Posted on 11/04/2003 7:24:41 AM PST by quidnunc
It appears that the average Canadian has realized what most in the federal government have yet to. A poll commissioned by the Centre for Research and Information on Canada found that 44 percent of Canadians believe that Canada should have stronger ties to the United States. It's an increase of 18 percentage points since March and is at its highest point in three years.
While Canadians are clearly growing concerned about their ties to the United States, Canada's government has done little to bridge the distance. Thanks in part to undiplomatic talk before and after George W. Bush's election, the president has yet to make a visit to Canada outside of attending two international conferences and Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has only made one visit to the White House. To add injury to insult many prominent Canadians including officials in the prime minister's office seemed to take an "unholy glee" at what happened to the United States on and the days after September 11, 2001, stated historian J.L. Granatstein in a recent speech in Toronto.
"These Canadians and their friends did very serious damage to Canada's relations with the White House and the State Department," said Granatstein.
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham best expressed the federal government's view on October 30 when he denied relations were in a "deep freeze." Said Graham, "This is a mug's game to go into that. The fact of the matter is that when we have specific problems, when we had the electricity blackout, the prime minister phoned up Mr. Bush, he took his call, we worked on it."
Despite Graham's assertion, it's safe to say that relations are at their frostiest since the days of Pierre Trudeau and Ronald Reagan and not surprisingly the problem partly stems from philosophical differences in approaches to policy. As an example, for Canadians foreign policy is about maintaining dialogue at all costs while Americans prefer a more pragmatic approach. Canada is in the business of trying to export its values while the United States is interested in protecting what it determines is in its national interest. As Granatstein pointed out in his October 21 speech, "Values or principles are for individuals, while nations have interests, above all."
Canada's "soft power" approach has been a dismal failure. The influence that Canadians believe they wield through kind words and understanding has had remarkably little effect in achieving our goals. Like Europe, Canada's influence is diminishing because cultural exchanges and foreign aid don't sway nations like Iran and other unstable rogue states at the cost of its relationship with the United States. As much as Canadians don't like to admit it, the velvet glove occasionally must reveal the iron first. As Canada's ability to project power has diminished over the past two decades, so has its voice. Particularly with the United States.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
1. How easy do you think it will be to replace that source?
2. If it was easy, why didn't we do it before?
3. Why would we continue to import oil from Saudi - a country that sent the majority of WTC bombers and funds Wahhabism, while boycotting Canada because of a few insults? Don't you think we have more in common with Canada than from the financiers of terror?
4. How do we replace the natural gas that heats many of our homes in the northern states - NG piped in directly from Canada?
To mikes-opinon,
Don't think we didn't notice your Jew-hating remark you pestilent, anti-Semite...
I'm to understand that the CDC offered advice? As in? And what in the protocol was changed because of the CDC ?
Or did they observe how they should deal with it . It did and you have no idea how many died in the US , do you ? It doesn't really matter because it was the Ontario Government dealing with SARS. Not the Canadian Government, which , on a good day , couldn't run a wheelbarrow down hill .
You seem to be under the impression I am trying to change your mind. No, I really don't care what you think beyond seeing the list . You know the list. The list of things that America and Americans have done for Canada is long indeed That list.
What any country has the "right" to do is not what I am talking about. Whether they are a friend of America *is* what I am talking about
Maybe you should reflect on this . In the real world countries do not have friends, they have self interests . In the real world tis only you and I who could be friends , never our governments . You and I never will . But there are millions on each side of the border that are . And that is in both governments , our best interest.
I don't think my neck has ever been red - given the very, very dark pigmentation of my skin - it's not surprising. If you examine any of the threads I participate in, you will note that I am constantly being referred to here as a liberal. That's because I often defend Canada from specious and pointless attacks. I will not, however, put up with some unctuous Canadian who claims that "Israel does not count due to them running the actual USA"
This is the type of Jew-hatred I expect to see from members of the far left who have been co-opted by their wahhabi masters. Jews do not run the world as you and your friends from the ISM suggest and Israel has every right to defend herself from the homicide bombing monsters who gain glory from targeting pizzerias and murdering infants.
I repeat, you may want to check your facts, the CDC was asked to come in an advise.
As to whether a country can have a friend. I don't agree with you. I think that countries *can* have friends. And I think that England is a friend to us, as is Australia and Poland, and others. Canada is not.
I also want to say this. I find you and so many Canadians to be dishonorable here at Free Republic. Here is what this site is about as stated on the Home page:
"Free Republic is an online gathering place for independent, grass-roots conservatism on the web. We're working to roll back decades of governmental largesse, to root out political fraud and corruption, and to champion causes which further conservatism in America. And we always have fun doing it. Hoo-yah!"
You do not participate in this site in order to further conservatism in America. That is dishonorable and disrepectful, imo.
I never thought I would.
You , who claims that there is nothing you can do but wait for an election to do anything about what is happening in your country
Ah. Yes . And the Crouton is resigning , the conservative parties uniting , and the Liberals are ratting out each other . Guess what ? I'm still waiting to vote . Didn't have to shoot anyone . Or riot in the streets . Going to vote Conservative Party of Canada . That's how we change things . By voting.
And you're the one who denies Socialism in the USA . All those government programs that are not Socialism. All those medicaid, medicare, welfare, including free driving lessons , farm subsidies , food stamps , school lunch programs, dare I mention gun laws, drug programs , abortion . But according to you , that's not socialism. That's just good old government programs. Duh! How can anyone possibly disagree ? Without laughing.
Did you know that in the early 1800's the American government paid for the Erie Canal . Socialism.
. And I was mistaken. I thought this was about Learning . That's where all change begins.
But you are right , Canadians don't belong here . We've nothing to learn from you. And there's no disrespect in that. That's just being honest.
We'll see if you mean what you say. As I pointed out, this is a site which exists in order to promote conservatism in America, and you have not honored that.
You would do well to "learn" about socialism. You don't seem to have a clue.
Funny, isn't it, that this whole site is about promoting conservatism in America -- and not about "waiting" to vote. People here are not "waiting". They are making use of the time between elections. Too bad you don't do the same in your own country. You could actually be doing something worthwhile instead of harrassing Americans on an American site.
Bullshit. You pink little worm. Because some one doesn't agree with your crap it's not honouring this site ? Give your head a shake . You can't even back up what you say with facts. I notice you're first on the mark to deny the first amendment to anyone who disagrees with you. That's usually the first indicator a Liberal. Or worse. A Socialist . Maybe that's why you deny socialism's insidious existence in the US . You're part of it .
Maybe that's why you advocate closing the border. The damage that would cause to your countrymen is incalculable. You advocate true anti Americanism . Terrorism.
We've got nothing to learn from you .
Sunsong: proudly getting it completely backward since 1979!
Good Bet! You should fire the first shot: stop buying Canadian oil, gas, electricity, lumber, meat, grain, etc. Your domestic manufacturing won't be missed since all your production moved out. I hear you have a bunch of nice shiny weapons to sell, and some really top-notch terrorist training squads, but Canadians prefer not to import death as a way in order to feed your morbidly obese children.
You are here to defend Canada. Is it that hard for you to just tell the truth?
And, like a liberal, because you are unwilling or unable to deal with the truth of your own behavior, you choose to attack me. How very "Canadian"
You said that Canadians do not belong here. Let's see if you keep your own counsel...
More ugliness from Canadians. Isn't it astounding that they think they have some "entitlement" to come here to an American site and display their vile natures.
And ranting about Canada does that how? The only defence I offer for Canada is the truth.. The truth itself promotes conservatism here. You can't say the same. Not with your twisted self serving crap . If you could you'd post your infamous list and offer more concrete reasons for closing the border than your, man that feels manly foolishness . And to hell with the consequences to Americans .
Your words. Your own definition. Conservatism is about respecting individuality, personal liberty and personal responsibility within a Constitutional Republic and the rule of law
You don't even know what you stand for. A Liberal , a Democrat , can fit your definition.
Because that isn't what Conservatism is.
You are not helping to promote conservatism in America. You are not respecting or honoring what this site is about. I am sorry that you choose to be dishonest. Clintonian double-speak doesn't cut it.
No matter how much you try to deceive yourself, this is an American site. And it would serve you well to develop some respect and appreciation for that. I think it would serve you well for you to develop some appreciation and respect for America.
Foreigners like you, who come here all the time would do well to remember the purpose of this site. And Canadians, especially, imo, would do well to exhibit some understanding of the betrayal that their country perpetrated on America over the Iraq war.
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