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.
That really depends on the superpower, doesn't it? Think about it.
I DO wish we still had a REAL flag, though.
[ So, those FReepers who habitually bash ALL Kanuckistanis at every opportunity can eat my red, white and blue shorts! ]<p.
Now that was funny7.. LoL...
When talking to the average Canadian, it is essentially impossible to tell that you are not talking to another average American. The liberal left-wing government may be anti-American, but visiting a Canadian city or town feels no different than visiting another American city or town.
Honestly, I think the US has a higher percentage of anti-Americans on average than Canada. They may exist up there, but I've never met them in my travels.
Best line in the article
By the looks of it, that picture was taken in April of 2002. I was at the rally in Toronto, but I don't recognise the building in the background.
Wait, I do recognise the building top on the right - that's old city hall in Toronto. Somewhere in the background of that picture my poor freezing hands were flying old glory. I especially remember the "Chretien Sucks" chant that kept going for about 2 minutes. LOL.
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