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[imperfect_cupcake]

I agree. I've been an NDPer for a very long time (federally. I did vote socialist party but they don't run federally) and for a while I was despondent with what they had done. But I understand Layton had been doing very good things and frankly I think he would have taken the next election. I sincerely hope they come up with someone just as good. I am quite sad about his exit. My mom, who works for an NDP MP was beside herself.

I still wish that canada would have word with itself and get rid of harper before I come home. Honestly. I leave and the country falls to shit. Next thing you know, they'll be asking Van Der Zalm for advice on how to run a province or sumthin. Oh. wait....

CRAZY STUPID



LYING BASTARD

and being both crazy and a bastard, I know what I'm talking about.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by honeybarbara

Honestly. I leave and the country falls to shit.

Thanks bunches.

I agree. I think that the NDP would have had a good shot of taking the next federal election if he had lived another four years to do so. We'll see who they come up with.

I've also always voted NDP, aside from once when I lived in a riding that was real close between the Liberals and the stupid Conservatives. I voted Liberal that time. (And I actually DO like the Liberal MP from that riding, so I don't feel bad about it.)

[imperfect_cupcake]

well, I wish I could still a) be a member so I could vote for the next one in the party and b) still vote in canada.

I've been gone 8 years. Please mail me some dirt. When I left amsterdam a week ago to come back to england I stared vacantly at the stone steps whilst waiting for a local bus and said "Ok. I've been Olde-Worldied out now."

My homesickness knows no bounds at times. I think I'll cry when I get to finally come back and press myself against some pine sap. 8 years without spork or dill pickle chips is a long time.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by honeybarbara

well, I wish I could still a) be a member so I could vote for the next one in the party and b) still vote in canada.

I've been gone 8 years. Please mail me some dirt. When I left amsterdam a week ago to come back to england I stared vacantly at the stone steps whilst waiting for a local bus and said "Ok. I've been Olde-Worldied out now."

My homesickness knows no bounds at times. I think I'll cry when I get to finally come back and press myself against some pine sap. 8 years without spork or dill pickle chips is a long time.

When will you be back?

My parents bought a place in the wilderness recently (no seriously) and they even have a sugar shack on their land for making their own maple syrup. They're pretty excited. (you mentioning tree sap made me think of that.) When I visited them there last week I spent most of my time eating wild blueberries and catching snakes. I think I could live there provided we never ran out of snakes and blueberries.

[betenoire]

For those who are interested, cp24 has live coverage of Jack Layton's funeral.

[Linus]

Whoa. I didn't know he passed! Dis sucks! I will say one thing he remained true to himself and his conscience when he ran for office and kept it.

[imperfect_cupcake]

I spent most of my time eating wild blueberries and catching snakes. I think I could live there provided we never ran out of snakes and blueberries.

that sounds like bliss!!! *sigh*

[betenoire]

You know, maybe I'm being a brat about this but I can't believe that US media hasn't even given a nod to Jack Layton's passing. Huffpost had a brief article, but that was it. Crickets.

[imperfect_cupcake]

One thing I've learned from living over here is that most countries are pretty self absorbed. Some more than others, granted. And countries like wales, scotland, canada, and new zealand (for example) are usually a little less self absorbed because we can't be. The nations next to us always BLAH BLAH BLAH about their own stuff in a volume that we just can't tune out but the more sizable and forefront nation can very easily ignore the one next to it. Places like the US, England, China, India and Japan often just steam roll (or attempt to steam roll) over as many "other" countries as possible with the assurity of their own moral/political system being correct. They do it a lot to the people in their own country even.

Living in England and watching wales and scotland roooolllll their eyes and have to fight for a few centemeters of their own political space has made me appreciate canadian fortitude a lot more. And to not take the states en mass unilateral foreign policy so personal any more: they do it to everyone; and they aren't the only ones to do it, unfortunately...

But I do find their television content to be fucking annoying and usually insipid and I'm not looking forward with it being the only choice when I get back. That's why I'll get some proxy servers for BBCiplayer and a couple of other countries stuff

[lettertodaddy]

As someone who has both American and Canadian citizenship, I understand why Jack Layton didn't get more coverage in the American media. He wasn't the Prime Minister or Head of State in Canada. He was beloved by many (it was Layton's NDP that convinced me to pursue citizenship instead of just staying a permanent resident), but that notoriety didn't really go beyond Canada's borders. Jack was fundamentally a local/national politician who wanted to do the best for Canada. I think it's OK that the American media didn't cover his passing or his funeral, because his focus wasn't on the United States.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by lettertodaddy

As someone who has both American and Canadian citizenship, I understand why Jack Layton didn't get more coverage in the American media. He wasn't the Prime Minister or Head of State in Canada. He was beloved by many (it was Layton's NDP that convinced me to pursue citizenship instead of just staying a permanent resident), but that notoriety didn't really go beyond Canada's borders. Jack was fundamentally a local/national politician who wanted to do the best for Canada. I think it's OK that the American media didn't cover his passing or his funeral, because his focus wasn't on the United States.

He was the official leader of the opposition party. That's a big deal. We're not talking about the mayor of some tiny town in northern ontario. I wouldn't have expected/wanted to see a 3-page spread in he New York Times, but a fucking mention would have been nice. Because god knows that if, say, John Boenner or Nancy Pelosi or somebody had died it would have been more than mentioned in Canadian papers.

On top of that, you and I both know that if John Boehner or Nancy Pelosi had died that the PM here would have made some sort of a goodwill statement. But Obama couldn't be bothered to say "wow, that stinks kids. So sorry to hear it." It just feels really disrespectful and symptomatic of that whole thing where the US is really only interested in the US. We're supposed to be neighbours, and completely ignoring something that is a huge fucking deal to so many Canadians feels mighty unneighbourly.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by honeybarbara

But I do find their television content to be fucking annoying and usually insipid and I'm not looking forward with it being the only choice when I get back. That's why I'll get some proxy servers for BBCiplayer and a couple of other countries stuff

That might be why I think teevee is so boring. Except for HBO.

Unfortunately Canadian television is mostly horrible. Lots of period dramas, which I can't freaking stand. This Hour Has 22 Minutes and Degrassi are like the only saving graces (well, old Degrassi was good. I haven't seen the new show yet.)