Where are you from ?

[Atlas]

New poll. Okay so I tried and add every European Nation without forgetting about America, Canada, Australia, NZ and South Africa.

I thought about the members of this forum, and yes, most countries in this list have at least one member on here. I apologize in advance for all those I have forgotten.

[Útrám]

An island in the Atlantic.

[Brännvin]

Sweden is not part of the poll :(

[Atlas]

Damn how could I forget about Sweden and Iceland, please any mod add this.

[The Lawspeaker]

Neither is the Netherlands btw...:( Because I am not living in Holland :D

EDIT: he solved it.

I am from the Netherlands. :)

[Phlegethon]

I'm from Ork.

Na-Nu Na-Nu.

[Angantyr]

Quebec is not part of the poll, so I had to choose other. :(

It is pretty interesting that the first few votes are for places not on the poll.

[Atlas]

Oh mon ami. Quebec is not a free Nation at the moment. :)

[Phlegethon]

It is a nation, just not a country (yet).

[Angantyr]

Oh mon ami. Quebec is not a free Nation at the moment. :)

Neither is Scotland, but it made it on the list. :p

[Loki]

Neither is Scotland, but it made it on the list. :p

Even though Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, it is a country in own right ... whereas Quebec is merely a province of Canada.

[Gooding]

The Commonwealth of Virginia, which for the moment is governed from Washington D.C. and is therefore also a state in the United States of America.

[Tabiti]

Next we are expecting "What is your name" poll :D

[Äike]

I voted for Estonia:thumb001:

[Brynhild]

Australia - although we are still governed as a constitutional monarchy with ties to the UK, and for the foreseeable future that's the way it will stay.

[Treffie]

I'm from Other - it's attached to England!

[Electronic God-Man]

Pennsylvania, USA.
http://www.cms.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_41699_1230_241981_43/http%3B/pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_general_government_operations/dgs/community_content/dgs_homepage/portlets/flag_information/p1.gif

[Zankapfel]

Berlin. Ich gehöre ja zur deutschen Minderheit (so few Germans on here o_O)

[Phlegethon]

Nicht verzweifeln, Kleine. ;)

[Rachel]

New Jersey USA... gotta love my pork roll

[Svarog]

Somewhere in Serbie ;)

[Lulletje Rozewater]

I am from South Africa a province of Zimbabwe(4.500.000)

[Angantyr]

Even though Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, it is a country in own right ... whereas Quebec is merely a province of Canada.

Scotland is not autonomous. It has no greater independence from the United Kingdom than Quebec does from Canada. Whether one calls a geographical division of a sovereign state a province, country, state, or republic (as was done in the Soviet Union) is irrelevant. If we compare Scotland and Quebec, Scotland has its own Parliament, whereas Quebec has its own National Assembly (which without critical review would mean that Quebec is a nation). Scotland has its own legal system, based on common law, and Quebec has its own legal system, based on the French civil code. Both Scotland and Quebec have limited self-government with specified powers. Moreover, Quebec has embassies in foreign nations.

On the other side of the argument, Wales, which is more or less as much a part of the United Kingdom and also called a country, is not specifically mentioned in the poll. Moreover, the poll is not what soverign state are you from, but simply wehere are you from.

I also point out that there is the Basque Country, which is not a sovereign state. Tibet calls itself a country with a government in exile, but China calls it an autonomous region (with no autonomy).

I have to call you on this again, but you have to critically evaluate what you read or hear. Just because a person or an entity calls itself something, does not mean that it is. There are multiple factors that must be considered and not just simple, and perhaps intentionaly misleading, semantics of a word.

[Loki]

I have to call you on this again, but you have to critically evaluate what you read or hear.


What do you mean by this, or imply?

[Æmeric]

Quebec should rank as a seperate country. Maybe 2 options, Anglo-Canada & French-Canada. The French-Canadians are a distinct ethnic group that was established over 300-years ago & have a defined national territory. Quebec was a seperate political entity - even if under French & then British rule - for much of it's existence. It's part of Canada but then France & Germany are both part of the EU. They haven't ceased to be seperate countries yet. Much of the problem with Canada is that Quebec is in fact a nation within the Canadian confederation. The pandering to the French in Canada, along with close proximity to the US, has hampered the evolution of a (Anglo-Celt) Canadian identity - Canadian has to be inclusive to avoid hurting the feelings of the French-Canadian nation.

[Loki]

Quebec should rank as a seperate country.


For this poll, for sure. It's for where we come from. As for national independence, slightly less than half of the population of Quebec support secession from Canada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_sovereignty_movement#The_referendum_of_1995 ).



Maybe 2 options, Anglo-Canada & French-Canada. The French-Canadians are a distinct ethnic group that was established over 300-years ago & have a defined national territory. Quebec was a seperate political entity - even if under French & then British rule - for much of it's existence.


I don't think it's wise to continually make a split between Anglophone and Francophone Canadians, who live all over Canada. And of course this has nothing to do with Quebec. Canadians of British and French heritage have more in common than either have to "First Nation" people or recent non-European immigrants. Division among white Canadians is not a good thing. Or at least, that is what I glean from reading Aemma's posts on the matter.



It's part of Canada but then France & Germany are both part of the EU.


Apples and pears.

[Æmeric]

For this poll, for sure. It's for where we come from. As for national independence, slightly less than half of the population of Quebec support secession from Canada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_sovereignty_movement#The_referendum_of_1995 ). Thanks to the policy of non-europid migration into Canada. It was the "visible minority' - post late 60s immigrants - vote that kept the seccessionists from reaching 50% in the most recent referendum. And I mentioned that Anglo-Canada has to pander to the French-Canadian minority to persuade them from leaving the confederation. Stop the pandering & Quebec would leave in a heartbeat.




I don't think it's wise to continually make a split between Anglophone and Francophone Canadians, who live all over Canada. Anglophone Canadians mostly live outside Quebec, Francophones mostly in Quebec.
Canadians of British and French heritage have more in common than either have to "First Nation" people or recent non-European immigrants. The English & Scots have even more in common.
Division among white Canadians is not a good thing. Or at least, that is what I glean from reading Aemma's posts on the matter.
It's not popular among French-Canadians living outside of Quebec. They would lose their special status if Quebec went. Current Canadian law gives the French language & the Catholic faith special status (seperate Catholic school districts all over Canada e.g.) because of special laws meant to preserve the French society in Canada - dating back to the end of the French & Indian War.

There are some very important geographical reasons that threaten Canada's existence. The populated part of Canada can be divided into 5 parts;

1: The Maritime Provinces, mostly of British Isles stock except for the French minority in New Brunswick.

2: Quebec.

3: Ontario, especially southern Ontario. Ontario & the poulated areas of Quebec are part of the St. Lawrence lowlands but are divided by language & culture.

4: The Prairie Provinces. They are seperated from the St. Lawrence lowlands by the sparcely populated Canadian shield. Alberta tends to be more conservative, Manitoba & Saskatchewan socialistic.

5: Across the Rockies is British Columbia, with most of the population living in the Greater Vancouver area & the Fraser River Valley.

[Lady L]

Australia

Brynhild, watch out for our good friend, his name is Kyle and he is 15, he is on his way there today with a group of kids, called Ambassadors of America or something like that ...:)

Representing Alabama :D

[Atlas]

Okay so Quebecer who feel more Québécois than Canadians can now vote.

[Eldritch]

I'm from Finland, an area which used to be a free nation, but is currently one of the United Republics of Soviet Europe.

[sturmwalkure]

I am from the USA obviously. But shouldn't Flanders be included? It's a part of an artificial nation called Belgium. ;)

[Finsterer Streiter]

"Tschörmäny" here. ;) The other three are Zyklop (old-school from Skadi and Thiazi), Phleg (dito) and Zankapfel apparently.



Berlin. Ich gehöre ja zur deutschen Minderheit (so few Germans on here o_O)
Tja, jetzt ists wieder einer mehr.

[Phlegethon]

Genau, ich gehöre zur alten Schule. Der letzte Preuße, gewissermaßen.

[Smaland]

American Southwest.

[DarkZarathustra]

I'm from Russia. I wonder why USA is in first place.

[Ladejarlen]

http://siljejaab.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/norsk_flagg.jpg

[Aemma]

Thanks to the policy of non-europid migration into Canada. It was the "visible minority' - post late 60s immigrants - vote that kept the seccessionists from reaching 50% in the most recent referendum.

Mr. Parizeau referred to it as the "allophone" vote which is clearly a reflection of the visible minority group indeed. But I'm not certain if all of this has indeed been verified by actual numbers.



And I mentioned that Anglo-Canada has to pander to the French-Canadian minority to persuade them from leaving the confederation. Stop the pandering & Quebec would leave in a heartbeat.

Sometimes I'm not so sure about that Æmeric. It all depends on which Quebecois/Quebecker you talk to and from which parts of Quebec. There are huge Anglophone communities in the Western part of that province, the Pontiac region, settled mainly by English and Scots. During the last referendum, the communities in this area were themselves seriously talking about seceding from the province of Quebec and forming their own Duchy with an allegiance to Canada.

Prior to Bill 101 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_101), Quebec's language laws, there were huge communities of anglophones in many pockets in the province of Quebec, Montreal and Quebec City among them. Montreal used to be our hub of business prior to the 1980's and the heavy duty talk of sovereignty-association. It wasn't until the passing of the language laws that many big businesses moved out of Montreal and established themselves in Toronto. Most people forget this part.



Anglophone Canadians mostly live outside Quebec, Francophones mostly in Quebec.

Well mostly-mostly doesn't do anything any justice though. It would be like saying "America is mostly white." It doesn't mean anything. You have to look at the specifics of regions in order to get a good understanding and appreciation of how things work demographically. And as I mentioned above, there were many many more Anglophones in Quebec once upon a time prior to the 1980's which wasn't all that long ago.



The English & Scots have even more in common.

Yes and no. I take for instance my neck of the woods, the Ottawa Valley. Its eastern end is quite francophone while its western end quite anglophone, the latter not because it was settled by English and Scots but because it was settld by the Irish. People tend to forget that it is not only language that make for divisions in Canada but often affiliation to religious denomination. The Irish (who were considered 'anglos' by French Canadians since they did not speak French but an other language, typically English) were more often than not seen as good bed-fellows since the French and Irish shared the same religious affiliation, Roman Catholicism. Elsewhere in Canada, the Scottish Highlanders (who were Roman Catholic) settled Nova Scotia more than lowlander Scots did, hence a religious affinity was found thre as well. All of this to say that language hasn't always been the main barrier, but religious affiliation has had its fair share of impact as well.




It's not popular among French-Canadians living outside of Quebec. They would lose their special status if Quebec went. Current Canadian law gives the French language & the Catholic faith special status (seperate Catholic school districts all over Canada e.g.) because of special laws meant to preserve the French society in Canada - dating back to the end of the French & Indian War.

You also forget that New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada. So no, not all, if any French Canadians would lose their status. Those of us who are French Canadian outside of Quebec hav our own histories in our own provinces. The Quebec issue is peripheral to this for the most part. I'm not saying that there wouldn't be some kind of an impact, but it would be minimal I assure you. The francophone communities outside of Quebec are strong enough to stand on their own. And any separation would not impact New Brunswick in the slightest. The bottom line is that French Canadians do not get their power/political clout from Quebec in the least but by and from themselves in their own right. Whatever gains have been obtained by any French Canadian communities outside of Quebec have been heartily fought and acquired by non-Quebecois I assure you.


There are some very important geographical reasons that threaten Canada's existence. The populated part of Canada can be divided into 5 parts;

1: The Maritime Provinces, mostly of British Isles stock except for the French minority in New Brunswick.

2: Quebec.

3: Ontario, especially southern Ontario. Ontario & the poulated areas of Quebec are part of the St. Lawrence lowlands but are divided by language & culture.

4: The Prairie Provinces. They are seperated from the St. Lawrence lowlands by the sparcely populated Canadian shield. Alberta tends to be more conservative, Manitoba & Saskatchewan socialistic.

5: Across the Rockies is British Columbia, with most of the population living in the Greater Vancouver area & the Fraser River Valley.

Though this division has been conventional wisdom it doesn't take into account other regional realities that come into play as well:

1. Quebec and the Maritime provinces have a great economic alliance with the New England States and have been trading partners and have their own regular economic conferences (http://www.negc.org/premiers.html).

2. Northern Ontario (http://www2.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=43673cf5-adea-4d15-9400-4bb32a381ea7&k=64467) has wanted to create its own province for quite a while now since it is vastly different in culture, politics and economics than its southern counterpart.

3. Alberta (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_separatism) and its discontent with it now feeling the effects of being the 'have' province (we have 'have-not' and 'have' provinces in Canada terms which refer to a province's economic clout with respect to transfer payment abilities) and having to now share its economic walth with the rest of the country.

And these are only the top three things that come to mind in terms of Canadian regionalism and its effect on the country.

[Æmeric]

Mr. Parizeau referred to it as the "allophone" vote which is clearly a reflection of the visible minority group indeed. But I'm not certain if all of this has indeed been verified by actual numbers.
A 1% swing to 'oui' & Quebec seccession would have passed. Quebec is more then 1% visible minority & they tend to be pro-Union.


Prior to Bill 101, Quebec's language laws, there were huge communities of anglophones in many pockets in the province of Quebec, Montreal and Quebec City among them. Montreal used to be our hub of business prior to the 1980's and the heavy duty talk of sovereignty-association. It wasn't until the passing of the language laws that many big businesses moved out of Montreal and established themselves in Toronto. Most people forget this part I don't think people have forgotten that. The language law itself was/is part of Quebec edging towards independence. It is not just big business that has been leaving Quebec but also Anglophones.


Well mostly-mostly doesn't do anything any justice though. It would be like saying "America is mostly white." It doesn't mean anything. You have to look at the specifics of regions in order to get a good understanding and appreciation of how things work demographically. And as I mentioned above, there were many many more Anglophones in Quebec once upon a time prior to the 1980's which wasn't all that long ago. In the case of Quebec versus the rest of Canada it is a big deal. Regardless if their are pockets of Anglphones in Quebec, it has always been a mainly Francophone entity, the rest of Canada Anglophone. Quebec is the Francophone domain. I think a similar situation from the US pov would be Puerto Rico, which thankfully has never been bee granted statehood or incorporated into the US proper. There are pockets of Spanish speakers in the US but nowhere do they come close to having their own state yet. Even New Mexico where they have their largest plurality, the majority was Anglo as recently as 15-years ago.



You also forget that New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada. So no, not all, if any French Canadians would lose their status. Why is New Brunswick officially bilingual? Is it because of political pressure from having Quebec in the confederation?

[Aemma]

A 1% swing to 'oui' & Quebec seccession would have passed. Quebec is more then 1% visible minority & they tend to be pro-Union.

Yes the union movement is very strong in Quebec. And I know it was a marginal difference, it's just that I don't know what the official stats were.


I don't think people have forgotten that. The language law itself was/is part of Quebec edging towards independence. It is not just big business that has been leaving Quebec but also Anglophones.

Of course the language law helped the cause towards independence; it couldn't do otherwise. It was a bold move which paid huge dividends in some respects. And of course Anglophones have been leaving Quebec since Bill 101's enactment but that is precisely my point. There used to be many many more that populated the province and had real communities and had equal rights to the use of their own language in their home province. I should point out that Bill 101 remains a contentious issue for some of us French Canadians outside of Quebec. Many feel that it was not the right thing for Quebec to do since French Canadians have worked hard for their own language rights in their respective provinces while suddenly the English minority was stripped of theirs. On the other hand, some also feel that it was a necessary evil in terms of furthering the movement towards at least acknowledging Quebec's distinct society status, which many Anglophones have a difficult time wrapping their heads around, especially those that do come from the Western provinces and have/had never been to Quebec.


In the case of Quebec versus the rest of Canada it is a big deal. Regardless if their are pockets of Anglphones in Quebec, it has always been a mainly Francophone entity, the rest of Canada Anglophone. Quebec is the Francophone domain.

Yes of course Æmeric, grosso modo (by and large) as we say here. But I felt it important to highlight the other realities found in my country. Canada is not as cut and dried of a country politically nor culturally as most people think. I think it fair that I point out these things in an effort to shed a bit more light as to who and what we are. We're more than meets the eye. And most people, in my experience, know very little about Canada, especially her intricacies. :)



I think a similar situation from the US pov would be Puerto Rico, which thankfully has never been bee granted statehood or incorporated into the US proper. There are pockets of Spanish speakers in the US but nowhere do they come close to having their own state yet. Even New Mexico where they have their largest plurality, the majority was Anglo as recently as 15-years ago.

Nope and this is where I will vehemently disagree with you, Æmeric. You cannot compare the USA's Hispanic experience with Canada's French one. Canada was always about two different European cultures (excluding the autochtonous one for now) from the get-go, Lower Canada (Quebec) and Upper Canada (southern and eastern Ontario, mainly). It was not until Confederation in 1867 that Canada as a political (hence federal) entity grew to include other provinces, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick joining themselves to the Province of Canada (which included both Upper Canada and Lower Canada). Canada's very genesis comprised of the French and English elements. The same cannot be said of the USA and its Hispanic population by virtue of your very different political raison d'être and hence different manifested (:)) history.



Why is New Brunswick officially bilingual? Is it because of political pressure from having Quebec in the confederation?

Nope, Quebec had nothing to do with it. New Brunswick declared herself an officially bilingual province all on her own.

Provinces hold power abov that of the federal government's in terms of language issues. As a country, our federal government has declared us an officially bilingual country. But the provinces differ from this (quite obviously) and it is within their constitutional rights to do so. :)

[Bloodeagle]

I am American and currently reside in its sub polar last frontier.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Flag_of_Alaska.svg/709px-Flag_of_Alaska.svg.png
Eight stars of gold on a field of blue —
Alaska's flag. May it mean to you
The blue of the sea, the evening sky,
The mountain lakes, and the flow'rs nearby;
The gold of the early sourdough dreams,
The precious gold of the hills and streams;
The brilliant stars in the northern sky,
The "Bear" — the "Dipper" — and, shining high,
The great North Star with its steady light,
Over land and sea a beacon bright.
Alaska's flag — to Alaskans dear,
The simple flag of The last frontier.

[Frigga]

I'm from the Bear Republic of California! The Golden State, and the site of some of the most beautiful scenery in the USA! :D

[Barreldriver]

USA, Northeast Ohio. Ohio will soon become its own nation by the year 2222, it will gain control over Lake Erie and Lake Michigan, and will use them for maritime trade with Canada. Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin will be absorbed in order to create this super Ohioan nation. The U.S.A. can keep West Virginia, we Ohioan's do not want those inbreds. :D lol j/k. The Great Ohio nation will be the world leader in zombie self defense and awareness. Ohio will regain its rich German and Anglo heritage and expel non-Germanics from the Ohioan lands. :D

[Atlas]

USA wins easily this poll.

[Phlegethon]

We need an affirmative action programme for non-yankees.

[Gooding]

We need an affirmative action programme for non-yankees.

I think the Euros would do well with a support group!:thumb001:

[Lady L]

900...:D

Hello, I'm American. :D I was born in Texas. Shortly after I moved to Tennessee. Grew up about an hour South of Nashville. Two years and two months ago I moved to Alabama. :) I can't remember Texas but the other two are two beautiful, magical places.

[YggsVinr]

Born and raised in Ontario, Canada land of hockey and black flies:p

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZWxErEbQkY

[Finsterer Streiter]

I was reborn and spit out in a mortuary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgqX82-HRYE

[Ladejarlen]

Purebred Norwegian:)

[Sally]

Born in the City of Angels.

http://i40.tinypic.com/154etl2.jpg

[RoyBatty]

Born in the city of angels.


Compton??? :eek: :D

[Sally]

Compton??? :eek: :D

No, I'm afraid not. But I have been to a flea market there. ;)

[Heimmacht]

The Netherlands! :thumb001:

[Phlegethon]

I say
Pass the Dutchie on the left hand side
Pass the Dutchie on the left hand side
It a gonna burn, give me music make me jump and prance
It a go done, give me the music make me rock in the dance

[Rainraven]

I'm the token kiwi :D

[Electronic God-Man]

Born in the City of Angels.

http://i40.tinypic.com/154etl2.jpg

Ciudad de Los Angeles, California?

[Phlegethon]

The City of Angles:

http://www.artwallpapers.net/art/mc_escher/01/mc_escher01.jpg