Monday, June 09, 2008

so much for national pride...

*sigh*

as a canadian, there are many things i have nationalistic pride about. but in the last 2 days i have been alerted to 2 news articles that make me hang my head in shame.

first, in vancouver, they are using cardboard cutouts of policemen holding radar guns to intimidate speeders into slowing down. lifesized cardboard cutouts. anyone remember flat curtis? like that, but not meant to be funny. a spokesperson for the police there warns that there may a real policeman lurking behind the cutout, so the public will respect the cardboard officers. nothing like being a real, live policeman hiding behind a pretend policeman to make you wonder about the career choices you've made....

and even worse, from my home province of alberta, a stellar example of small town canadian ingenuity. it actually hurts my heart a little bit to type this. an 18 year old stettler man tried to eat his underwear in order to beat a breathalyzer test. i swear i am not making this up. he was in the back of police car and ripped the crotch out of his short and stuffed it into his mouth, believing the cotton would absorb the alcohol. how drunk do you have to be to think this will work? i've always thought that 21 was high for a legal drinking age, but this young man is definitely an argument for raising the age at home.

i swear there are things i am proud of about the true north, strong and free... just right now, i'm having a hard time thinking of any....

2 comments:

Marilyn said...

well said, eh?

Mark said...

Surely he could have eaten his shirt instead???