Split Peas

The opinions are varied. On the one extreme is the "Colony" of Newfoundland and Labrador. Newfoundland and Labrador is a child of mother England adopted by Canada. It is young and dependant like a young Robin sitting with its mouth open to altruistic Ottawa. On the other extreme are the people who would see us as our own country. This group may be a more extreme view. "We couldn't possibly make it as our own country - could we?" The Independents are quick to mention Iceland. A country with practically nil Unemployment, a country that produces a great deal of its own consumer goods, a country of wealth and culture... A country that very much reflects Newfoundland and Labrador’s resource base and strong cultural backbone.

In between is everyone else; the less vocal majority. This group has no intension of packing up and leaving. Secretly perhaps they look at the old Newfoundland Coins and Stamps with some pride. They may fly the pink white and green, and wear the T-Shirts. They are enraged when a mainland journalist writes about "hand-outs" from Ottawa and they are proud when a Newfoundlander and Labradorean makes top ten in Canadian Idol.

There is indeed a feeling in this land. The Pink White and Green flag is perhaps the most visible, concrete part of this. It is evident in blogs, in the newspapers, the open line shows, the gentlemen on my street with the "Free Newfoundland" bumper sticker, the rallying behind Rex Goudie, the Accordion Revolution, the tremendous support behind our premier during the Atlantic Accord fight, the tears in hearing "Salt Water Joys", the petitions fighting for the Gander weather station, the outpouring of support for Stephenville, Badger, Bishop's Falls during the floods.... We have our native son draped in the Maple Leaf after being killed in Afghanistan fighting for this country’s freedom so that some mainlander wanting to get a high-five from her bigoted readers can call us a "scenic welfare ghetto".

I can see the Pink White and Green on the south side from where I sit and I am proud to see it there. It does my heart good to see it flying higher than all others. The Maple Leaf flys from City Hall and from the Government buildings; I have pride in them too, but seeing them in the shadow of the South Side Pink White and Green makes me smile.