Saturday, July 01, 2017

HAPPY 150TH BIRTHDAY CANADA

1 JULY 2017

      


150 YEARS OLD TODAY

     In a world filled with turmoil and political strife, where human rights are trampled daily, where other democracies threaten freedom of the press, where people are crammed so close together they can barely breathe, where hope is an abstract concept, where wars destroy lives, where dissent is met with imprisonment, where hunger is a daily fact of life, Canada stands as a beacon of civility and transparency.
Is it perfect? Of course not, but there is nowhere else that I would rather live. 
We may gripe about the weather, bellyache about taxes, fulminate about our politicians, but when I see my country open its arms and welcome refugees from troubled lands, accept them as new Canadians, and help them to integrate into our society as valued members of our multi-cultural mosaic I know I am in the right place.
This is my Canada! Vive mon pays!

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David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

20 comments:

  1. I couldn't agree more David! Love living in Canada.

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    1. Affirmation from one of my favourite people in the whole world.

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  2. Since I lack the eloquence of my friend David, let me just say that there is no other country in this world where I would rather live!!! It is our responsibility to keep it that way. My biggest fear is that we will become another US satellite. Democracy and Freedom are not always easy to recognize in this deception filled society. Nowhere is this more apparent than down south. Just spend a few months there and you'll see what I mean!
    Franc

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  3. Yes, you have it right, everyone should be like it, thanks David.

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  4. How nice to read that you live so fine David.
    I live in the Netherlands very nicely in a beautiful place, so everybody has his or her place.
    Happy weekend, greetings Tinie

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  5. From an email from our dear friend, Marion Mudd, of Bethesda, MD."

    Many very happy returns to wise Canadians and Canada on the 150th Anniversary of awesome Canada!

    Marion Mudd, Bethesda, MD.

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  6. Felicidades!!! Desde luego que tiene que ser un orgullo vivir en un país tan ecológico y pacífico como es Canadá, un paraíso en este mundo lleno de conflictos y contaminación. Un fuerte abrazo desde España.

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  7. Ah yes, we open our arms to welcome refugees, but sadly, we long ago, and to this day, have closed our arms and hearts to the plight of our indigenous population. Canada is not 150 years old today, Confederation and colonization is 150 years old today...indigenous genocide. This is my Canada, and I for one, am not proud.

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    1. I agree that we have not dealt well with our First Nations people - and there are a few other things I am not thrilled with either. No nation is perfect, no family is perfect for that matter. But weighing everything in the balance, my inescapable conclusion is that this country which we call home is an especially benighted place to live.i am not sure how much you have travelled the world, Karen, or have lived in another country as I have, but the comparisons in many instances are stark indeed.

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    2. I have travelled to many parts of the world David, lived in some of those places, (not as a tourist) for a couple months...South America, Scandinavia, Europe, Asia. But when I lived in Australia for a few years, I found the plight of the Australian indigenous people so similar to our indigenous people. While there, I became very aware of how European/white people/settlers/colonizers have routinely and systematically tried to (around the world) obliterate native people and their culture.

      Is Canada a "good" place to live, sure it is. My opinion is not that Canada is a bad place to live, but rather, the 150 celebration is the celebration of the formation of Canada's government, not the "birthday" of Canada.
      :)

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  8. I would love to see Canada but it will never happen. Our only trip to the USA is the closest we will ever get. Take care Diane

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  9. Happy birthday to Canada! I have heard so much about Canada and I know it is a beautiful country. Have a great day!

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  10. Congratulations to Canada !

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  11. Happy Birthday to Canada! It is great to feel happy about where you are living, the USA is a little scary to me lately.

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  12. (Belated) congratulations to Canada!
    Never visited, but always liked Canada... I think it started when as children, we were watching ice hockey...
    What Karen writes is true, sadly. I'm afraid it's the human nature that the "strong" oppress the "weak" and only few special individuals are able to see how horrible this is and even fewer are able to do something about it.
    Thank you for the beautiful post.

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  13. Canada? David, I have always loved my visits there. Vivez votre pays :)

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Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that the land on which we are situated are the lands traditionally used by the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral People. We also acknowledge the enduring presence and deep traditional knowledge, laws, and philosophies of the Indigenous Peoples with whom we share this land today. We are all treaty people with a responsibility to honour all our relations.

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