Free Speech in Canada- an oximoron

[salinecanine]

 [P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"]Thank you for taking the time to feedback, PC. I appreciate that and your civility. [SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]Whether or not free speech is[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"]  [/SPAN]compromised in [?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /][st1:country-region w:st="on"][st1:place w:st="on"]Canada[/st1:place][/st1:country-region] is, of course, debatable- with me taking one perspective. Time will tell, I suppose. Perhaps it is just all that rain in [st1:City w:st="on"][st1:place w:st="on"]Vancouver[/st1:place][/st1:City]. When I was a school board Chair, the "in joke" in every early Spring was to keep your head down and don't provoke the parents/teachers or unions. Everyone was ready to fight because of the rain, rain and more rain. Once the sun came out, everything changed.

[Sawdust]

 I don't post that often, so I'm not looking to get into a discussion. I just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents worth on this subject.

Every culture we have in Canada brings unique and valuable contributions to our nation and we are all better for it. I believe strongly in immigration and the gifts immigrants bring with them such as  skills, food, music, traditions, etc.

I think that [STRIKE]all[/STRIKE] most Canadians, regardless of their ethnic background, accept different cultures and what they bring to the table.

I also think that lack of a defined 'Canadian Identity' allowed or caused politicians and their underlings to believe we needed guidance when common sense and human nature would normally prevail.

I am neither left wing or right wing, I just don't believe you can legislate multicultualism. That begins with us and what we teach our children. When schools don't acknowledge one religions celebrations because it might offend another, it's gone too far. Kids should be ( and they were ) allowed to experience all cultural celebrations, they are richer, better educated and have far more understanding of what their friends and different cultures are all about.

There are so many fantastic things about Canada and the different fabrics of our society, that we WANT to experience them. Legislating them tends to isolate them rather than meld them.

Cheers[/DIV]

[salinecanine]

Well said and I entirely agree with you Sawdust. Thanks for taking the time to contribute meaningfully.

[P.C.]

Everyone was ready to fight because of the rain, rain and more rain. Once the sun came out, everything changed.

  What are you talking about ?  It only rained twice here last week.  Three days the first time and four days the second time. [img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="vny!://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/froehlich/a035.gif" border=0]

[Salinecanine]

Now PC, I realize that into every PC and little bullshit must fall. [DIV id=smile_editor][img class=buttons onmouseover="this.style.backgroundColor='#C6D3EF'; this.style.border='1px solid #3169C6'; " title="Insert emoticons" style="BORDER-RIGHT: #3169c6 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #3169c6 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #3169c6 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #3169c6 1px solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c6d3ef" onclick="FormatText('editor', 'smile', '')" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor=''; this.style.border='1px solid #EFEBEF';" src="vny!://discoverseattle.net/forums/richedit/buttons/insertsmile.gif" align=absMiddle border=0][/DIV]

[Vivek Golikeri]

Hey saline, are you my old DV friend Richard under a different handle? About a couple of weeks ago, both Richard and Richards --- who were always being confused by many readers or posters --- simultaneously disappeared. Both R's were intelligent, mature and fair-minded persons. If they got banned for the same reasons for which you say you were banned, then free speech is indeed in a bad way. People on DV post filth, mockery, hate, and I underwent a "cyber-lynching" and defamation. I hope my career on Discover Seattle is different.