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May 14, 2005
Stupid Men
President Eisenhower once said: Now it is
true that I believe this country is following a dangerous trend when it
permits too great a degree of centralization of governmental functions.
I oppose this--in some instances the fight is a rather desperate one.
But to attain any success it is quite clear that the Federal government
cannot avoid or escape responsibilities which the mass of the people
firmly believe should be undertaken by it. The political processes of our country are such that if a rule of reason
is not applied in this effort, we will lose everything--even to a
possible and drastic change in the Constitution. This is what I mean by
my constant insistence upon "moderation" in government. Should any
political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment
insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not
hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny
splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among
them are H. L. Hunt (you possibly know his background), a few other
Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man
from other areas.Their number is negligible and they are stupid.
Oh Ike...did you know you were psychic? Sigh....
May 12, 2005
Sunrise
I watched an episode of ER tonight
and it had one of the character's in Paris and it instantly brought me back to
New Year's 2003/4. When Mason and I stayed in the city for 5 days. I fell in
love, both with the city and the idea.
As I saw a poignant part of the
episode where there is a sunrise over Paris, bathing the Eiffel tower in golden
light and birds fly over the Seine I remember what it is that has me so hooked
lately about Canada. The idea the hope, the desire to see a sunrise in a new
city, to experience it with a new culture - to live each day as though it is a
new adventure in a far off land. Moving to Toronto is more than just about
politics, and rights. It's about a genuine desire to experience something
un-American. To become a citizen of the world and take each new day as an
opportunity to do something different and unlike the allegiances that were sworn
at the time of your birth...
My dear friend Christee, wrote a beautiful poem for me once...almost a decade
ago - it seems like the words are finally making sense to
me...
Nick...
His new born soul,
given a mission
of
mortal consequence and
social debt,
struggles with a self-defining
interpretation...
unsure of allegiances
sworn at birth,
and
irrelevant today,
cautiously sifting
through the cosmic collection
of
odds and ends,
looking for just the right piece
that will make his place
among the stars.
Arranging thoughts and intuitions
comfortably,
he
entertains his possibilities.
~Christee 1995
May 11, 2005
THEY DID IT!
One of the people I first sought out when Mason and I started planning our emigration to Canada was Laura. She had a blog up and running about all of her experiences thus far. She was an invaluable resource in our application process, and helped us to avoid some speed bumps that she had encountered.
She stated on her blog today that her and her husband got their acceptance letter for permanent residency....start to finish in 14 months! Laura, I am so happy for you both...you give me hope :-)
Posted by Nikolas at 04:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackMay 08, 2005
Sometimes time seems to stand still
Our friend Geoff left for Toronto this morning - we drove him to the airport and said our goodbyes. We had a great time while he was here and will be seeing him and some of our other Canadian friends when we fly to Toronto for Pride in six weeks.
Having Geoff here seemed to re-affirm, for me at least, why we are moving and why I am anxious for the the time to come where we can move to our new home, our new country. A lot of times people, sometimes complete strangers, will attack me and demand to know why we are moving to Canada...what on earth could be so appealing, as one reader put it, in the land of ice and snow. At least for me, here's a few:
National health insurance for everyone, legal gay marriage in 7 provinces and 1 territory, no death penalty, The government stays out of your bedroom and out of your body, less crime & less poverty. Canada didn't support the War in Iraq, and they don't have plans for world domination (at least not in the near future.) Religious fanatics like James Dobson do not control the government.
I realize that Canada is not a socialist utopia as all my friends who live there have told me. I know that it is a country with its own problems, issues and concerns...but at least they try to be respectful, better the human condition and respect one another. It all adds up to a very different attitude about government - whereas we value life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, Canadians are content with Peace, Order and Good Government. It looks at it's place in the world...not trying to dominate it. Trying to get along with others, not bullying them. Canada has values more similar to my own.
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.
I just wish time would speed up a bit :-)
Posted by Nikolas at 03:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBackMay 05, 2005
Feeling one step closer
Our good friend Geoff is visiting us from Toronto. We met on-line and then in-person last year, and since then he has visited us twice and we have met him, his partner and other friends once in Toronto. We'll be seeing them all again in June...
It's nice having him visit, #1) he is funny and a good friend, #2) it always makes me feel closer to eventually moving to Canada. We have conversations that really make me realize how different Canada is from the United States. It's just interesting to have a conversation from another point of view.
In other news our application is still "In Process"...sigh.
Posted by Nikolas at 09:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBackMay 02, 2005
WOW! Our first piece of hate mail...
Imagine my surprise when I found this in our comments section on the last (and first) post I made:
Well, as someone that was not born in the USA, (I came with my parents when I was 9), all I can say is "Don't let the door hit you on the way out"
I, on the other hand, am going to say here and fight for what I believe this country should be.
Have fun in the land of ice and snow.
Part of the reason I (we) started this blog was because some of my friends can't deal with the fact we are moving. I do appreciate this guys insight though. You are right Notbornintheusa, I won't let the door hit me on the way out and I will be proud to go to the land of ice and snow.
I am a child of immigrants and I did see what my parents suffered and went through in order to give me a chance at a life that they never had in rural Greece. They slaved and worked hard to give me a chance to earn two college degrees and be successful. However, the United States they moved to in 1968 no longer exists. It has morphed and changed into something these last few years that I hardly recognize.
I could stay and fight, or I can live my dream to experience the world and try something new. I never said I didn't love the United States, I never said I didn't consider myself patriotic. I'm just tired of fighting every day for the simple civil rights I am denied. Yeah I could move to a blue state, like my native Massachusetts, but I want something more, I need something more...we both do.
More on this later, but now I have to get back to work.
Posted by Nikolas at 04:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
