I've pretty much figured that the 'anti-american' crap coming out of Canada was much like the 'anti-american' crap coming from others places .. that being a minority of people getting the majority of the attention of the good ol' MSM!
Posted on 02/19/2005 8:37:57 AM PST by UpHereEh
Any columnist relishes a response. It's a major reason why we do what we do. Sometimes those responses form an essay in themselves, and this is very much the case following my column of last week when I argued that, contrary to what many smug Canadians believe, the United States is frequently a better country than our own.
I wasn't at all surprised by the legions of generous e-mails from Americans, because I know how badly treated they often feel by their northern neighbours and how touchingly grateful they are for the slightest of praise.
What did astound me were the letters from Canadians -- more than 1,000. Of all backgrounds and ages, loyal and intelligent patriots wrote to say that I had spoken for them.
A typical response came from George in Quebec:
"A few years ago I would have never have agreed with you. But I've become so tired of what this nation has become. Mediocre, tired, politically correct to a laughable degree. It's not that I've abandoned Canada, but that Canada has abandoned me."
Another came from a Nova Scotia man who had served for five years in the Canadian military. "Why can't we grasp that hating Americans only makes us look ridiculous instead of clever? There's nothing wrong with criticism of a superpower, but our elites have made it personal, constant and vindictive."
Less than 10% of the responses were critical, but they were a lesson in themselves. In all honesty, not one of them managed to disagree with me without being abusive. This one, from Barrie, was standard:
"I, for one, have had enough of your pretentious rhetoric and religious fundamentalism. If you think the U.S. is better than Canada, then by all means, relocate. I will pay for your ticket myself. With you gone, Canada will be a better place."
Pretentious? What, one wonders, am I pretending to be? If anything I'm rather direct. Fundamentalist? Never have been and never will he. But the letter deliciously illustrates Canadian hypocrisy and self-delusion.
We flatter ourselves into a false sense of grandeur by flippant assumptions of our own tolerance and liberalism. Yet the enforcement of secular humanism is not tolerance at all but in itself a genuine form of fundamentalism.
My critic disagrees with me but instead of simply saying this, as if her perfect right and democratic duty, she tries to marginalize and insult the messenger rather than deal in any substantive manner with the message.
An e-mail warrior and Canadian nationalist named Mark told me I was a "collaborationist, double-crossing fifth columnist, fraternizer, quisling, saboteur, security risk, subversive traitor, treasonous turncoat, two-timing quisling." and added for good measure: "Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out."
Not once but twice a quisling! Goodness me, I'm as bad as the Norwegian fascist who sold his country to the Nazis because I wrote that the United States is not the ugly bully so many Canadians make it out to be.
All this silliness aside, the irony is that my critics simply did not appreciate that the hurt they felt at having their country criticized might just be shared by Americans when far worse things, with far less foundation, are said about the U.S. by Canadian leaders on a regular basis.
Another constant characteristic of the negative letters was the sheer anger. Dozens of people told me, in no uncertain terms, to go to the United States. But surely a Canadian has a right to appreciate another country and critique his own. By the way, those who offered to send me the ticket money are invited to send a cheque via the Sun. We all need a vacation!
Anti-Christian bigotry also played a significant part in the criticism, as in this message: "You're obviously a right-wing fundamentalist moron who would love hating gays in America. So run off down to Christianland and die."
Conclusion? The chauvinistic neurosis of the Canadian liberal is in many ways even more repugnant than the insularity of some Americans.
Now I'm off to my meeting of the Charlton Heston Appreciation Society, where we will burn Canadian dollars and make nasty jokes about hockey.
Love this article!
How are you my FRiend!!
Thanks for posting this!!
Mr. Coren is a good man. Thank you for your honesty and candor.
Good article. Good post.
I'm doing just great up here eh, thanks for asking FRiend. I always keep an eye out for Michael's articles, he has a clever way of putting things into perspective. He also runs a daily local debate show where he bashes the libs every chance he gets - love that! How's it going in your neck of the woods?
The sun is shining!! The kids are outside. Life is great!!
Michael Coren. A friendly nieghbor. Thanks UpHereEh.
bump for later use.
Life is great indeed, and spring is only a month away! ;o)
Great photo, I've never seen that before (no big shock there thanks to the northern media). Thanks for posting it.
My pleasure, Earthdweller!
bump
Where and when was that photo taken?
Excellent article. Very surprising. Notice the viciousness of the Leftist comments. Same as America hating Commiecrats.
Multiply that by the number of people who loved the article, but didn't write him.
Yes!
It's good to know that all Canadians don't hate the US.
I believe it was take during Bush's visit to Canada before the election
Excellent, eh?
I thought he left out one point when he didn't remark that the offer to pay for his ticket was not made in good faith--but he even picked up on that further down the column. Brilliantly written.
What's true of Canadians is probably true of the English. The hatred spewed by such organs as the Guardian or the Mirror doesn't speak for the average Englishman, once you eliminate the Communists and the Muslims.
Bush was here on November 30th. Chretien was gone by then, so the signs don't make sense.
I know it wasn't the Bush greeters in Ottawa, because I was there.
We did have a pro US rally at Parliament Hill just before the Iraq war started, but the picture is not from that rally either.(it rained that day, I was there too.)
Weird. I wonder where is was taken.
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