With glowing hearts, we see thee rise, the true north strong and free...

Living in Asia for the last couple of years has really been a learning experience for me. While I've seen certain things first-hand, I've also been exposed to certain truths I wouldn't have before. Its quite well known that Indian people are a conservative bunch - that they don't like to publicly display emotion in any way, and in keeping with the rest of Asia, don't like to draw attention to themselves. That's all fine and dandy, but it really bothers me when people decide to become the moral police and try to force their decisions upon others. Everyone in this world has the right to live the way they want, and no one has the right to morally police them. I know there's a bit of a blurred line here dividing what's acceptable and what's not, but for example, in India, police have been cracking down in couples that are simply sitting together in public places. Sitting together is bad, cuddling, holding hands and kissing is criminal. This applies to other countries too, like Malaysia. They don't like unmarried couples doing this stuff, because apparently, this is the turn of the 11th century. Its WRONG for couples to kiss, but its perfectly alright for them to have one of the highest rapes per capita in the world (India) and for most of Asia to have a huge sex trade, straight and gay. Looking at this stuff, truly makes me realize all that I take for granted being Canadian. Growing up, we're given reminders that we're lucky to live in an open, civilized and decent society, but really, no kid understands this. I see now what that's worth. Many Asians are of the opinion that the West is corrupt. In India and Pakistan, near-riots against Valentines Day have crippled poor storeowners, because people think that Valentine's Day is "shameless" and "for the western sex drive." Western sex drive??? Hello people?? We have less crime and FAR less rape than you! Who has open prostitution? Instead of blaming the West, why not look within? Have they not seen what their movies are about? If you're not familiar with what I'm referring to, do take a look at an earlier post of mine (http://enterthevspot.blogspot.com/2005/11/impossible-has-happened.html). An Israeli couple was fined for kissing at their own wedding in India. And yet, its OK for militants to kill people openly, for people to marry underage kids and murder newly-married women if they don't come with enough money from their parents. On top of it all, a lot of these Asian countries don't have any privacy laws and don't give any power to the people. The police are free to do whatever they desire. Which can be negotiated.