Country/State Pride

[saitaina]

Okay, since I have friends from nearly...everywhere.  I have a question for you all.  It's a two parter that seperates up my friends so find your relevent section, please.

For those living in a country outside the US: What is the BEST thing about your country.  This can be anything from the food, to the weather to your neighbors.  Just give something that makes you love your country.  Detailed please, I want to really know why you love it.   Now, give the WORST thing.  Again, it can be anything.  How do they balance out for you?

For those IN the US: What is the BEST thing about your STATE.  Anything counts.  Now, tell me the WORST thing about your state.  Details please!

Thank you kindly in advance to all those who awnser! :o)

Comments

Seattle, WA

[bandwidth-limit.livejournal.com]

We created Starbucks.

'Nough said.

[sheryll.livejournal.com]

Do I have to pick just one best thing? Don't think it can be done. :)

Best: our diversity and tolerance. Definitely the food, from BC salmon to NB potatoes. :)

Worst: Quebec's continued talk of separation and the fact that they want the rest of the country to speak French.

I'm not sure they do balance out. The Quebec issue is a pet peeve of mine. They want everyone else to speak French yet they have, honest to God, language police and have made it illegal for the English part of a sign to be bigger than the French part. The only truly bilingual province is New Brunswick, who will (with the rest of the Maritimes) suffer greatly if Quebec ever separates because they'll be physically cut off from the rest of country. Oh, and when Quebec separates? They still want money from the federal government! I think this stuff is is what I like least about Quebec because I used to live in the province, in the area most wanting to separate. My complete sympathy goes out to anyone who moves up there and doesn't speak French, as they'll be barely tolerated. *sigh*

UK

[dark-prophet.livejournal.com]

Good thing - really difficult, there is so much I love but few single things I can pick up and say 'that, that's the best'. I'm torn between our character as a people (stubborn and confident), history all around us or our hands-off attitude towards each other.

Oh, and I like the weather. Sure, it's unpredictable as hell, but it's never REALLY too hot and never REALLY too cold and it never throws real disasters at us.

Bad thing - past obsession. It clings to us, old grudges, old ways of doing things, old mindsets - a good half of everything we seem to do seems to be looked at through a lens that is at least 50 years old. That stubborness can come back to haunt us as well