An Ipsos Reid survey found 76 per cent of Canadians thought 2006 was a good year and are looking forward to 2007, according to a National Post article in today's paper.
I'd have to count myself among the 76 per cent. People who have never travelled outside of Canada or the US don't realize how lucky we are. This is a beautiful, clean country with lots of open space unplagued by poverty. We have a democracy that's the envy of all but a tiny number of the rest of the world's countries. The things we do have to complain about - chaotic weather (even here in Vancouver's Lower Mainland this year), high taxes, high oil prices, the lousy performance of the Leafs/Canucks/Oilers/Flames/Senators/Canadiens (take your pick), etc. - pale in comparison to what about 95 per cent of the rest of humanity is stuck with.
It was interesting to note that satisfaction is lower in Quebec which the pollsters attribute to the general opposition to our military presence in Afghanistan and dissatisfaction with the federal government and BC where the aforementioned weather was given as a possible reason.
The other interesting note was that terrorism is the "great destabilizer" according to the pundits.
Personally, I'm not worried about terrorism, per se. The actions of terrorists are not enough to destroy our way of life or defeat us.
What I am worried about, however, are the terrorist enablers. Inacation against and excuse-making for the terrorist elements pose a far greater danger than the terrorists themselves. Look no further than England and France to see that inaction in action.
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You are correct. The actions of terrorists will never defeat us. The only way they can ever defeat us is through our own inaction, acquiescence, and appeasement. And that is what I fear most. It won't happen in my lifetime, and probably not in yours. But it's all too possible, and perhaps even probable, this hemisphere could go the way of Europe.
Excellent post, Southie! It is amazing how much we in the West take for granted. Things that seem so basic to us, because we've had them all of our lives, are not enjoyed by many other people in the world. Things like electricity, clean water, indoor plumbing, medical care, a pantry full of food, money in the bank, and the list goes on, are things we don't tend to think about much because we know they're always there. Much of the world is not so fortunate.
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