Canada Is Suppose To Be Free….

“the Ten Commandments and the Seven Deadly Sins”… You’re kidding right?I can’t believe I’m going to do this but to quote Alison, Get out of the dark ages!

Ah the irony =)

Oh look! Another! Quetiapine this time. It looks so forlorn. Someone should open it. Wash a couple down with nice warm milk…

I <3 Bad Guy.

Natives aren’t rude to one another? Wow, I guess the different native gang wars on the reserves is full of please and thank yous. And maybe I didn’t pay a lot of attention in history class, but I thought that there were all sorts of tribal wars. Sure, there were some tribes that farmed the land and were all peaceful, but they were mostly wiped out by more warlike tribes.I think it was last year, one of the chiefs of one of the largest Native bands from the States was up in Brantford talking about how they turned themselves around. One of the biggest things he said was that they had to stop taking government handouts, because that was one of the biggest things keeping them down. His reasoning was that if they were dependent on the gov’t, they’d never have a whole lot of pride, and the general ghetto status on reserves would continue. Didn’t really go down very well for some reason.I had a friend in Uni whose parents moved off the reserve and didn’t claim a lot of things because they didn’t want to feel like everything they had was just given to them. He still had his degree paid for, but who can blame him for that? Anyway, it worked for them, and makes you wonder if maybe that would be a better system.

What makes you think we’re all not Native Canadians, like yourself?

Because Natives aren’t evil individuals like yourself and your idiotic friends!God some of you are so annoying,but patience is a virtue and time is almost up.

Alison where did I say I paid for university? I said I worked my ass off in high school – meaning I studied and worked hard and got really good marks.

For your info Ali, Evil comes in all shapes and sizes, and all races and backgrounds……you really don’t want me to give examples of the Evil your (our) people, do you?

Alison I’m still waiting for you to show me where I said I paid for university.Man alive, you are 100% crazy.

I think the bigger concern isn’t governmental handouts, its a system of infantalization and industrial pigeon holing that goes right back to the residential schools, where the ‘education’ natives were given was geared towards manual labour type employment, as well as instilling a culture of inferiority that’s hard to break out of. If the culture is telling you you are intrinsically inferior from birth, it’s hard to then spin around and say but wait, you can be a doctor, lawyer, prime minister, whatever- all things that would lead to more natives pursuing higher education, and thus getting better jobs, that would impact the community as a whole. Seems like if you’re native, you have two choices: stay within the community on a reserve and have your options limited, or assimilate, leave the reserve, and open up a wealth of opportunity while sacrificing a part of your culture. So maybe instead of just giving cheques, the government used that money to build infrastructure and help revitalise the communities, and hopefullyr epair some of the phycological damage done by hundreds of years of imperialism, things would change faster without having to shell out billions more- look no further than Indian brook, where a new school just opened in the community, something they’ve been fighting for for 20 years. It’s going to drastically change the outlook for kids in that area, reduce drop out rates, and improve everyone’s future prospects.

At the same time, I don’t think one has to give up their culture when they leave a reserve. (I of course am not speaking from experience, but just theoretically). Most Natives live off reserves anyway and they could easily build communities (and do) off the reserve that allow them to practice, preserve and share some of their more traditional practices. Many immigrants do the same thing. I also think that the reserves located closer to more densely populated areas (like the one near Truro) have a better chance ofsucceeding with the infrastructure investments, but it might not be as easy for some of the more isolated regions….maybe establishing an economy based on the natural resources near these more isolated reserves would work?I think the whole situation is a bit of a blight on our history as a country and I would like to see us all move foward together in a way that protects the Native’s cultural identities, but enables them and us to prosper socially and economically. Clearly the current strategies are not effective and it is refreshing to hear there are some success stories.

Sorry I think that comment came off wrong….I’ve been doing a lot of work recently about the residential schools, and it sort of clouds the old brian…..I think miles has it right- the whole situation is a very ugly spot on our history. and that’s I think what makes native situation a bit different than other cultures (jewish, hindu, whatever)- in this country, in the very very recent past, native culture was a problem that had to be ‘solved’ and stamped out. it wasn’t given the respect it deserves, and I think in many ways, it still isn’t understood or at least protected by that PC veneer other cultures have taht keep people from overstepping…It might not be true that you have to give up your cultural identity in order to suceed, but for many natives I think that is the gut-belief, in large part because that’s waht they were told for centuries. for example, a friend of mine, her grandmother, who grew up in residential schools, firmly believes that the best thing a native woman can do is marry a white man. so before changes can be made, I think some of that needs to at least be addressed- until people believe that they can move forward without giving up their culture, it won’t happen. the fact we still have reserves at all indicates an unwillingness up to this point to allow that to happen- it’s a clear line between two cultures, that makes it harder to find a middle ground. Hopefully the truth and reconciliation commission will do a lot to change that.

I’m with Christopher on the Miles love, and I’d like to throw around some Christopher love. Even though I usually disagree wholeheartedly with what you say, I really like the way you say it, and you’re usually a solid catalyst in some of the spicier debates around here.

: ) Thanks QWERTY!I know my comments are not always the most “appropriate” but sometimes that is just me playing Devil Advocate…it’s fun taking a ridiculous point of view and trying to defend it! Though I must admit there were a few that in hindsight might not have been the best choices…it was pretty fun none-the-less.You are most certainly included in the group of people that really do make this site an entertaining and fun place to visit, we need more people that are able to debate properly, so thanks to you and all the good folk on here that do try and cultivate a healthy exchange of ideas and opinions!

pretty sad that many of the regs spend so much time worrying and insulting people, they waste away what could be good conversation on actual issues. if it isnt insulting and trying to tell people to go away, (like that is going to work), its trying to play matlock and assume that one person is behind multiple personalities. its like they never consider that multiple people share the converse opinion on things.

so says you? Nice miranda. Feel free to use whatever service you want in what ever manner you want. Curious, what is the point of putting up topics that do not appear to be of the joking manner, when you wanna turn them all into a chat room. Shouldnt you just occupy the BITCH threads with that shit?

actually, yesterday, i just made a comment on a thread…. then your qwerty buddy did her things.

Boys boys boys. While Homie surely knew his comment would stir things up, you have to admit that he gets slammed, berated and “chased out” even when he posts a perfectly reasonable, on-topic comment to any thread. Besides, isn’t “stirring this up” what pretty much everybody comes to the Bitch forum for?Gotta take the middle position on this one (MilesJam conspiracy!)OK, back to work…

When Homie has something reasonable and concise to say, I agree with him… Rare but true…The rest of the time when he gets flamed; it’s only because he deserves to be flamed…

I partly agree, Miranda. Sometimes Homie isn’t a pompous, condescending, long-winded, annoying, self righteous, weirdo. Sometimes he’s a self-pitying crybaby who hates to see anyone have any fun.To Homie: floyd, poop, miranda, miles, jammie (yes, i’m including jammie. i don’t want to talk about it.), matt, hedgy and a bunch of others don’t actually know each other in real life. We met here, and have alot of fun and entertain each other. I realize you’re probably the kid on the playground who tattled on the cool kids to teacher because you wanted to be part of the group and weren’t, but you’re not on the playground now. You might find if you take just some of the advice people here are inadvertently giving you (while insulting you), you’ll be shunned alot less.

Now,now everyone,it’s suppose to be me that you have such a hate on for.I’m starting to get jealous!!!