[Unsound]

It's an interesting idea, but it's easy to see where the accusations of racism will come from. 50 some nations in the commonwealth and they want to do this for the 4 "white" nations?

[martin14]

Canadian_Mind Canadian_Mind:

martin14 martin14:

NO.

The UK needs to be quarantined if anything else.

I sent them an email about this sentiment. I do not think the UK needs to be screened, but I do think we'd need to set up robust immigration and integration standards that would prevent cultural radicals from immigrating and being allowed to set up shop in any 4 of our countries.

In a sense, they are already here.

All those Brits who voted Labour in the 90's, voted for completely open immigration,
got shocked at the results, then ran away.

I met a lot of them in Spain, what they refuse to own up to is that THEY are responsible
for the mess the UK is in these days, by voting for all this PC garbage.

I hear a lot of Brits moved to Canada as well.

[N_Fiddledog]

DanSC DanSC:

I don't see the immediate need for a free-travel arraignment between Canada and the US.

Actually, didn't we pretty much have it, at one time? Then the threat of Islamic terror raised it's ugly head and we don't have it any more.

[N_Fiddledog]

As to this idea of removing visa restrictions and work permits between Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the UK, wouldn't that be kind of racist?

I mean why not Pakistan? It's listed as a member of the Commonwealth. I know...different language and culture, right? But don't be such a racist.

Don't think there are organizations that will say that? How long since you were last here?

[maldonsfecht]

Unsound Unsound:

It's an interesting idea, but it's easy to see where the accusations of racism will come from. 50 some nations in the commonwealth and they want to do this for the 4 "white" nations?

yes, it would be terrible if there was a similar Nordic agreement between Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands (maybe Finland, but that's a stretch heheheh) due to their historic, linguistic and cultural ties... but that'd be waaaaaassssist

[Unsound]

maldonsfecht maldonsfecht:

Unsound Unsound:

It's an interesting idea, but it's easy to see where the accusations of racism will come from. 50 some nations in the commonwealth and they want to do this for the 4 "white" nations?

yes, it would be terrible if there was a similar Nordic agreement between Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands (maybe Finland, but that's a stretch heheheh) due to their historic, linguistic and cultural ties... but that'd be waaaaaassssist

I believe they do have some sort of agreement. Certainly it's been decades since a passport was needed to travel between the countries, and I believe there's free movement for work as well.

There is a bit of a difference between the situations though. Mainly that the commonwealth is huge and it'd be tough to make a case for only those 4 countries having an agreement. THe common language thing might be a starter but then I think you need to include South Africa.

[ShepherdsDog]

It'll never happen but it'd be nice to see the UK return to the days of emphasizing connections between the nations settled by Britons. maybe even stronger ties between the 5 Eyes.....if the Americans promise to tone down the nutbar factor.

[Unsound]

I'd actually like to see something a little grander. Something like the UN, but for democracies only.

[maldonsfecht]

Unsound Unsound:

maldonsfecht maldonsfecht:

Unsound Unsound:

It's an interesting idea, but it's easy to see where the accusations of racism will come from. 50 some nations in the commonwealth and they want to do this for the 4 "white" nations?

yes, it would be terrible if there was a similar Nordic agreement between Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands (maybe Finland, but that's a stretch heheheh) due to their historic, linguistic and cultural ties... but that'd be waaaaaassssist

I believe they do have some sort of agreement. Certainly it's been decades since a passport was needed to travel between the countries, and I believe there's free movement for work as well.

There is a bit of a difference between the situations though. Mainly that the commonwealth is huge and it'd be tough to make a case for only those 4 countries having an agreement. THe common language thing might be a starter but then I think you need to include South Africa.

I know I lived in Stockholm for a year back in 2000-2001 for an exchange with UWO/Stockholms University just saying that there was no uproar about that when it was done...

would like the Maple Leaf Forever version of the home lands and Can/Aus/NZ

$1:

On merry England's far famed land
May kind heaven sweetly smile,
God bless old Scotland evermore
and Ireland's Em'rald Isle!
And swell the song both loud and long
Till rocks and forest quiver!
God save our Queen and Heaven bless
The Maple Leaf forever!

[Canadian_Mind]

Touching on the racism points... The point is that similar countries, with similar cultures and similar institutions, would allow their citizens freedom of movement. There is no specific race involved, IIRC every distinct race on the planet lives in each of our four countries, so it isn't racism at all.

Here is an analogy:

4 friends sitting at the bar, one has crooked teeth, one is wearing a toque, one is wearing crock skin boots and the other seems just a little bit smaller then the rest. We all get along great, drinking our various ales and spirits together, eating bacon sandwiches.

Another guy comes along, doesn't speak English (or French for that matter), and says he wants to hang out. But he doesn't want to hang out at the bar or allow us to eat bacon sandwiches because alcohol and pork offend him. He gets upset that we don't know what he's saying and he throws a fit at the bar.

The 4 friend are always welcome at each others homes because they are comfortable with each other, understand each other, and trust each other alone with each others families. Even if they did allow the 5th individual, his behaviour at the bar means they can't really trust him alone with their families. Who is to say he wouldn't get offended by the wives' love for wine and the children's love for even more bacon and try to prevent the consumption. Conversely, if the first 4 friends are at the 5th guy's home, they wouldn't be able to enjoy their ales, spirits, and bacon they way they would at their own home.

The first 4 friends are natural friends of each other, and that is why their relationship is so harmonious. The 5th individual, not so much a natural friend, and would cause disruptions.

For those too thick to get it, the 4 friends represent the nationalities, and their families the citizenry. The 5th friend is whichever other nation you choose, commonwealth or not. Just plug in the various cultural differences that are relatively unique to each country and you'd get the same tensions if there was freedom of movement.

I don't include the USA because the Eagle has become too afraid of it's own shadow. The USA needs to redevelop a backbone. It's not that we wouldn't welcome them, but that they have chosen to no longer welcome us. The ball is in America's court so far as whether they are included or not.

[maldonsfecht]

Canadian_Mind Canadian_Mind:

Touching on the racism points... The point is that similar countries, with similar cultures and similar institutions, would allow their citizens freedom of movement. There is no specific race involved, IIRC every distinct race on the planet lives in each of our four countries, so it isn't racism at all.

Here is an analogy:

4 friends sitting at the bar, one has crooked teeth, one is wearing a toque, one is wearing crock skin boots and the other seems just a little bit smaller then the rest. We all get along great, drinking our various ales and spirits together, eating bacon sandwiches.

Another guy comes along, doesn't speak English (or French for that matter), and says he wants to hang out. But he doesn't want to hang out at the bar or allow us to eat bacon sandwiches because alcohol and pork offend him. He gets upset that we don't know what he's saying and he throws a fit at the bar.

The 4 friend are always welcome at each others homes because they are comfortable with each other, understand each other, and trust each other alone with each others families. Even if they did allow the 5th individual, his behaviour at the bar means they can't really trust him alone with their families. Who is to say he wouldn't get offended by the wives' love for wine and the children's love for even more bacon and try to prevent the consumption. Conversely, if the first 4 friends are at the 5th guy's home, they wouldn't be able to enjoy their ales, spirits, and bacon they way they would at their own home.

The first 4 friends are natural friends of each other, and that is why their relationship is so harmonious. The 5th individual, not so much a natural friend, and would cause disruptions.

For those two thick to get it, the 4 friends represent the nationalities, and their families the citizenry. The 5th friend is whichever other nation you choose, commonwealth or not. Just plug in the various cultural differences that are relatively unique to each country and you'd get the same tensions if there was freedom of movement.

I don't include the USA because the Eagle has become too afraid of it's own shadow. The USA needs to redevelop a backbone. It's not that we wouldn't welcome them, but that they have chosen to no longer welcome us. The ball is in America's court so far as whether they are included or not.

some pints for you my well-spoken countryman! always welcome for a pint over here in NS!

[N_Fiddledog]

See here's the problem though. What CM is saying makes perfect sense to me or you, but now try explaining it to a Canadian Pakistani or Progressive. Tell them how you figure the Aussie needs special rights to make it easier for him to enter and work in Canada.

Actually some of the more forward thinkers among them might go for the idea, because they know once it passed into law they could start crying "Victim! Victim! There are victims over here," and before you knew it the policy would apply in Canada to all commonwealth nations.

I'm against the idea, because I know where it would lead. However find a way around that and yeah.

[maldonsfecht]

N_Fiddledog N_Fiddledog:

See here's the problem though. What CM is saying makes perfect sense to me or you, but now try explaining it to a Canadian Pakistani or Progressive. Tell them how you figure the Aussie needs special rights to make it easier for him to enter and work in Canada.

Actually some of the more forward thinkers among them might go for the idea, because they know once it passed into law they could start crying "Victim! Victim! There are victims over here," and before you knew it the policy would apply in Canada to all commonwealth nations.

I'm against the idea, because I know where it would lead. However find a way around that and yeah.

and again... that's why we can't have nice things

[Canadian_Mind]

N_Fiddledog N_Fiddledog:

See here's the problem though. What CM is saying makes perfect sense to me or you, but now try explaining it to a Canadian Pakistani or Progressive. Tell them how you figure the Aussie needs special rights to make it easier for him to enter and work in Canada.

Actually some of the more forward thinkers among them might go for the idea, because they know once it passed into law they could start crying "Victim! Victim! There are victims over here," and before you knew it the policy would apply in Canada to all commonwealth nations.

I'm against the idea, because I know where it would lead. However find a way around that and yeah.

This is actually a whole separate issue for me and it kind of goes along the same lines.

I was born here, I was born into a culture. It is perfectly natural for a civilisations cultures to evolve over time, whether it be contained evolution, or importing cultural traits from elsewhere. But, there is a significance between adopting the best of other cultures into our own, and having it imposed upon us good or bad. Frankly, these people moved here, they aught to adopt Canadian culture, not force us to adopt theirs. If we feel there are portions of their culture that would make a positive contribution, we'll adopt it. I'm one of the people that would willingly adopt curry and beautiful Asian women into my culture (I know not everyone would), but Canada will never be culturally the same as Southeast Asia. As a nation, we are the same culture as the Brits, Aussies, and Kiwis... Superficial differences like dental health aside.

If, in 50 to 50,000 years we aren't the same as the Brits, Aussies, and Kiwis anymore; but are the same as Pakis or Vietnams or Egyptians, then perhaps we will have forsaken the freedom of movement through the former countries and adopted it with the later.

[Vamp018]

The US/Canada has Freedom of Movement along the Border with each other, ya just gotta know where and when and who lol. Basically if your a Canadian in the US we don't care, your more then invited to come down anytime. It's our pest (Mexico) to the South that is the issue. As for the EU and UK, Sorry I'd only let in Ireland and Anti monarchist UK Born Citizens.