I’m a white middle class Canadian kid from the ‘burbs and proud of it. I too am white and nerdy.

I’ve always had issues with the white middle class Canadians whose closest approach to a “ghetto” was flying over one when arriving at LAX imitating all the trappings of U.S. “gangsta” culture.

I can understand those living in poverty, surrounded by drug houses and gang wars glorifying the experience, trying to take pride in it.

But I grew up somewhere with very little in the way of class divisions or overt racism, with universal health care and education, where being peaceable, neighbourly hard working and modest about wealth were the great virtues. Where the law is respected, as are people’s rights under it. That’s who I am.

And I have never understood why I should turn my back on that and try and adopt the ways of minority outlaws from a different country on the other side of the continent.

So, here is to Al for standing up to take pride in being “white and nerdy!”