A Love Letter to Canada
I want to wish my country a very happy birthday! Its actually tomorrow, but I'm just too damn excited. My little country is growing up and turning 142 years old! <3
But in all seriousness, I not only want to say 'Happy Birthday Canada' but also 'Thank You'. Thank you for taking care of me when I am sick, thank you for helping me through school, thank you for providing me with every opportunity possible, and thank you for a century and half of nothing less than a politically stable government.
I had originally written in this post my beliefs on the Iran stituation, Michael Jackson's death and how it all ties to politically apathy, which will certainly be the death of society. That is, however, a soapbox moment for another time. Right now, my country deserves some loving sans harsh criticism for things it can't actually be held responsible for.
This is a positive post meant to celebrate Canada's history. And, of course, I've included pictures and witty commentary. (Note: This is not meant to be serious in anyway. As a Canadian historian, future teacher, and politically involved youth I would die if someone actually taught this way. But I figure everyone could use a little humour and if it gets non-Canadians interested, then what the hell? ;) )
Right, so this is our flag. You've probably seen it before. Most likely at the Olympics...at least the Winter Olympics.
This is the back of our Parliament, in Ottawa, also known as Parliament Hill. The body of water is the Rideau Canal, which in the winter freezes over and everyone can skate along it. In some cases that is how people get to work in the winter. Please note: You cannot invade us from the back, so please do not try. The other side of the canal is Quebec so...to get to us you would have to go through them. And trust me when I say that they are a whole lot tougher than our army.
Parliament lit up at night.
This is cool, I promise! You are probably thinking "What is with all the tulips?" Well, let me tell you! Ottawa every year holds the largest tulip festival in the world. Back in WWII the Dutch Royal Family was sent to Canada for safe haven during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. As a sign of gratitude they sent Canada 100,000 tulips. The major reason being that the youngest Princess was born in Canada during the War, and the Canadian government had the maternity ward declared international territory. They did this so that the Princess was technically born in 'no country' and not Canada so that she could properly inherit her title and place in the Royal family. We have been receiving tulips ever since! :)
The man who started it all! Our first Prime Minister Sir. John A. MacDonald...who was actually Scottish. There are many words to describe Johnny Mac: politician, visionary, floor-crosser, and drunk would pretty much sum it up. There is a very famous story about Sir John A and it goes like this: One day during a political debate, Sir John A. was hungover out of his mind. During his opponent's speech, MacDonald leaned over the side of the stage and threw up everywhere. People were stunned into silence. When he finally recovered, he sat back up, looked at the audience and said in his very Scottish accent "I'm sorry, you'll have to forgive me. My opponent's speech made me sick." And in Canada, that's just how we roll.
This next Prime Minister is very important for Canadian history. I understand that in the States there is this law that says a President can only be President for 8 years. In Canada, we don't have that and as a result we have Prime Ministers in office for years, literally. (Now, normally I don't mind this because more often than not they are Liberal Prime Ministers, which as a Liberal I totally support.) This man, William Lyon Mackenzie King, was the longest serving Prime Minister in Canadian history. Anyone want to take a guess at how long he served? Twenty one years. Seriously. Though, I should note that Canada did well during his years as Prime Minister and, clearly, the public wasn't too rushed to get rid of him. Over all, he was a pretty cool guy.
It pains me that Pierre Elliot Trudeau is probably the most controversial man in Canadian history. People either love him, or hate him; there is no in between. I just am so disappointed that a man who accomplished so much, like the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Constitution, befriending Cuba, defending same-sex rights, and who eventually left politics to be a full-time father is tainted by the fact that he was a bit of a man-whore. And I use that term with all the love and respect in the world, I really do. Trudeau, to most non-Canadians, is famous for a myriad of things. Such as dating Barbara Streisand, Kim Cattral, and whose wife cheated on him with a member of the Rolling Stones. *sigh*
Here is something that United States does not have! A hotel made of ICE. That's right! The Hotel de Glace is constructed every year during the winter months and guests can stay overnight in, well, pretty much an igloo. But a COOL igloo..and I mean that figuratively, not literally. Check out some of this pictures.
As a young country, we don't have a lot of architectural history that dates back to anything prior to the 19th century, like Europe. We do, however, have a natural beauty. Here is a picture of mountains in Western Canada.
Alberta, Canada
Newfoundland..I love their new tourism commercials. At first I thought they were ads for New Zealand, that's how crazy beautiful Atlantic Canada is. <3
Newfoundland
Oh alright, here's a picture of Toronto, ON. :)
If you've made it this far I am a) impressed and b) touched. Thank you for reminiscing with me on this special day. May Canada have continued prosperity and stability, for both her flag and her citizens.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA!
But in all seriousness, I not only want to say 'Happy Birthday Canada' but also 'Thank You'. Thank you for taking care of me when I am sick, thank you for helping me through school, thank you for providing me with every opportunity possible, and thank you for a century and half of nothing less than a politically stable government.
I had originally written in this post my beliefs on the Iran stituation, Michael Jackson's death and how it all ties to politically apathy, which will certainly be the death of society. That is, however, a soapbox moment for another time. Right now, my country deserves some loving sans harsh criticism for things it can't actually be held responsible for.
This is a positive post meant to celebrate Canada's history. And, of course, I've included pictures and witty commentary. (Note: This is not meant to be serious in anyway. As a Canadian historian, future teacher, and politically involved youth I would die if someone actually taught this way. But I figure everyone could use a little humour and if it gets non-Canadians interested, then what the hell? ;) )
Right, so this is our flag. You've probably seen it before. Most likely at the Olympics...at least the Winter Olympics.
This is the back of our Parliament, in Ottawa, also known as Parliament Hill. The body of water is the Rideau Canal, which in the winter freezes over and everyone can skate along it. In some cases that is how people get to work in the winter. Please note: You cannot invade us from the back, so please do not try. The other side of the canal is Quebec so...to get to us you would have to go through them. And trust me when I say that they are a whole lot tougher than our army.
Parliament lit up at night.
This is cool, I promise! You are probably thinking "What is with all the tulips?" Well, let me tell you! Ottawa every year holds the largest tulip festival in the world. Back in WWII the Dutch Royal Family was sent to Canada for safe haven during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. As a sign of gratitude they sent Canada 100,000 tulips. The major reason being that the youngest Princess was born in Canada during the War, and the Canadian government had the maternity ward declared international territory. They did this so that the Princess was technically born in 'no country' and not Canada so that she could properly inherit her title and place in the Royal family. We have been receiving tulips ever since! :)
The man who started it all! Our first Prime Minister Sir. John A. MacDonald...who was actually Scottish. There are many words to describe Johnny Mac: politician, visionary, floor-crosser, and drunk would pretty much sum it up. There is a very famous story about Sir John A and it goes like this: One day during a political debate, Sir John A. was hungover out of his mind. During his opponent's speech, MacDonald leaned over the side of the stage and threw up everywhere. People were stunned into silence. When he finally recovered, he sat back up, looked at the audience and said in his very Scottish accent "I'm sorry, you'll have to forgive me. My opponent's speech made me sick." And in Canada, that's just how we roll.
This next Prime Minister is very important for Canadian history. I understand that in the States there is this law that says a President can only be President for 8 years. In Canada, we don't have that and as a result we have Prime Ministers in office for years, literally. (Now, normally I don't mind this because more often than not they are Liberal Prime Ministers, which as a Liberal I totally support.) This man, William Lyon Mackenzie King, was the longest serving Prime Minister in Canadian history. Anyone want to take a guess at how long he served? Twenty one years. Seriously. Though, I should note that Canada did well during his years as Prime Minister and, clearly, the public wasn't too rushed to get rid of him. Over all, he was a pretty cool guy.
It pains me that Pierre Elliot Trudeau is probably the most controversial man in Canadian history. People either love him, or hate him; there is no in between. I just am so disappointed that a man who accomplished so much, like the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Constitution, befriending Cuba, defending same-sex rights, and who eventually left politics to be a full-time father is tainted by the fact that he was a bit of a man-whore. And I use that term with all the love and respect in the world, I really do. Trudeau, to most non-Canadians, is famous for a myriad of things. Such as dating Barbara Streisand, Kim Cattral, and whose wife cheated on him with a member of the Rolling Stones. *sigh*
Here is something that United States does not have! A hotel made of ICE. That's right! The Hotel de Glace is constructed every year during the winter months and guests can stay overnight in, well, pretty much an igloo. But a COOL igloo..and I mean that figuratively, not literally. Check out some of this pictures.
As a young country, we don't have a lot of architectural history that dates back to anything prior to the 19th century, like Europe. We do, however, have a natural beauty. Here is a picture of mountains in Western Canada.
Alberta, Canada
Newfoundland..I love their new tourism commercials. At first I thought they were ads for New Zealand, that's how crazy beautiful Atlantic Canada is. <3
Newfoundland
Oh alright, here's a picture of Toronto, ON. :)
If you've made it this far I am a) impressed and b) touched. Thank you for reminiscing with me on this special day. May Canada have continued prosperity and stability, for both her flag and her citizens.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA!