The Happy News thread

[enterprikayak]

OBAMA'S HERE!

I WOULD JUST LOVE IT IF HE'D PUNCH THAT STUPID STEPHEN HARPER (THAT I DIDN'T VOTE FOR) IN THE MOUTH. BUT HE'S TOO NICE AND POLITE.

NEVER WISHED THE USA WOULD TAKE OVER AND OCCUPY MY COUNTRY, BUT TODAY I WISH OLD BARACK'D JUST TIE THAT PRIME MINISTER UP AND TAKE OVER OTTAWA.

[justTripn]

OBAMA'S HERE!

I WOULD JUST LOVE IT IF HE'D PUNCH THAT STUPID STEPHEN HARPER (THAT I DIDN'T VOTE FOR) IN THE MOUTH. BUT HE'S TOO NICE AND POLITE.

NEVER WISHED THE USA WOULD TAKE OVER AND OCCUPY MY COUNTRY, BUT TODAY I WISH OLD BARACK'D JUST TIE THAT PRIME MINISTER UP AND TAKE OVER OTTAWA.

Wow . . . Once I asked two of our Candian friends if they had something like our Independence Day. They said "Yes, Dominion Day." I went, "So while we're celebrating our independence, you're celebrating being DOMINATED???!!!!!"

*Runs and ducks, before the Canadians come out of their igloos and throw snowballs at me, or beat me with a hockey stick, or something.* LOL . . .

*help*

[JadziaKathryn]

As my focus is British Imperialism, I feel compelled to point out that historically, Dominion status was a sort of quasi-independence within the British Empire. It granted a high degree of autonomy, as opposed to a colony.

Meanwhile, I find it encouraging that other people actually like our president. Not trying to be overly political here, just observing that it is a pleasant change to have a president the rest of the world tends to look at favorably.

[enterprikayak]

Yeah, I dunno what decade you asked them that, but any normal canadian in 2009 would call it canada day. Which is the day in 1867 that we united as Canada (tra la la!) - with only 4 provinces. We have 13 now, so we've politely and quietly and passive agressively taken over a lot of snowy wastelands since then. Yeeeeeee-hah.

PS - I do not live in the snowy part. I feel compelled to repeatedly repeatedly repeat this. I do not know why. Everyone always thinks I'm an eskimo, and I'm not. Or Inuit either, which is the same thing.

(And Ann dearie it's beer bottles we throw. Broken beer bottles. Of course. Silly girl to even have to ask. )

[justTripn]

Yes, sorry. No snowballs where you live. I know. And our friends (it was 20 years ago) also emphasized the polite and civilized way they achieved nearly the same result (independence) with less killing. I guess you've still got the English queen . . . lol . . .

[enterprikayak]

OOOooh, the few days we do have snowballs, they are ICY too....the best kind. Wet and hard and deadly. Y'don't even HAVE to hide a rock in them. But, of course, I always do. (no I'm just kidding )

Yeah, I dunno if we can brag about our "civilised" takeover. I mean, who the hell was going *fight* over keeping Baffin island back in the 1800's?

[Alelou]

I may be wrong, but judging from what I learned from the US Park Service at Valley Forge, one of the major reasons for our war for independence was that the British government actually was inclined to respect treaties it had made with the Indians, instead of, you know, grabbing land.

I'm sure there were also all sorts of morally lovely reasons for independence, but when it comes right down to it a lot of wars end up being about real estate and who can own it.

[Aquarius]

It always makes me laugh, too, when I hear people's ideas of what all of Canada is like...Windsor, Ontario is just a 20 minute trip from me. I remember the first time I saw Detroit from across the river...I was like "OMG, it's gross looking at it from this side, too..."

[JadziaKathryn]

I may be wrong, but judging from what I learned from the US Park Service at Valley Forge, one of the major reasons for our war for independence was that the British government actually was inclined to respect treaties it had made with the Indians, instead of, you know, grabbing land.

I'm sure there were also all sorts of morally lovely reasons for independence, but when it comes right down to it a lot of wars end up being about real estate and who can own it.

Weeeellll, yes and no on the treaties. It was sort of like, when it suited them they did. But yes, colonists wanted to expand west after the victory in the French and Indian War and the British prohibited it. Not so much from moral high ground as not wanting to deal with protecting more land and the resources that'd require. Meanwhile colonists thought it was their right as victors.

Erm, I have a sort of academic interest in the "Great Big Whiners" view of the American revolution, as it happens.

But, as far as happy news goes, I got to hang out with three of my friends from my undergrad years. It was great, especially as I'd not seen them since graduation in May '07. We chatted and had silly fun and laughed a lot.

[CX]

We move to conquer Canada now!

[evcake]

I think we tried that once and it didn't work out so well.

[JadziaKathryn]

Good point, evcake. Methinks we don't need more to deal with, since we've already got, you know, a lousy economy, two foreign wars, a crumbling infrastructure, a huge national deficit, and crazy expensive health care and higher education...

Right. Anyway, happy news: we had a snow day today. I only had one class, but since classes were canceled I got to sleep in. My theory is that if we have to deal with the unpleasant realities of snow, we might as well get some benefit.

[CX]

:) I think we tried that once and it didn't work out so well.

That's because they made the mistake of invading during winter.

[enterprikayak]

I love the quote from the US military leaders of the time as they (temporarily) occupied Windsor, Ontario:

""Inhabitants of Canada! After thirty years of Peace and prosperity, the United States have been driven to Arms, The injuries and aggressions, the insults and indignities of Great Britain have once more left them no alternative but manly resistance or unconditional submission. The army under my Command has invaded your Country and the standard of the United States waves on the territory of Canada. To the peaceful unoffending inhabitant, It brings neither danger nor difficulty. I come to find enemies not to make them, I come to protect not to injure you.""

Ahhh, proTECTion...hmmmmm.......... So that should be all right then.

I love goverment proclamations, no matter where they're from.

"Inhabitants of Canda...!" (that has such a good ring to it...sounds like Kang and Kodos)

[Alelou]

Inhabitants are just the unlucky sods who ended up on that side of the border, as opposed to, say, actual citizens of a country.