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I think you totally missed my point.

First off, I am not trying to cast any doubts on the honor, sacrifices or motivation of your ancestors who died in Europe during the 2 World Wars, however, historically it is widely recognized that Canada's participation was a direct reflection of it's close ties to Great Britain as opposed to it being an unbiased 3rd party who got into the fight because of ideological reasons. While individual Canadians were often motivated by high principles of promoting freedom, the Canadian government was largely supporting it's ally Great Britain.

Secondly, being a trading partner of the United States doesn't stand for anything. You trade with us and we trade with you because it is in our mutual self interests. If Canada would benefit from increased trading with Iceland at the expense of the US, you would do so and you would be justified.

225+ years ago, Canada had a choice to make, you could throw off the yoke of British colonial rule like the US was trying to do, or you could stay the course. Canadians chose the latter and remained just a satellite of the British empire.

For a good part of the 19th century, your future was decided as much in London as it was in York. You relied on British Armies for your defense. British business interests controlled trade in your country almost into this century. Quebec is even worse, since they haven't gotten over the fact that the British threw the French out in the 1740s and they still long for French masters over English ones.

Unfortunately for Canada, many have seen you for a long time as just extensions of British and French influence in North America. Canadians have had a terrible burden of overcoming this and standing out on the world stage as an independant nation devoid of foreign influences.

There is a reason so many immigrants came to the US instead of Canada in the last 200 years. The US was recognized as a place where the individual could fail or prosper devoid of any other interference. Canada on the other hand always had a shadowy hand of Colonialism hanging over it. It was a place where Royal title and priveledge still carried weight 100 years after we got rid of that crap. For people trying to escape the monarchies of Europe, Canada didn't offer a complete break, the United States did. For too long, Canada was just Great Britan west. Geez, you even put the Queen on your stamps and coins for crying out loud....nothing against the Queen but could you suck up to Great Britan any harder ? You didn't even mint all your own money until 1908, you had it minted in England.

Even today, you seem unable to decide if you are English or French.........here's a concept, why don't you all become Canadians first.