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April 30, 2005
Dear God,
I borrowed this from a friend of my good friend Laura at WMTC. Fit's perfectly with how I feel...
_________________________
Dear God...
Whatever we did to deserve this, we are sorry...so very, very sorry...
In the Beginning (start of old blog)
There were two boys who were the best of friends and each others soul mates. Over the last nine years countless adventures have brought these men to the place they are today. With fun and sadness a decision was reached that only led to the most logical conclusion. Within each of them was a deep stirring for something different, more accepting, kinder, respectful and proud. Abandoning the ideals of their home country they begin the process to immigrate elsewhere. Facing scorn, joy, ridicule and shock they begin the process of uprooting their authentic American lives and transplanting them to the great land to the North before the weed-wacker of democracy came by to cut them down.
Plain English?
We're moving to Canada. We're tired of being two good people who are persecuted for who the hell we care to love, or to fuck (take your choice.) We have decided that the country of our birth is no longer our homeland. He a 5th generation Coloradan, and I a 1st Generation Greek-American have decided to move to a country where Hockey/Lacrosse is the national sport, Marijuana is great, Medical care is provided to everyone, gays can get married, women can go topless, the french make life interesting and you end up doubling your winter wardrobe.
We are tired of fighting the never ending neo-conservative movement in this country - when everyday it seems to be a struggle to just be the person you are. Besides, I at least have always chosen my own family...why should it stop at countries. This journal/blog/whatever is going to chronicle Mason and Nikolas' journey to moving to Canada, and specifically 43:40:12N 79:22:12W.
Many of you that purposely will see this are friends or family in order to keep tabs on the process and hopefully our eventual move to our new home. Who knows, by this time next year we could be there... For anyone else who hops on - enjoy the ride.
Posted by Nikolas at 09:43 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBackApril 27, 2005
I didn't think it was possible
Apprently, you can score negatively:
-3% Republican. | "You're a damn Commie! Where's Tailgunner Joe when we need him?" |
I am a socialist at heart :-)
Posted by Nikolas at 07:24 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBackApril 17, 2005
I've done been edumacated...
I'm trying to keep it quiet about Mason and I's decision to move to Canada (if they'll have us) so only certain people know. You would not believe the nastiness I get from complete strangers, much less friends.
I finished two books this week in my never-ending quest to educate myself about Canadian History and culture. One of the books actually encourages you to get subscriptions to Canadian magazines, newspapers or television because they say if you get called for an interview it will actually help! So I think for the most part we are ahead of the curve (OK...I am, Mason has "skimmed" through the books :-) )
The first book, "A Short History of Canada", was a little dry and long but I finally realized how Canada has evolved into a country and culture rather then exploding into one like us down south. How cooperation and continued involvement with Britain really helped to shape what Canada is today. I also realize now that Quebec has been a pain in the ass since 1608 when Champlain built his camp. I know it's a touchy subject, but damn you'd think almost 400 years later they’d get over it, but I digress. I learned about Parliament, expansion, the CCF, fights with the US, Tommy Douglas, Tredaue, Mulroney, the recession and more.
The second book, "Living and Working in Canada", was a little bit more fun and lively. It gave us practical information, useful tips and reinforced that the only thing Canadians hate more then missing a hockey game is being called "American." I now understand why. This one is going to come in more helpful in the near future, especially if we get approved and we move.
Many people at work and close to me have constantly been telling me that they don't understand why we want to move to Canada. I try and explain but they get a quizzical look on their face. Even with the recent rumblings of an election and the conservatives possibly forming a minority government I still want to move there. I know, I know...you're not a utopia. So why Canada? Here's a few tidbits:
National health insurance, legal gay marriage, no death penalty, full abortion rights, less crime, less poverty. Canada didn't support the invasion of Iraq, and they don't keep a huge military with which to bully the rest of the world. Religious fanatics do not control the government. It's not a socialist utopia, but it all adds up to a very different attitude about government, society and a nation's place in the world. In short, it's a country with values more similar to my own.
The US has moved so far to the right. It's not just Shrub's administration (even though they've made it so much worse.) It's been going this way for almost 25 years. Relative to the norm in this country, I used to be a
liberal. Now I'm a radical leftist - and I haven't changed at all!
A lot of people have said "Isn't it running away and giving up?" I like the answer given in a blog of a friend of mine: Well, only if I thought that I could hop on the pendulum and alter its swing. Here's the thing. The U.S. is the land of opportunity. Economic opportunity. Creative opportunity. The whole idea is to give individuals the freedom to do whatever they want, and achieve whatever goals they set for themselves. The common good is not the priority. It's about individual success. Now, I'm not about to attempt to rewrite the mission statement of the U.S. I've been a good little participant in the democratic process; I've voted, even in primaries. I've demonstrated, I've canvassed door-to-door for causes I believed in. But at a certain point, I think it just makes sense to go to a place that's already a better match for your values. I don't have a problem with being taxed for the common good. I like the idea of basic, single-payer, universal health care. I'm not motivated to buy stuff out of fear, or desire for status, or because it's the patriotic thing to do. I want to live a resourceful, less wasteful, less materialistic life. I could do it here, but I think the current is running more in that direction up North. I don't feel like I am running away. I feel like I am running... home. Giving up? Nah, no more than I "gave up" on personal relationships in the past that weren't right for the long term. At a certain point, you've got to stop beating that dead horse.
So I'm ready to grow up and make a decision on my own. To leave the pack mentality that has seemed to come and dominate the United States and move to a place that feels more like home. A home that not only benefits my soul, but the world as well.
Posted by Nikolas at 09:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackApril 08, 2005
Pride, History and Hope...
I decided that in order to prepare myself for my soon-to-be adopted homeland *crosses fingers* I should learn a little bit about it's history and evolution. Shit, they make all of you learn about United States History in High School I only thought it was fair. I still cannot believe that they make you do that! So moving beyond the beaver, and polar bears, The traditional Inuit and Métis, the national pastimes of Beer and Hockey, and to finally understand why you guys have the queen on your money I picked me up a copy of A Short History of Canada to learn more about Canada. So far it's a good read, and the one thing I've noticed is that Canadians evolved into a nation instead of forcing one like we did. Canadians need to be little more proud of their beliefs, government and culture... as the author states in the first paragraph:
Mason and I booked our tickets for our trip to Toronto this summer. We survived our week of -23C and snow so now we get to see how the city looks like in the summer! This is trip number two to do some more exploration of the city and to start to really look at where we might want to live and what we need to do to. It also happens to fall on Pride weekend (imagine that!!!) so there will be some partying going on as well. I'm trying to convince Mason to get married while we're up there...I still can't believe I can say that! So too all my friends north of the border we will be in town June 22nd to June 29th...plan accordingly :-)
So I'm checking the CIC e-client every day and it still says In Process...which is a good sign, but I can't help but be anxious. I want this to happen so badly, I'm so ready to move on with my life, my career, my self and I want it to be in Canada. I know I have to be patient and just ride out the waves between now and when we make our landing. I'm just happy its heading in this direction. I can finally understand how C&J felt when they started the process to move to Slovenia.
