What makes you thankful to live in a free country?

[Rían]

I can see how people got off-topic after reading that article in your first post, JD! It just makes your blood boil, and the natural reaction is to say, yeah, and how about this article? etc.

I'm very grateful to live in America, where I can get any book I can find, and state my opinions freely, and vote how I think is right, and say what I want where I want to without fear of being overheard, and walk into a church or not walk into a church, and where the press is free to report things.

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by RÃ*an

I can see how people got off-topic after reading that article in your first post, JD! It just makes your blood boil, and the natural reaction is to say, yeah, and how about this article? etc.

People were out there not posting at all what they appreciated about living in a free country but about something that NOTHING to do with the topic. Sorry - case closed.

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

mm, the simple things, like pierce my lip/nose/ears, wear black nail varnish/lipstick/eyeshadow, without the intrinsic fear of prejudice, tho from certain groups in society it is still present [SIZE=1]cough*chavs*cough[/SIZE ], the freedom to listen to whatever music I like
and the greater things, the freedom to be openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, transgendered or heterosexual as the urge attests, this one, obviously, is something ALL of us should not take for granted

[Rían]

Originally Posted by jerseydevil

People were out there not posting at all what they appreciated about living in a free country but about something that NOTHING to do with the topic. Sorry - case closed.

But did you like my list of what I appreciated?

(And all I said was I could see WHY they did it because I'm a bliss-ninny )

[Count Comfect]

Originally Posted by Elemmire

I suppose it's shallow that it's the little things that matter to me.

No, it isn't. It's just that the little things are the signs of the big things: you know something is wrong in the large scale if the government won't tolerate minor things like makeup.

Speaking of which, I'm really glad I live in a country in which I can wear whatever the hell I want. Drag? Fine. Suit? Fine. Anything in between? Fine. It's a good system.

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by RÃ*an

But did you like my list of what I appreciated?

Yes I did. That is what the thread is about.

(And all I said was I could see WHY they did it because I'm a bliss-ninny )

Well being the person I am - I don't really care why they did it or if they felt they were right in doing it. The thread title is clearly stated and anyone who can read would understand it.

And you definitely are a bliss ninny. I guess you were too late to the argument to come and talk about your pregnancies though.

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

Originally Posted by Count Comfect

No, it isn't. It's just that the little things are the signs of the big things: you know something is wrong in the large scale if the government won't tolerate minor things like makeup.

Speaking of which, I'm really glad I live in a country in which I can wear whatever the hell I want. Drag? Fine. Suit? Fine. Anything in between? Fine. It's a good system.

same here, CC
i can go to college with nail varnish on, and that isn't considered strange
for an 18 yr old student, altho i only wear black

EDIT: i should say, 18 year old male student!

[Nibs]

Originally Posted by jerseydevil

It really makes one think about the freedoms we have and the many we just take for granted and expect.

My thoughts exactly. And that's just one example of many that could be found. Other holidays are surely not to be celebrated, either.

[Count Comfect]

i can go to college with nail varnish on, and that isn't considered strange
for an 18 yr old student, altho i only wear black

EDIT: i should say, 18 year old male student!

Exactly! POWER!

Oh, another big thing I like I just thought of - I can walk around my college town hooting like a monkey and no one can do anything about it... well, except give me strange looks...

[Nurvingiel]

Wow, awesome thread JD, it really took off!

In short, I love Canada, and I'm so lucky to live in a free country. I can go to university, people can be any religion or political philosophy they like, and if you get arrested, you will be punished fairly. You won't get arrested for no good reason, or with seeming randomness. Punishments fit the crime.

Of course, we're not perfect, mistakes do happen. But we know that unfair arrests or etc. aren't widespread or even happening every now and then! I imagine there are some countries that are pretty nice to live in but there might be situations where you'd be afraid of the government. I feel very lucky to say, there is never a time when I'm afraid of the government.

There was a time, when I was afraid that Stephen Harper was going to become Prime Minister, but if that's my worst fear, then I'm damn lucky. Even if he had, he would have been fairly and democratically elected, and he would not have destroyed the country or anything horrible. He was not my favourite choice, but it's not like he would have overthrown the Charter or the Constitution. Since they're so central to our laws, it's very difficult to change. We have a stable and reasonable system of laws, that's something we're lucky to have. We're lucky to have had the political climate for many years that even allowed us to develop a stable system.

I could go on... but this was going to be a short post and it's time for bed.

Originally Posted by RÃ*an

But did you like my list of what I appreciated?

(And all I said was I could see WHY they did it because I'm a bliss-ninny )

Bliss-ninny's unite! *high five*

[katya]

Well, since it *is* Valentine's Day still, I am also grateful that I can date whoever I want (well, if they agree that is). I'm not sure exactly what the rules are everywhere, but I know in some places it's not allowed to date certain people for whatever reason. I once read a story about a couple who got killed for being together who were from a different caste- that sort of thing.
I'm glad I can go for whoever I want, even if it is my best friend's brother.^^;;

[Elemmírë]

Originally Posted by Count Comfect

Exactly! POWER!

Oh, another big thing I like I just thought of - I can walk around my college town hooting like a monkey and no one can do anything about it... well, except give me strange looks...

I could do that too, since I barely even have a college town... more like two streets and a couple of stores!

I can watch TV. I can walk in public. I can talk to guys. I can use a computer. I can drive a car (well, sort of... )

Bliss-ninnies, RÃ* and Nurvi? We should start a club!

[Count Comfect]

I can talk to guys

You can? What is this nation coming to!!!

I like that I can mock the government without fear of reprisal. Occasionally.

[Elemmírë]

Originally Posted by Count Comfect

You can? What is this nation coming to!!!

I like that I can mock the government without fear of reprisal. Occasionally.

Well, technically I could. sshhhh...

You only occasionally like it that you can mock the government?

[Rían]

Originally Posted by Count Comfect

No, it isn't. It's just that the little things are the signs of the big things...

Good point.

Originally Posted by JD

And you definitely are a bliss ninny. I guess you were too late to the argument to come and talk about your pregnancies though

It's NEVER too late to talk about my pregnancies!! (but I"ll spare you!)

Originally Posted by count

Oh, another big thing I like I just thought of - I can walk around my college town hooting like a monkey and no one can do anything about it... well, except give me strange looks...

Oh, so that was YOU!

Originally Posted by Nurvi

Bliss-ninny's unite! *high five*

WooHoo! *high five* And Elemmire, too!

And to get on topic, I like the idea of a jury of one's peers. Cool idea.

[Nurvingiel]

What about pregnancy Ri?

Originally Posted by Elemmire

And religion.

Except for Wicca, I suppose, which Bush doesn't consider a religion.

...ahem... 90 second rule... come on...let's go...grrrrr!!!!!

Erm... it is a religion. Practitioners of Wicca worship the God and the Godess, observe religious ceremonies, disagree with each other, and spirituality is part of Wicca as well. In short, Wiccans behave as any other religious practitioner (just to generalize grossly here, but you wee what I mean). I fail to see how it would not qualify as a religion.

I am very thankful for religious freedom. There are many countries who do not have this, and we're really lucky that our government is not oppressive.

This extends to the media as well. We can complain about crap on TV and the internet, but at least we're allowed to access said crap! There's a lot of good material out there too, and we're lucky to be able to visit communism.com or what have you.

[Rían]

Originally Posted by Nurvingiel

What about pregnancy Ri?

(oh, it's just a joke I did once to relieve some high-flying tensions on a thread - I posted some long and boring details of my labor and delivery under the "erroneous" assumption that the thread was on labor and delivery instead of a political thread with lots of emotion )

[Sister Golden Hair]

And that's why she's a "Bliss Ninny." One of the Flame Warriors.

[Nurvingiel]

Wouldn't a Bliss Ninny be more of a Flame Non-Combatant?

Anyway... erm...


There are a lot of things that I appreciate about Canada that I would only realize if they were taken away. I don't think this makes us selfish, because a free country is such a great place, there are many things that we will have and it's unreasonable to expect someone to start their day by listing the 1582 freedoms or priviledges they have by living there. Also, we're used to having them because they have always been there. But that doesn't mean we don't appreciate them.

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by Nurvingiel

Erm... it is a religion. Practitioners of Wicca worship the God and the Godess, observe religious ceremonies, disagree with each other, and spirituality is part of Wicca as well. In short, Wiccans behave as any other religious practitioner (just to generalize grossly here, but you wee what I mean). I fail to see how it would not qualify as a religion.

Well a lot of people don't consider it a religion. But anyway - it doesn't matter - the president doesn't decide what is or is not a religion anyway. I never heard him say he didn't consider it a religion though.