In a message dated 12/4/03 9:04:25 AM Central Standard Time, BoucherT@ummhc.org writes: > I usually don't voice my opinion about things. Canada is not as bad as you > picture it. At least the Canadian citizens have complete medical coverage. > In this country a large percentage of the people cannot afford medical > coverage and only when critical do they go to a doctor. No this is not a > blessing to be ousted from your homeland. My family was part of Canada > until the Aroostok Wars when we became part of the United States. We > weren't asked to be part of the United States. > It is soo poor in this part of Maine that most of the people move away for a > better living. Those who stay live from hand to mouth. I love my country > of birth but my ancestors had no choice. > > Terri B > I knew I would say the wrong thing. I should have elaborated. Yes I know about the national health in Canada. Something we should have here in the United States. I didn't mean to imply that we (Acadian descendants) are better off than the present day Canadian Acadian descendants. I should have said that the Acadians who eventually settled in Louisiana were given land, an ox or cow, an ax, picks and shovel, seeds and within one or more generations became large plantation owners, because they were free to pursue their dreams in a government friendly atmosphere. For a time a lot if not most Acadian exiles enjoyed a much better life than those who remained in a land with a hostile government, often forced to live on very poor land. And to be honest, the Canadian Government continued to exercise the hatred for the French Catholics of both the Acadian as well as the non-Acadian citizens. And it was not until just recently that the French-speaking citizens were given equal status as the Anglos. YES THE EXPULSION (A form of ethnic cleansing) WAS A TERRIBLE INJUSTICE. But the British throne, the governing authority at the time, conducted the Expulsion. Today Canada is a free and independent country (I think), governed by elected officials. Elected officials too govern England, and the British Throne is more of an expensive figurehead, with no authority. Any apology to have merit should come from the governing authority of England with the co-signature of the Queen. No matter what you say about this issue, you will offend someone. For this I apologize, and this is a true heart felt apology, that does not require any footnotes. Don