Representing Canada
 

Each country has it's images, I'm sure, and Canada is no exception.

Beavers, moose, leaves, trees, beer, hocket and eh.

The other day I was looking at stamps (I open over five hundred envelopes every work day) and I was wondering what I'd like on a stamp or a coin to represent my country, and here are some of the things I came up with.

1. A pride flag. We're pretty accepting, and I think a nice pride stamp would help pass on the message. Anyway, who doesn't like rainbows?

2. A city under five feet of snow. It happens every winter, and it's a stereotpe that we actually live up to. And on top of that it's funny.

3. A silhouette of a man and a big dog on a dock against a sunset with beer bottles. Mostly because I can't think of anything that is any more "Canadian" than that.

So what do you think? What would you choose to represent Canada?

I would like to see homeless people sleeping on heating grates in the winter time, maybe urban slums that continue to get larger, maybe people at a food bank or lining up for food at the Mission. Of course with the caption == Best Country in the World== at the bottom.

And on the back of the stamp, the part that we lick, we can have any number of politician's asses for good meassure to symbolize us all alike.

Overworked/underpaid teachers on a picket line.
Politicians who stick their feet in their mouth & make us feel embarrased to be Canadian.
A snowshovel left out in May (just in case)
Kids trick or treating in the snow
A sign showing the ungodly price of gas.

Poutine
Belugas
West Edmonton Mall
Aluminum Foil (We're the only country in the world that makes it)
Canada's Wonderland
Potatoes (for P.E.I.)
People skiing in the summer @ Whistler
just to name a few.....

Currently I believe we're averaging about $0.85/L (correct me if you have a more precise figure). That works out to about $3.05/gallon in American prices, a conversion I made for convenience in terms of points of comparison. Compare that to (as of May 23) an average of $2.32/gallon in the States and yeah, it seems high. But then we can look at the UK ($5.88/gallon), the Netherlands ($6.19/gallon) or Italy and Germany ($5.65/gallon) and suddenly it doesn't seem so bad.

High gas prices? That's an international symbol, that is.

I never really had thought about this until I stumbled on your topic. It's a good thinker. I'd say the person sitting on the dock with a dog. And of course, a Nice Cold Kokanee.. I'd like to be the one sitting on the dock with a beer.
Or even something to do with Bush planes. That would be nice. Or hunters coming back from a hunt with their prizes. Ok, now I am craving dry meat.

Many of these stamp designs seems a little too regional (poutine, bush planes). What we need is an image that would resonate from coast to coast. I suggest a discarded Tim Horton's cup in a neglected pothole.

1. A shot of flyman puffing a big fat doobie.
2. The mosquito and the black fly
3. A Racoon in my backyard (as we are increaingly an urban nation we should feature our urban wildlife)

no way! Really???

The image I see is people looking at a golden spoon and complaining it's not good enough. Canadians have no idea how good we have it here, they bitch and complain...it makes my head spin.

Only in comparison to how good it could be. Yes we look at the golden spoon and think that is the pinnacle of excellence, which we are no where near. But we are Canadians. We settle for for being told we are the best and never question what is or what could be better. It's one thing to have nothing and unable to do anything but quite another when we have everything and do nothing with it.

This is more pessimistic that I think I've ever seen you... I agree that there is a lot we could be doing to make things better.

I just prefer to look at it in comparison to how bad it could be.

i would say:

-trees and lots of them....cause that's all we are is a huge forest with some development along the us border
-snowmobiles.....cause they are fun!
-an igloo and eskimo.....cause people already think that's what we live in
-a hot chick with big titties.....cause everyone knows canadian chicks are the hottest around!

What he said :D

I don't know if it is pessimism or just a hard look at what others choose to ignore, or are simply to busy to notice. It could be a hell of a lot worse though. It could be a hell of a lot better for others also.

I've done well and give back a lot to my community. Many in my community do likewise. Maybe it's my overly aware social conscious that notices such. Either that or I'm turning into a full blown socialist. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,............ :crazy:

You betcha!
(I did a project on it in high school; we make it from Bauxite, which is only found in Jamaica)

No doubt we could improve on some aspects of our country, but when you see how most people around the world live, we in Canada have very little to complain about yet so many do complain.
I've often thought sending young Canadians to less prosperous countries for a length of time would open their eyes to how good we have it here. Unfortunately, most don't see other countries and as such, they spend time bemoaning how hard it is to have a good life here and that they don't get the support they need or deserve to have a fulfilling life.

*stands proud, big smile, chest out*

I've always liked the idea of mandatory public service for youth (i.e. 18 to 21). You have to serve the country for 18 months to 2 years. You can either join the army or serve in a some sort of service in an underdeveloped nation.

In return, you get four years of free University (or something like that).

I think it goes beyond the whining and complaining of those who feel they are special and deserve something for nothing. Hanger-ons like that will always exist. And it doesn't take someone to go to disadvantaged places in the world to realize that. It takes interest and awareness on a global scale where countries and borders are moot for the people that are represented.

We can do better for ourselves and others in the world, as we do. It's apples and oranges. In the world, many people can't help themselves. In Canada many can but don't. These are the moaners and complainers. I'm actually on your side. If people took a minute to look around instead of getting blisters by the blinders they wear, things might change.

There is no reason why in Canada, someone should be sleeping outdoors when it is minus 20. But it happens. Why? Because some have got their golden spoon, and some haven't. Millions upon millions will never see a golden spoon, here and in the world, and for that I'll choose to see life for what it is and isn't.

cool. Alcan rules eh?

FYI, from http://www.mii.org/Minerals/photoal.html:

Aluminum: Is the most abundant metal element in the Earth’s crust. Bauxite is the main source of aluminum.

oh and bauxite sources include:

"Guinea and Australia have about one-half of the world’s reserves. Other countries with major reserves include Brazil, Jamaica, and India.

how about a stamp with Natalie Glebova on it?

Team Canada with te gold metals around there necks:D

Yeah, nothing says Toronto like legions of racoons invading every night.

They are pesky little buggers, but cute. I have actually seen them cross Yonge Street (at the intersection, with the light).

Other urban wildlife I have seen

- Foxes trotting across my front lawn.

- Coyotes trotting up Windermere Avenue

- Skunks galore.

- The odd possum.

add to that bats flying around over my backyard in the evening. quite peaceful watching them whilst reclining in my muskoka chair.

.......like this?


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/flyman/hoot.jpg



and you all can notice the bottle of blue too eh........

:D

Dude... that was *exactly* what I was talking about!

That should be a Canadian :D

No, it should be a Keith's!

I hate to be the nerd of all of us but.....

Paul Martin shoving it all up our a**es
Stephen Harpers endless complaining
And the BLOC standing around both of them pointing and laughing

*or*

Feature some of Canadas best or most famous people.... like singers, actors, political movers, or some native people. Have a saying such as "where we have been.... where we are going."