Escape to Canada (2005)
My wife and I caught the late show of Escape to Canada, last week at the Bloor Cinema. Escape to Canada is a hilarious documentary about a serious subject in troubling times. The documentary started out asking about Canada, and came back with the resounding musical score, "boring, boring, boring, boring, ...." That is what Canada is. Boring. However, something remarkable happened in the last five years: Canada became sexy.
Canada became sexy to the rest of the world -- and especially to ourselves -- due to our perceived liberalism, tolerance and freedom -- in stark contrast to George W. Bush's United States, which moved farther right during the same time. We defined ourselves over the last few years with our general acceptance of gay marriage, legalization of marijuana and the opening of our borders to US soldiers escaping from duties in Iraq. In other words, we defined ourselves on how very different we are from America -- and relished every act of doing so. The film follows the summer of legalization theme with these three stories, through the last few years, across Canada, contrasting with American reaction to the same topics -- and American reaction to the Great White North's departure from the course laid out by big brother. While some loved us, the vocal hated us -- especially the US government.
Was this sexy outing of Canada simply a momentary lapse? Was it just our way of protesting American conservatism? Was it just our way of telling the Bush Administration to piss off and leave this sovereign nation alone? It's too early to tell. Gay marriage looks like it's here to stay. Or is it Mr. Harper? The legalization of pot for general use was struck down, and it's again illegal, with the pot industry being attacked by overzealous police organizations conforming to US anti-narcotic policies. While we continue to harbour AWOL soldiers from the US, we've yet to grant them official asylum. With the recent election of the "Prince of Bore" to lead Canada -- and his seemingly terminal fixation with George W. Bush's buttocks, one has to wonder how long we will remain sexy. How long will independent political thinking continue in Canada? Already, US money and influence is giving fringe voices in Canada's conservative movement, a platform to vocalize their hatred -- something very un-Canadian, even for the conservative groups.
Watching the movie, I could feel the patriotic thumping of my heart. If they had handed out Canadian flags at the screening of the movie, I'd be waving it madly in the theatre. Canada is the Land of the Freer, unless Harper's government, the influx of immigrants from conservative nations, and American influence, screw it up for us -- all potential dangers that the documentary sounded a warning on. We should be proud of our open and free society. Gay marriage hurts none of us; marijuana use hurts none of us; and not wanting to fight in first-strike, unjust wars, hurts none of us. They define Canada as a tolerant, independent nation. I'm proud!
Canada's Summer of Legalization!
Canada became sexy to the rest of the world -- and especially to ourselves -- due to our perceived liberalism, tolerance and freedom -- in stark contrast to George W. Bush's United States, which moved farther right during the same time. We defined ourselves over the last few years with our general acceptance of gay marriage, legalization of marijuana and the opening of our borders to US soldiers escaping from duties in Iraq. In other words, we defined ourselves on how very different we are from America -- and relished every act of doing so. The film follows the summer of legalization theme with these three stories, through the last few years, across Canada, contrasting with American reaction to the same topics -- and American reaction to the Great White North's departure from the course laid out by big brother. While some loved us, the vocal hated us -- especially the US government.
Was this sexy outing of Canada simply a momentary lapse? Was it just our way of protesting American conservatism? Was it just our way of telling the Bush Administration to piss off and leave this sovereign nation alone? It's too early to tell. Gay marriage looks like it's here to stay. Or is it Mr. Harper? The legalization of pot for general use was struck down, and it's again illegal, with the pot industry being attacked by overzealous police organizations conforming to US anti-narcotic policies. While we continue to harbour AWOL soldiers from the US, we've yet to grant them official asylum. With the recent election of the "Prince of Bore" to lead Canada -- and his seemingly terminal fixation with George W. Bush's buttocks, one has to wonder how long we will remain sexy. How long will independent political thinking continue in Canada? Already, US money and influence is giving fringe voices in Canada's conservative movement, a platform to vocalize their hatred -- something very un-Canadian, even for the conservative groups.
Watching the movie, I could feel the patriotic thumping of my heart. If they had handed out Canadian flags at the screening of the movie, I'd be waving it madly in the theatre. Canada is the Land of the Freer, unless Harper's government, the influx of immigrants from conservative nations, and American influence, screw it up for us -- all potential dangers that the documentary sounded a warning on. We should be proud of our open and free society. Gay marriage hurts none of us; marijuana use hurts none of us; and not wanting to fight in first-strike, unjust wars, hurts none of us. They define Canada as a tolerant, independent nation. I'm proud!
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