Canada, dump the crown and become a republic? (poll)

[Finder]

opps forgot my obligatory cynical remark...


ohhhh my goodness, Canada not being a realm... you mean we'd actually grow up and take our own 100% stance for once!?


There we go cynical remark over.

 

[FiveParadox]

...how does being a Realm compromise our sovereignty?

When's the last time the United Kingdom interfered with us?

 

[Finder]

Re: RE: Canada, dump the crown and become a republic? (poll)

...how does being a Realm compromise our sovereignty?

When's the last time the United Kingdom interfered with us?

So then FiveParadox I'll just turn around and say, why can't we just be Canada, a nation of itself, one which does not bow down to a foreign sovereign or pledges allegiance to a foreign Queen or King, why can't we be a republic of the people and citizens of Canada, answerable to ourselves. I see no need for a King or a Queen of Canada, just the democratically elected representives of Canada.

 

[DurkaDurka]

Re: RE: Canada, dump the crown and become a republic? (poll)

...how does being a Realm compromise our sovereignty?

When's the last time the United Kingdom interfered with us?

So then FiveParadox I'll just turn around and say, why can't we just be Canada, a nation of itself, one which does not bow down to a foreign sovereign or pledges allegiance to a foreign Queen or King, why can't we be a republic of the people and citizens of Canada, answerable to ourselves. I see no need for a King or a Queen of Canada, just the democratically elected representives of Canada.

I Agree with you 100%.

Canada should not have to pledge allegiance to that withered old hag or whoever comes after her. Regardless of the Crown having no role in our day to day operations, they are an antiquated institution that does not represent Canadians in any shape or form.

Being a republic, we would no longer have to appoint journalists as our Governor General either.

 

[Finder]

ITN says it best that we may not become a Republic for the simple reason the USA is a republic. lol. So we sink into what we come to see as the status quo... generally being a republic with a cheap facade of the monarchy.

Well I'll say one good thing about the monarchy. It keeps our friend FiveParadox happy and I guess if spending millions on this undemocratic institution a year keeps him happy, well hell, we could be spending it on worse things from the british (Like the freakin subs!).

 

[tamarin]

Hey, I support the monarchy. It's totally figurehead and harmless but it provides a wealth of support for what's often missing or suppressed in Canada- a sense of heritage and tradition. And if you're knowledgeable about history you'll recognize the British saved our ass on more than one important occasion in the past. We owe them.

 

[Finder]

Re: RE: Canada, dump the crown and become a republic? (poll)

Hey, I support the monarchy. It's totally figurehead and harmless but it provides a wealth of support for what's often missing or suppressed in Canada- a sense of heritage and tradition. And if you're knowledgeable about history you'll recognize the British saved our ass on more than one important occasion in the past. We owe them.

I'm sure you made Blackleaf cream his pants with that statment. I do agree many Canadians do not have this sence of history and heritage... But using the United Kingdoms for our own is not the answer. My first year of University at UoT, I was lucky enough to have only found Canadian History open for one of my classes. I learned so much of our long history, from the Native confederations and governments to present time. We have a lot of history and a lot to be proud of.

I'd argue if you want to interest Canadians in our history the crown will not do it. As the crown has not been able to get the magority of Canadians interested (somehow they got FiveParadox, but I still think it's because he has a crush on the queen).

I think a Canadian Republic/Nation could be different then both the USA and the UK. We share so much in common with both nations and we seem to be divided on our historic ties. Becoming a Republic won't cut our ties to the United Kingdom and becoming a Republic would not make us a puppet of the USA and we would not lose our history by becoming a republic. What makes us Canadian is not the Monarchy, but ourselves, our past and our future.

 

[#juan]

I would argue that Canada has a rich history.
Canada had it's own internal wars and uprisings, and we had a lot of good people who did great things. The building of the railway was a hell an undertaking. We have a few warts in our history as well, but we have a lot to be proud of. Canada's performance in the three major wars of the last century would make any country proud.
.Canada is still one of the best places to live and raise a family. Would becoming a republic improve anything? Not that I can see. A country's traditions are very important and we can't afford to just throw them away for some dopey, wannabe like, pipe dream.

 

[Lotuslander]

The Queen works well for Canada. If we become a republic then we are really just one step closer to being absorbed into the American polity in my opinion. I am sure there is nothing more tempting to a number of Yanks who still pine for the days of "manifest destiny" than for Canada to relinquish her Queeen and links with the past.

I personally think that the Queen promotes not only stability but also serves as a reminder that at one time Canadians were not democratic, that in fact not so very long ago we all lived in a society which although it followed the rule of law was unable to write them. The Crown serves as a constant reminder of our past particularly our own struggle to get responsible government. The Crown also represents a link with our more distant past that of the Angels, Saxons, Celts, and the creation of a very unique system of rights, laws,governance, language, world view something we can all be proud of.

I understand how some would be oppossed to the idea of monarchy. It is neither democratic or fair-of course neither is life. At its basis one assumes that God himself/ herself has chosen this individual to be sovreign, however, with this belief also comes great responsibilities for the sovreign, such as upholding and administering justice fairly, being merciful and protecting the state. The vows which the Queen promised to uphold are far more sacred than the mere words which are spoken upon presidential innaugurations. It is a covenant between monarch-state and people which can only be broken by death.

Someone wiser than me once said "that those who forget their history are condemmed to repeat it". I believe that the Crown promotes our history and helps keep us away from the slippery slope of historical ignorance and amnesia.

 

[mikewest]

Maybe the Queen has had some problem with her own kids but her true valves to the world and working towards a civil and law abiding world is what she stand for. We are getting a good deal for the money we don't put into it. I think we are old enough to start taking her off our money and start printing money with true Canadian Values. I sure don't want Charles printed on the next twenty.