A Ginger Ale that sparks reflection.

This new rant came to me as I was drinking Ginger Ale. I have a habit of drinking Ginger Ale when I am not feeling well. It is not just any Ginger Ale that has a soothing effect on me, it has to be a specific brand. Canada Dry is my preference.

As I was enjoying the sweet bubbles in my mouth I looked at the can that it came from and saw the word Canada. Surprisingly enough the sport of Hockey did not even enter my mind. I was not thinking about activities, food, or Lumber jacks. I was thinking even deeper.

I know full well that the culture of a country evolves over time. But I do like to think that no matter how much evolution occurs a hint of it's roots still linger.

"...freedom, freedom in every sense of the term, freedom of speech, freedom of action, freedom in religious and civil life, and last but not least, freedom in commercial life."

For some 80 years after those words were spoken by Wilfreid Laurier in 1894, they were considered self-evident by nearly everyone in Canada. Motherhood statements.

I sit here and feel sad for my parents and grandparents. They grew up in a different Canada then the one I did. They grew up in a time where children were strapped at school, where children did not talk back to their elders. They grew up during an era of war and depression. During those times there was a real sense of values and culture. I feel that we do not have the same values and culture today. Your grandfather did not die in WWII so some Arab or Chinese person could change Merry Christmas to Happy Holidays. Nor did they die so some immigrant could dishonour the Royal Mounted Police by wearing a towel on their head instead of the proper Stetson hat.

I am proud to be Canadian. I loved the freedoms we use to have. I can vote, I can speak freely, I can attend school, I can wear what I please, I have a lot of freedoms. Many other countries do not have the same freedoms that we enjoy here in Canada. I have to thank and remember the people who made this possible. Many of the people who made this possible are dead. We need to thank them by continuing on in life using the values that they fought for.

Canada is a nation where every individual has freedom; freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of belief, freedom of expression, freedom of the press and of other media of communication, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of speech, and freedom of association just to name a few. Sadly these freedoms are not all what they appear to be. No individual in this country of Canada has the full fledged freedom, and it can be argued that the only time that these freedoms actually do exist is when it benefits the corporations, individuals belonging to corporations, and government and its officials. Whenever any individual attempts to use their freedoms in some form, and if corporate/governmental officials deem it to be some kind of threat towards them or the individuals within their institutions, these freedoms seem to vanish.

In September 1996 Wal-Mart Canada, like its parent company in the U.S., refuses to sell the eponymous CD, Sheryl Crow, by the Grammy-winning artist. The album includes an anti-violence song that criticizes Wal-Mart for selling guns.

In May 1997, Based on a complaint from a caller to an open-line radio show in February, Winnipeg police order the Winnipeg Public Library to remove Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Sexual Fantasies, by Nancy Friday, or face criminal charges if it remains. The book has been in the collection since it was published by Simon & Schuster in 1991, and was a Canadian best-seller in 1993.

September 11 is being invoked as a kind of magic incantation to stifle debate, disparage critical analysis and persuade us that we suddenly live in a new world where the old rules cannot apply. Freedom of speech, of thought, of association, to name just a few, are grounded in the idea that we have a private sphere of thought and action that is our business and nobody else's -- not our neighbors', not our employers', not some telemarketer's, and certainly not the state's. In Canada today that fundamental human right is under unprecedented assault.

The cost of Canada's unpopular and unnecessary gun registry was supposed to be $2 million. Instead it has ballooned to over $1 billion, mostly boondoggle and patronage. Gary Webster, its former head, piled up more than $209,000 in travel and hotel bills commuting between Edmonton and Ottawa over two years. He still has a senior government position.

Christians say publicly that they disapprove of homosexual behavior because the Bible declares it to be immoral, then that is “promoting hatred”. If they quote medical statistics about the HIV infection rates of homosexual men, that is “promoting hatred”. If they object to their children being indoctrinated in kindergarten class with information about homosexuality, they are hateful people.

Homosexual activists have denounced three Calgary based websites to the Alberta and Federal Human Rights Commissions, demanding that the sites which post information critical of homosexual behaviour be shut down.Homosexual activists in Alberta have targeted these websites run by Craig Chandler, a Canadian conservative and talk-radio host. Explain to me how we are not pissed at the Homosexuals for trying to trample on Chandler's right to free speech?

Why is it that when a Gay Parade takes place everyone cheers? Why is it that during the Carabana parade people come by the thousands to enjoy? If I was to have a straight white parade would people cheer and clap as loudly? Hell no. I would be accused of being a Nazi, an Asshole, a hate monger and no doubt many other terms. Why is this? Is it so wrong to be straight and white? Just like I have mentioned above, if my freedom infringes upon what I like to think of as a specialty group then my freedom is taken away.

Why do we condemn a nation of Iraq's and Afgan's and other Eastern country for the actions of only a few? Why do we feel the need to impose upon other countries our "freedoms."

I once again have done a poor job of expressing my feelings and ideas. I leave you with a question that hopefully you ask yourself.

Do you know that we are a free Canadian Culture or do you feel that you are told we are a free Canadian culture?

I am tired of hearing that we are a multicultural society. We are not. We are a Canadian Cultural Society.

Don't let the terrorists win.... bring back our lost freedoms and our Canadian values. Don't let them change our social customs.