Is 100 Years Long Enough?

[Fencergrl]

Sorry, I had heard? read? that people in BC were ignoring the law to register guns. Some group headed by an ex-RCMP was spearheading the ignoring.

Anyway, I still think we should form a new country, maybe with a Spruce Tree on the flag?

Yeah the RCMP are refusing to participate, I'm not sure about the conservation officers or some of the local police. I think they use it if they're looking to stack more charges on someone.... otherwise... they're ignoring it. It's dumb and ill conceived.

The idea of becoming our own country has a certain appeal, as much as I like Alaska, I really like Canada (except Ontario… sorry guys).

On the other hand... a spruce tree or a bear would be ideal on our flag. I think we should slip an epee into the design somehow. We could call our country Alaska British Columbia or ABC for short!

[Army Fencer]

You know, if Canada joined us, maybe those peskie French would actually fish on their own side of the pond.

And the only reason the Canadian border is populated at all is because of the Americans who have fled slavery/Vietnam War/Mr. Bush (take your pick).

[Army Fencer]

BTW--what does 100 years have to do with anything? There must be a piece of Canadian culture that I'm missing.

[Fencergrl]

And the only reason the Canadian border is populated at all is because of the Americans who have fled slavery/Vietnam War/Mr. Bush (take your pick).

Eh??? I don't think so m'dear.... I'll send you some Canadian history books.

[Army Fencer]

Eh??? I don't think so m'dear.... I'll send you some Canadian history books.

I was kidding... must have missed the wink button.

There it is!

[jBirch]

BTW--what does 100 years have to do with anything? There must be a piece of Canadian culture that I'm missing.

It's the Alberta & Saskatchewan centennial. Only 40 more years till the Newfoundland centennial and THAT party is going to kick.

James.

[Fencergrl]

It's the Alberta & Saskatchewan centennial. Only 40 more years till the Newfoundland centennial and THAT party is going to kick.

James.

LOL... no one knows how to party like Newfies! Then again, no one does anything quite like the Newfies.

[jBirch]

Including speak...

James.

[Larrison]

I believe it was offered to Canada first. Which would make sense.

Just as a point of historical trivia, this seems rather unlikely. While Great Britain had expressed an interest in obtaining Alaska to add to Canada, relations between Great Britain and Russia were rather strained in the mid 1800's. Great Britain had attacked Russian ports and terrorities along the Pacific Coast during the Crimean War in the 1850's (particularly along the Kamchatka Pennisula, but also had threatened Alaska), and had at one point demanded the surrender of Alaska. Russian economic interests, including the Tsar's were being directly attacked by the Hudson's Bay Company in Alaska and NW Canada, including some small scale warfare between factors of the different companies (Russian Fur Company and HBC).

The Tsar and the Russian Fur Company had been approached by US private interests from California around this time as well, offering to buy Alaska outright in exchange for exclusive sealing and hunting rights, so they were aware the US was also interested in obtaining Alaska, but was not interested in doing so at point of a gun.

Relationships between Russia and the United States were quite good in the mid-1800's. But any discussions about Alaska were derailed by the turmoil of internal American politics leading to the US Civil War. During the war, Russia was the only major European power to support the Union. And it is telling that within 2 years after the end of the Civil War, an agreement had been reached for the US to purchase Alaska from Russia.

Bottomline -- no way Russia was going to consider selling Alaska to be combined with Canada.

*Grins* Isn't historical triva fun?

[Larrison]

[QUOTE=Fencergrl]Yes but would it not be worth it to see the looks on these new Canadian's faces when they see the tax deductions on their paycheques???

Truly a Kodak moment!QUOTE]

*Grins* No kidding! Their tax rates would drop at least 10 % overall, and not only that, getting paid in US bucks would move everyone into a lower tax bracket! Dang.. sounds good...

But no way.... don't want to get paid in loonies....

[Fencergrl]

Bottomline -- no way Russia was going to consider selling Alaska to be combined with Canada.

*Grins* Isn't historical triva fun?

Thanks for the history lesson. Hmmm interesting as it relates to our immigration. We got a lot of Ukrainian immigrants near the end of the 1800's (my ancestors where part of the first wave).

My grandparents and great grandparents hated the Russians. They also didn't have much use for the English after they were dumped on the prairies to survive or die… My grandfather only spoke English to animals… practical as this is who would buy them, but also I think he felt it was fitting use of the language. They did have a great deal of respect for the native Indians who taught them how to survive.

My mother was pretty much disowned for a) Learning perfect Russian and b) Marrying an Englishman... Hard to believe I was raised by a trouble-maker???

[jBirch]

*Grins* No kidding! Their tax rates would drop at least 10 % overall, and not only that, getting paid in US bucks would move everyone into a lower tax bracket! Dang.. sounds good...

But no way.... don't want to get paid in loonies....

And why would Canadians, who used to be Americans before the States were annexed into the Federation, stop paying for things with loonies? I mean, up here it's hard to look rich without actually being rich. Not only can't you wrap 20 loonies in a $20 bill and look like anything but an idiot, but a purple note looks WAY different then a blue one. Even to new immigrants from the US! And a purple note outside a stack of blue notes just looks like you're trying too hard so we don't even bother. Besides, you can't play hockey with a US dollar bill, can you?

In fact, the new way to be cool is to carry no cash at all! We have these new-fangled gadgets at our banks that actually let you pay for things using little slips of plastic. Pretty revolutionary, eh? Our economy is so revolutionary that the entire concept of cash is often a confusing (and frightening) one to many Canucks.

*grin*

As an aside and true story, I tried using my debit card in Georgia and the shopkeep advised me to go to the Wal-Mart across the road for WinterTrac. For some reason, he couldn't understand why I needed it in Summer nor could he understand why I thought that he would have any for sale. Go figure.

James.

[Fencergrl]

Besides, you can't play hockey with a US dollar bill, can you?

Man... we're going to have to teach these new Canadians (who used to be Americans) how to play hockey....

Gosh.... maybe it won't be too bad... especially cross-checking into the boards! Whooo-hooo let the Canadian Girls Kick some Assss... I'll go get my skates!