, and ultimately to a large degree what we know (unless we have oodles of time and highly-placed sources to find things out). Ever wonder why certain public people are so quiet and others are not? Gee, could it be that those who own and work in the media determine what gets printed, or broadcast. (Paranoia, conspiracy theory, I can hear them sneering. No, folks, I've worked in the media, and I know how it works. They make these decisions daily.

Now, let's just hope nobody introduces a plan to computerize elections in Canada. If they do, we're screwed. Game over, at least until the anarchy starts. When it does, God help us all. Especially your kids. All the gated communities in the world won't help the Campbells/Martins/Bushes/ et al then. But hey, as long as so many people are too busy watching Survivor, or working 24/7 so they can afford the Good Life being dangled in front of them (on credit, no doubt), life's good, eh?

Martin was wrong when he said this was "no big bang" it's just that the big bang won't be felt for a little while yet.

Sorry to rant, but it's very hard to stay cool and calm with all the horror I see coming down the tracks at us full speed. It's like being in a nightmare, and you can't run fast enough or scream loud enough to warn people about the dangers. Funny how you often hear people speak about the horrors of the World War II and then wonder why "people" didn't stop it. Well, because it crept up on them without most of them seeing it until it was "too late." That horrific descent of human-kind was helped by syncophantic media, and CEOs of industrial conglomerates (the robber barons of their day) both of whom had a hand in keeping the public docile for years. These are facts, not "conspiracy theories" as the likes of Rex Murphy and Rush Limbaugh like to say. We're now so "softened up" and docile that we can cosy up to the mad Bush regime even though a report just came out this week that the torture by U.S. forces at Abu Grahib (spelling?) is "wide-spread throughout the U.S. military," and even officially sanctioned, and that the incidents are even worse than Abu Grahib. And, we're to believe and support the concept of an "agreement" for security and prosperity, based on, as Bush said "the rule of law" with these people!!! Have we stepped through the looking glass mirror!?!

Yes, Virginia, those in power often become greedy, then dictatorial, then murderous. It's not inconceivable that this is what's happening on a massive scale right now. As Yogi Berra said, it's deja vu all over again. Or, as others have said, those who haven't learned from history are doomed to repeat it. I hope we're not doomed, but it sure looks that way.

Gotta run, the Easter bunny beckons.

First class rant, Sunny Samson.

Chris H,

You're letting Layton off much too easily. He congratulated the First Ministers for reaching an agreement that will acceleratate the development of two-tier medicine.

Norman Spector,

The door has been open for two-tier medicine for awhile now. Whether the agreement will accelerate privatization or not remains to be seen. I hope it doesn't in our province, but Campbell has done everything to make one assume that he believes in privatizing everything.

As for being too easy on Layton, you might be correct. As he tries to make a national party that brings more people under his banner, I believe he'll be picking his issues very carefully. I believe that two-tier medicine is one issue that he should fight hard on, but maybe he knows something I do not. I'd hate for the NDP's agenda to get sidetracked by something like inheritance taxes again. Who was the brain child that thought that one up?

Indeed, interesting piece, Sunny Samson.

Sorry I have been hung up on technical issues and was unable to participate in much of this discussion. It is likely the most important one on the site right now.

What interests me most in the lead article and the comments that follow is, the relatively high degree of unity of view, allowing for the sounds of The Spectre's tongue slurping, as he licks the home ruling class's and the US Empiricist's boots, that while this country does not want to be "absorbed" by, or even the current junior adjunct of the Great Behemoth to our south, and rejects much of its political and economic value system, likewise do we tend to eschew strident, narrow nationalism. Which seems to tend to not come naturally to us as a people anyway. While I sometimes get depressed at the degree to which our own ruling class is complicit in the quisling betrayal of this country, to the US Empire, these are clearly signs of health resident in ordinary Canadian, that hopefully, will find the wherewithal to make the transition to "resistance" sooner, rather than later.

While I think this country needs to focus much more, first of all, on greater economic diversity (completing its industrialization/manufacturing base to process and shape its own resources) and hence economic self-sufficiency, I also much identify with the remarks of Brian White and others, that to the degree we do need to form an economic relationship outside our borders, and doubtless we will, that be with Europe preferably, but especially with our other hemispheric neighbours outside of current rampaging USA, who share our economic interests, and our problem with The Empire. (And there needs to be a move to formulating military relationships and alliances there as well, if cautiously. Indeed, with The Beast bogged down elsewhere in the world, it is only regrettable we lack a ruling class or a popular citizen's movement with the interests, the capacity and the will capable of moving quickly now.)

No doubt elements of nationalism are going to play in our future I think, but we must keep it a tame critter, tempered with an internationalist spirit at least, for those who share our predicament with the US Empire especially.

I keep picking up this strange idea*... that somehow the very minute inkling of a certain nationalism*..., is somehow , something we need to be very guarded againts.

Firstly , in a 21st Century setting , I truly believe that having a newly found respect and pride in one's NATION .. , as with familly history, heritage and Roots*..., will , once again resurface as not only a respectable IDEA , but will become de facto .. a languaging re-discovery of some long term consequence...

Somehow.. ,the mantra of the old meaning of Nationalism*... , as was experienced with events leading up to the second world war.. ., and beyond in certain " cleansing " attempts.. , will fade away to give way to an emerging ..., alternate point of view..*, as per the very meaning of that word .
Nationalism .

As with fire*.. , which can be destructive as well as comforting with it's warmth... so is
NATIONALISM and it's many sided viewpoints and corrupted as well as beneficial consequences...

We must liberate ourselves from some of this
20th Century archaic thinking and realise that
in this new millenia and 21st Century unfolding before our very CANADIAN and CANADIEN* eyes... , that there is room now to expand on the world collective consciousness by simply becoming better informed about our very own....,

Indeed.. , to each his " zone ".. , as with a room , a house or a village , town or city...,
province and country*..

These are the very ingridients of our social environment and conditioning , hence our LANGUAGING of that particular experience now beckoning us to .. , dig deeper within our very collective psyche and come away better ROOTED .. , within our collective experience .. better connected also to our
CANADA*

Thus is the new " nationalism" emerging on the world stage .. , helping to re-discover the authenticity of identity ...: as per " a sense of place " , " sense of belonging " and " sense of NATION* itself..

Within our very Nation's journey .. , resides a history , a heritage and a legacy that we now , collectively , need to Mind*...

We also need to shed the " matter over mind " mantra ( siren song of the dream merchants ) .. who clearly need to seperate us from NATURE'S ..., universal blessings...,

For with their creation of a virtual reality right in our living rooms .. , makes for a powerfull addiction ... and clearly sets in motion.. , ( locomotion , actually..., whence the speeding train is quickly unravelling our world to an illusion *)...

TELEVISION anyone ? .. Computers/ Film and all other forms of so called entertainment...

We live in a land forever consumed with the challenges that communications presents before our very collective eyes ..

We need now but to take a walk within our domain..., to experience each other and the very ingredients of the world that it contains..*

In our case .. , within is without.. , thus is
our CANADA*...:

To be or not to be :, Thus is the question , thus is the answer *

Spector you criticize Layton but makes no mention of Harper who I fear would sell us out further and faster then Mulroney your old boss. My opinion of Mulroney! Didn't Mulroney use your pen to sign free trade Norm, you have had more to do with the demise of Canada and our healthcare then Layton could ever have in my opinion and I think his heart is in the right place. Where is your criticism of the extreme right wing Premiers like Klein and Campbell who are trying to bring in two-tier healthcare! People should read Mel Hertigs book Vanishing Country to get an idea of how much American ownership, and influence through this ownership has changed our Country since Free Trade and NAFTA! Look at the facts not the rhetoric!

Spectre, give us a rendition of Danny Boy, for old times sake, in memory of your old boss Mulroney, who used to love to suck up to his US mentor presidents, by singing it for them. What a bootlick he was-, and those who served him.

I am curious, Village, as to what all the asterisks and capitals signify in your posting???

I agree with Norman Spector that Jack Layton's comment were wishy-washy. The N.D.P. has been unacceptably wishy-washy for several elections now. Why does the so-called Left believe that people want to vote for wishy-washy parties? The Greens were even more wishy-washy in their federal campaign. It may be seen as a incredible leap of faith but I keep hoping and praying for a truly strong left-wing voice in this country. I believe it is what is needed to counter the insane trend towards fascism that has been developing. I am so sick of the "Left" being "careful"; of parties trying to appear "middle-of-the-road"! Give your heads a
shake! Middle-of-the-road is what would have been seen as fairly far right 30 years ago!

For voicing views like this I have been told either that I'm "so cynical" or, that I'm "impossibly idealistic". Which one is it, folks?