there are many reasons to be proud to be Canadian. One is that we say what we mean. we do not make promises that we cannot keep and we try not to be hypocritical. (for the most part) I think that the USA cannot make the same claim.
The United States were founded on a principle of division between church and state. "Separation of church and state" (sometimes "wall of separation between church and state") Thomas Jefferson used this as the inspiration to the first amendment of the constitution. It was such an important concept that they built the country on it; a country that they went to war to obtain.
Canada simply and politely, asked Queen Victoria if we could please leave the Commonwealth. indeed, we didn't even feel the need for a formal constitution until it was brought into effect in 1982--115 years after the passing of the British North America act, which created our country. we just sort of figured that everybody knew these things and played by those rules. The US has spent countless hours updating, changing and amending their rules to make sure it "kept up with the times." Yet time and time again, although Canadians are seen as the boring, uptight, citizens, the USA proves that their is truly no cure for stupid.
But, I digress.
Last week, North Dakota passed a law banning the making of a law legalising gay marriage. Division of church and state; forward thinking??? I think not! Their own President, Obama and Vice-president Biden, felt the need to comment on this stupidity!
Canada on the other hand, has it covered. In Fact, we really don't care who gets married. In 2005, 7 years ago, we passed a NATIONWIDE bill legalising "gender neutral" marriage (we didn't even feel the need to put in "same-sex"). In other words we don't really define who gets married, we will just protect your rights if you are interested in becoming married--no matter who you are or who you want to marry.
The government, however, did not tell the churches what to do. this is simply civil marriage and the legalities involved with it. Some people may have thought that we were suddenly becoming progressive, but I think that we couldn't stand all those tax dollars going to waste. Marriage is big business. So is divorce!
(Personally, i think the lobbyist's are doing it wrong. they should engage all of the wedding planners, caterers and other wedding industry people to help out and have them recognise the economic impact of all these weddings not taking place; a nationwide bill would pass in the US senate so fast it would make your head spin!)
There is no reason, other than misinformed and misguided religious beliefs that could have led to North Dakota's overkill in their anti-samesex marriage law making--they are combining church and state. they are basing their lawmaking on erroneous and archaic ideology that is based on mistranslation and misinterpretation of an ancient biblical text.
certainly, if you have a secular government, based on a division of church and state, then it follows that the government has no right looking windows into peoples bedrooms (one of the few things that Trudeau said that I agree with!) yet time and time again, various states in the USA pass laws, banning same sex marriage based on the biblical-judeo-christian doctrine that they have misinterpreted.
So yes, I am proud to be Canadian. I am sure we are just as boring and stolid as the world sees us, and may be that was our impetuous for creating a law for same sex marriage: we didn't want anyone living in sin! but, still this week, I am proud to say that I AM CANADIAN!
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2012-05-09/obama-gay-marriage-election/54866752/1
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