Does anyone else feel patriotic when people who live here are hating on this country, and comparing it to their homeland? I get offended because if my family didn't come here in the 70's and early 80's before I was born and worked hard, we wouldn't be getting all the opportunities we have here! They settled here so well and did things they weren't able to do, and we are all well off and I drew so much strength and pride from my family.

When I hear someone from a place like Jamaica or Pakistan or wherever that start complaining about how it is here, I seriously want to scream at them to go back if they're so unhappy here! There is diversity, opportunity, freedom, and although I know some issues like racism and discrimination are not gone, I would rather have what's here than what goes on in other parts of the world with war, genocide, threats etc.

can't quite agree with you on that one, sorry

sammij said:

here's a part of the reason why (not to hand the thread over to P&R or anything, because i know they're hungry for stuff like this):

http://www.thestar.com/ne...cle/634117

"I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually."
-James Baldwin

Even for someone or something that is already great, self-assessment (and criticism where necessary) is the first step in being greater.

But, yes, I have a problem with anyone, native or naturalized, in a free country, who complains and complains about where they live without acknowledging any good and without taking up their own effort to help make things better.
[Edited 5/19/09 10:45am]

I know there are flaws here too and the system is unfair too, but it's like they are ungrateful! I can understand if they are new here, but if it's decades after being here, I can't relate. Maybe I just can't relate cause I was born and raised here and grew up privileged in many ways.

alphastreet said:

There you go..

For my part, I've lived in Canada for 3 years. Pros and cons noted. God willing, I'll likely be applying for permanent residence and, eventually, dual citizenship.

But I gotta be frank: Y'all need some TARGET stores up in here!!!

Lammastide said:

as if we don't have enough american stores here?

sammij said:

Trust me, you would be thankful. To balance things out, let's get rid of McDonald's.

alphastreet said:

Aren't you, like, obsessed with Michael Jackson?

PsychoNeverHands said:

sammij said:

I think this is the same person who posts long rambling things about how she can't focus on anything in life because all she thinks about is MJ.

I'm confused here....

PsychoNeverHands said:

I'm still confused.... what does that have to do with the thread at hand?

sammij said:

Well, she wants to send all the Pakistanis back to Pakistan. Maybe she needs to take her ass back to Neverland.

I haven't thought about him much in ages to be honest, I have bigger issues to worry about LOL nice try though psycho....

i think canada is a neat country
i am actually of thinking of going to british columbia for my Master In Library Science.

UBC has a very good rep, I know people who have left the east coast to go there.

alphastreet said:

never heard of it, sorry

usedtobebliss said:

alphastreet said:

from the article Sammi posted:

The more discrimination someone faced, the more they were likely to identify with their ethnic group, rather than as Canadian.

there's your explanation!

Toronto RULES!!!!! I would LOVE to move up there some day.(sooner rather than later).