Canada in 6 words or less

Via Dawg's Blawg, the National Post is having a contest. Woohoo! Contest! Yeah baby!:

"Last Saturday, the Post's editorial board introduced a new contest: Canada -- in six words or less. Canada's current motto -- A Mari usque ad Mare (From Sea to Sea) -- isn't working for us, so we asked our readers to e-mail their suggestions for a new tagline for the true north, strong and free. Judging by the responses we've received so far, many people seem to agree with us that it's time for a new Canadian motto.

There's a lot to like about our country, but thus far, the vast majority of entries have surprisingly been negative and, often, rather political. Judging by their suggestions, Jeff Spooner and Al Blow think that we're a mediocre country, and proud of it: The former offered us "Canada: Birthplace of mediocrity" and the latter's "Canada: Mediocre and reasonably proud of it" was a slightly more ironic variation on the same theme..."

"Mediocre"?! Spooner's a looner and Blow can bite me. Canada is an excellent fucking country, even if it's temporarily under the control of criminally insane and terminally mean-spirited weasels and dingbats. "Mediocre" my arse. Time to rev up that big block creativity machine: "Canada in 6 words or less". Any ideas?

Poll - Do you want an election now?

EDit: Okay my USian friends, I know you're anxious to get rid of Georgie... trust me, we all are. But this poll is just for Canucks. You get your turn next year.

Environics - June

Interesting, as polls go. Reassuring to see that after 18 months in power, the Conservatives have been unable to increase their support significantly, and the support they do have is a little precarious. However, they're still in minority government territory, the Liberals having failed to capitalize on Dion's post-convention "bounce".

The biggest gains for the Conservatives have come in Vancouver of all places, apparently at the expense of the NDP. But even the muzzling of their extremist element hasn't helped the Conservatives solve Ontario, and Toronto in particular.

Source: Environics Research Group

Godless Canadians not so godless?

Canada is generally thought of as a pretty secular country, and yes, thank dog, our Governing Motor is on a completely different part of the national vehicle than our Toolbag of Worship. On opposite sides the garage, really. Christian fundies have long bemoaned our godless heatheness (heatheninity?)... but wait. What's this?

"Canadians may not be as religious as Americans, but a new poll suggests they are not prepared to rule out God's essential role in creation.

The Canadian Press-Decima Research survey suggests that 60 per cent of Canadians believe God had either a direct or indirect role in creating mankind, shattering the myth that Canadians had long ago put their faith strictly behind the scientific explanation for creation.

The poll suggests Canadians divide in essentially three groups on the issue of creation: 34 per cent of those polled said humans developed over millions of years under a process guided by God; 26 per cent said God created humans alone within the last 10,000 years or so; and 29 per cent said they believe evolution occurred with no help from God.

“These results reflect an essential Canadian tendency,” said pollster Bruce Anderson. “We are pretty secular, but pretty hesitant to embrace atheism.”"

How special! According to this poll, 60% of Canadians believe in either Creationism or Intelligent Design... 60%?? That's a Majority! Here comes the SoCon Revolution, marching as to war, armed with bibles and bloody coat-hangers, going on before.

Or not. I'm guessing that the way the questions were framed had a lot to do with the result. Example: Up until a few years ago, I was an agnostic. If I was asked, I'd say I was 99% sure there was no god, but in deference to the people who do believe, I'd add "but anything's possible". If I were asked whether I believed "humans developed over millions of years under a process guided by god" my answer would be similar -- millions of years? Yes. Guided by god? Hahaha, not fucking likely. But anything's possible. In a multiple choice question, I would have chosen the "maybe" or "possibly" answer, which would put me squarely in the "intelligent design" group, even though I was (and am) most vehemently not. See how this works? It's one of the reasons polls should never be taken as "gospel" (pun intended), although media outlets do it time and again, quite irresponsibly if you ask me. Seen in context with the poll's questions and answers, the results might tell us something completely different. In short, I'm not too concerned that christian government.ca might get its wish for bible-beating theocratic rule in Canada any time soon.

Odd. I can't find this poll on the Decima website, so I shot them an email to ask why. Maybe they're embarassed?