It was another Saturday evening. I had just gotten off of work, and was lying on my bed listening to some R&B, and checking my Facebook. My mom walked into my bedroom with a discusted look on her face.

"You call this music?" asked my mom, "turn it down." She then look around my bedroom, eyes like a hawk, eyeing the mess that I had created. "Marina, were you raised in a barn? Keep your bedroom clean. How many times do I have to tell you!" my mom said with a raised voice.

I did as my mother asked. I cleaned my room. As I finished cleaning my room 'Burn it to the ground' by Nickelback started playing, and I answered my phone. When the person on the other end said hello, I knew right away that it was my best friend. We decided that we were going to go out for dinner. But of course, I had no money.
"Can I please borrow some money for dinner tonight please?"
"No," Mom quickly replied, "do you think I am made of money?"
"Why not?" I whined
"Because I said so."
I went back into my bedroom to change my clothes. When I came out to get a glass of water, my mom was staring at me.
"You're not going out in that, are you?"
"Yes. I am."
"No you are not," my mom fired back, "go and change. While you live under my roof, you will follow my rules."

I stormed back into my room, and slammed my door. As the door slammed, I heard a bone chilling crack, and my heart stopped. As I turned around, I realized I had split my door. My mom came running down the hallway.

"You just wait until your father hears about this. You are grounded!" my mom yelled
"But mom! I am an adult. Stop treating me like a child. I yelled back
"I'll treat you like an adult when you start acting like one," she said on her way out the door, and mustered under her breath, "I hope you have children just like you one day."

Just then my dad walked in the door. I went into my bedroom. My parents started talking about what had just happened.

"Well honey, the apple doesn't fall to far from the tree," I heard my dad say with a chuckle.

Many people may describe Ann Coulter as disgraceful and offensive when she says things such as if the "[Muslims] didn't like being denied a flight they could 'ride a camel' or a magic carpet. (alainsaffel.com) Other people though, may describe her as being unyielding and strong willed. Coulter is strongly opinionated and will stand up for what she believes in. Recently on her trip to the University of Ottawa there was major controversy over Coulter's approach to freedom of speech in Canada. The vice president, Francois Houle, of the University cancelled the event saying that it would be "physically dangerous for Ann Coulter to proceed with the event" (oncampus.macleans.ca) Many of the students were lined up for hours before Ann was even scheduled to speak, and they were disappointed when she did not. Houle e-mailed Coulter saying she should “educate [her]self as to what is acceptable in Canada” and to “weigh [her] words with respect and civility in mind.” (oncampus.macleans.ca) He also states that the freedom of speech laws are different in Canada than that of the United States, when in fact, they are almost the same.



The Freedom of Speech laws are very similar in both Canada and the United States of America. In the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Canada), freedom of expression falls under section 2(b) saying that "Maintenance of a system of free expression is necessary (1) as assuring individual self-fulfillment, (2) as a means of attaining the truth, (3) as a method of securing participation by the members of the society in social, including political, decision-making, and (4) as maintaining the balance between stability and change in society." (uottawa.ca/constitutional-law/expression) In the U.S. Constitution, freedom falls under the amendment saying "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." (firstamendmentcenter.org/about.aspx?item=about_firstamd) Canada, though, has a limitation clause saying that "The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech_by_country#Canada) Because this clause is so vague it goes two ways. Firstly it can imply that it is there to protect citizens in a free democratic society. But on the other hand, it can also imply that a there is a restriction on a fundamental freedom in a free democratic society.



Freedom of expression means the same thing to every human being. Freedom of expression is the condition of being free from restraints and being able to express themselves. The United States truly has the freedom of expression. Canada on the other hand does not. Because Canada is a "cultural mosaic" and has so many different cultures, and so many different races of people, society has adapted to these changes. Some changes have been for the better, but along with good change comes a little bit of bad change. Society has to "watch what they say" around gays, or Muslims or something they may have an opinion on. Not every one can comprehend gay marrages and they have the right to express themselves, but they cannot because it may "hurt" someones feelings. People are now afraid to speak their mind because they stand the risk of being arrested for "hate speech" or "slander." Canada cannot say that, as a country, has the freedom of speech. If Canada truly had that fundamental freedom Ann Coulter would have allowed to make her speech at the University of Ottawa.

Su·per·pow·er : power greater in scope or magnitude than that which is considered natural or has previously existed.

When my grade 12 English teacher asked the class if we could have one superpower in the world, what would it be and why, I heard the typical superpowers answers; X-ray vision, invisibility and mind reading. When I heard the word 'superpower', I though about Russia and the United States of America. Dmitry Medvedev is the current president of Russia. If I could have any superpower in the world, I would choose Russia for obvious reasons. The main reason I would choose Russia is because of its geography. Russia is 22.27 million kilometers squared! Imagine the games of hide and seek that could be played! Russia is also pretty 'tight' with Africa, Eastern Europe, and the best countries for last, Latin America. The vacations would be great! Also, Russia has such a great supply of weapons, that it puts the United States to shame. I would also choose Russia because with the way the American dollar is dropping, the United States may lose their postion as the world's greatest superpower. If the United States lost their postion of world's greatest superpower, Russia would then be named the world's greatest superpower, therefore making my superpower number one! Oh, and Russia invented Tetris. I think Russia would be an excellent superpower to have.