I thought that there were many rational Canadians who are quiet (and polite) so that we only notice the irrational rude ones who make a lot of noise. But I could be wrong.

Your point about education, for sure, is another lengthy discussion. The short version: government control of education is, in general, a bad idea. Even when it seems like a good idea at the time. In my youth, I had a history teacher who had us read the constitution, who lectured on the dangers of censorship (the problem being who gets to decide), and the importance of challenging the government (and how the provisions of the constitution are designed to protect that ability). That was the early 1970s.

Such a teacher would not be allowed today. He *might* get away with teaching kids to challenge "outsiders" not of The Party. But question the right of the government to control everything as he did, or even worse - challenge the power of The Party - by reading G. Washington's warnings about national parties to his class - well if he tried that today he'd be out.