Yet Another Snub From the Chretien Government (please help me freep!)

vanity | September 16, 2003 | myself

[proud American in Canada]

On the second anniversary of 9/11, Jean Chretien was on vacation in Quebec. Neither he nor the Liberal party organized any official ceremony. Instead, Stephen Harper, the opposition leader, organized a ceremony. Though he made a quickie phone call to Pres. Bush, Jean Chretien didn't bother to show up.

Two days later, a woman writing a puff piece in the Ottawa Citizen made the comment that "seeing Canadians flying American flags in a misplaced show of solidarity" sends her into a "huff."

That was it. I went to my computer and wrote a letter to the editor. Here's the text:

"Once again, Jean Chretien and his Liberal party slap Americans in the face.

I am an American living in the Ottawa area and married to a French-Canadian. At first I wasn’t planning on writing on the deafening silence from the Canadian government on the second anniversary of the most horrific act of terrorism the world has ever seen. Nope, it was up to Stephen Harper—whom I would like to thank for his continued support of the U.S.; it hasn’t gone unnoticed by me—to organize something to remember the deaths of not only over 3,000 of those “arrogant bastards” but also 24 Canadians.

But reading Janice Kennedy’s article in the Style Weekly section sent me to my computer—after I was finished c rying in anger. So, the sight of “Canadians flying American flags in misplaced shows of brotherliness” sends her into a “huff,” does it? Well isn’t that special.

Well, it’s those American flags that make it possible for Canada to have the health care system that it does. After all, if Canada had to pay for its own national defense, that would hardly be possible. Instead, Canada has the great good fortune to live right next to the last remaining superpower, and I might add, the only place on earth besides England, Australia, Poland and some of the other members of the “Coalition of the Willing” that seem to care about real human liberty.

And it’s those American flags that enable Canada to have the standard of living that it does, though the tax rate up here really hurts Canadians. Why? Well, if Canada had to pay to export all its materials to Europe, Mexico, and other places, business net income would sink like a stone.

You know, I have many, many friends who have sworn off Canada after the repeated insults from government officials up here and Canada’s refusal to help us in the war. You can blame the drop in tourism on SARS all you want, but you know what? Americans have suddenly realized that Canadians don’t like them. So they don’t want to come up here anymore. When a friend slaps you in the face, it’s a wake up call.

Thanks to Jean Chretien and Janice Kennedy for yet another wake up call. I’ve already emailed all my friends back home about it and posted about it on an Internet forum. _____________________________________________

She sent me a nasty ranting letter, which I won't post at this time. But this is what I just wrote back to her:

Perhaps you did not mean to cause offense with your comment. However, when you refer to me as taking "unjustified leaps of logic," in essence calling me stupid, instead of simply apologizing for having written something ambiguous and potentially insulting, you have written me an article with an ultimate goal, I suspect, not to convince me of Canada’s “passionate support” of the U.S., but to insult and/or harass me. So I must respond to the points you raised in your letter.

I can understand your irritation with Canadians who always fly American flags. But have you ever considered the possibility that they are Americans or have family down there? You may not know this, but American citizens from all over the world frequently fly flags from their countries of origin and it is not in any way consideredoffensive. It is part of the free speech that Americans hold dear. I certainly would not be offended if my neighbor flew the Canadian flag. In any case, to toss off acomment like that—comparing flying the American flag to slowing down traffic, for example—is indeed offensive.

I actually was here two years ago. And, though my memory can be bad, it’s not that bad. I actually do recall that Canadians mourned with us and opened up their homes to the stranded. However, that Chretien allowed planes with U.S. destinations to land here was the very least asupposed ally could do—with the emphasis on least.

I also recall that when I attended the ceremony on Parliament Hill shortly after 9/11, I saw several Canadians sneer at my sign, which read: “Note to Terrorists: These Colors Don’t Run.” The oh-so-sophisticated sneers were a sign that while Canada would grieve for the dead, it would refuse to take any concrete action so that those who died did not die in vain.

And that’s exactly what happened. When the time came to actually do something to eliminate the threat of terrorism, support for the U.S. dried up. If memory serves me right, for a while it was not even clear that Canada would go into Afghanistan, and of course there was the decision not to support the U.S. in Iraq. Whether or not the majority of Canadians agreed with the decision at the time is debatable. I attended a rally on Parliament Hill where thousands of people not normally inclined to attend political rallies congregated in support of joining the Coalition of the Willing.

What indeed could Canada do if a terrorist attack occurred here? Well, I think we both know that Canada can’t do much except pick up the phone and dial 1-800-USA-HELP. That’s why your government’s continuing anti-American comments and slights have made Americans so angry.

[texasflower]

Well, I live in Texas, a fairly small town northwest of Houston. I was out running errands yesterday and saw no less than 10 British flags, as well as a couple from Poland, Italy, Australia and Spain.

Perhaps you don't recognize flags from other countries. I'm not trying to be mean or ugly. What I am trying to say is that love and support can sometimes be shown only in small ways.

Let us view flags of other countries waving in our winds as a joy, not a suspicion.

[Alberta's Child]

I don't question the fact that people in the U.S. fly flags of other nations -- I'm asking how many people in the U.S. fly foreign flags specifically to show solidarity with another nation at a time of difficulty for that nation.

I may be worng about this, but I just don't think it happens very often in this country.

[proud American in Canada]

I don't mean to sound like a surfer dude or something, but WHAT AN AWESOME LETTER!!!

Thank you so much for posting it! :)

[proud American in Canada]

Regarding Western separation, well, yesterday the House of Commons voted to include sexual orientation in the "hate crimes" law, which includes speech, despite the fears of many that this will eventually result in a court ruling that the Bible is hate speech.

The day before that, the House voted not to retain the traditional definition of marriage. Members of the NDP and the Liberal Ministers, I believe, were not allowed to have a "free vote," where they could vote their conscience. They were instructed to vote the party line. The Canadian Alliance, on the other hand, did allow their members to vote their conscience/how their constituents wanted.

I think the chokehold that the Liberal party has on Canada will eventually result in the destruction of the country. When three unelected judges can decide, with the stroke of a pen, that an institution as important as marriage should be fundamentally altered, despite the current government having been elected after promising not to change marriage (which it did promise), democracy has crumbled. People are eventually going to want to reclaim their country, at least I hope so.

[proud American in Canada]

"I may be wrong about this, but I just don't think it happens very often in this country."

I don't think I've ever heard of anyone in the U.S. go out and purchase a flag of a country that is experiencing difficulty and then hoist it up the flagpole. No, I don't think you're wrong about that at all! :)

It is a very different issue than flying the flag of your heritage, which happens a lot.

Though I still get chills down my spine when I think of how my evil stepmother (really!), a German national (my father was out of his mind... or something...when he married her), insisted on flying a huge German flag outside the house I grew up in. This is a woman who is currently on vacations in, of all places, DUBAI! I sure hope Customs gives her a thorough examination when she gets back to Chicago.

hint hint, any Customs lurkers...

[proud American in Canada]

I posted a link to this thread over at Free Dominion (the Canadian equivalent of FR and run by ConnieW).

For those of you who haven't checked it out, FD is a terrific place, full of Canadians who care deeply about their country. Check it out! :)

http://www.freedominion.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=128997#128997

[Snowyman]

Regarding Western separation

Don't . It's not going to happen and those that think it will , think again. The main reason , forget the emotional and patriotic aspect and the political, is simple. Economics. Those same people , who complain how bad it is , will always find a reason and excuse , to stay. The reality is if their country means that little to them , leave , because those that choose to stay and fight for change don't need to hear the whining . In the sixties , " Love it or Leave it ", was almost an American battle cry .

yesterday the House of Commons voted to include sexual orientation

The same legislation is already in law , in at least 13 US states, using the words "sexual orientation". Over 40 have "hate laws".

the House voted not to retain the traditional definition of marriage

I have been told by others here that "civil union " for all purposes is the same thing as marriage . Recognized in other states or not , the US opened that door 2 years ago in Vermont . I point this out only to ask if our foundation has been weakened , what of yours?

I think the choke hold that the Liberal party has on Canada , , When three unelected judges can decide

This morning we are greeted with the news that the Alliance and PC parties are again attempting to merge together under the name Conservative Party of Canada. This is not being done in public by Harper and MacKay. The back room boys , former Conservative premiers and senior politicians , respected men, are at work here. Once an agreement is reached and If the conservative memberships of Canada can not agree, then we are the problem , not the Liberals ,

The three judges are at the pleasure of the majority in Parliament. And they are allowed to do as they do because the Liberal party , the majority , allows them to do it. Chretien was one of those that included the "notwithstanding" clause in the 1982 constitution. Intentionally placed there to stop the Court from over powering Parliament. And now he takes perverted pride in saying that he has never used it to override the Court

That will change. Takes time.

[agrace]

Great lines. Hard to argue with him, even though he is the antagonist. :) My favorite from that movie -

"Why do you like them so much?"

"Because they stand on a wall, and say that no one's gonna hurt you tonight, not on my watch."

God bless every single one of them, all over the world and right here at home too.

[Trouble North of the Border]

"The three judges are at the pleasure of the majority in Parliament"

No they are there at the pleasure of the Prime Minister's office. And yes, it is going to take a lot of work and time to change that.

[Snowyman]

The three judges are at the pleasure of the majority in Parliament"

True, appointed by the PMO but the majority of Parliament , the Liberals , could use the Not Withstanding clause at any time and take away their power. As it is the Liberals are hiding behind the SC , they don't dare initiate any of the rulings on their own. What interests me is, do any of the provinces have the balls to use it now? They've used it 16 times. The Federal Liberals, never.

[MontanaBeth]

Living in the North Western part of Montana, just miles from the Canadian border, I see many Canadian flags right next to the American flag. I see all the Candian license plates and know Candian's who have chosen to move to the United states, without fail they tell of having wanted to stay in their own country but were taxed and legislated out.
I have never heard a word from U.S. citizens blasting their government or insulting their country. How sad and reckless of them. It is important to know who your friends are, and sounds as though Canada may not be one of them.

[RonF]

I just wanted to make sure that any Canadians reading this thread understand the distinction we're making.

[MistyCA]

Your response to Ms K is fantastic!

[MistyCA]

Alberta, I personally think our historic response of sending money, aide, assistance, support, etc, is far more indictive of solidarity than flying the flag of that nation. The fact that we are a free nation that allows people of any country to come here and hold demonstrations to recognize the strife or advances of their foreign land (Cinco de Mayo, demonstrations of those who fled Cuba, Sons of Norway, German October Fests, Greek festivals, International food festivals, and on and on) on a daily basis whenever and whereever, shows our tolerance and support to individual heritage. Not once have I EVER been criticized or chastised for displaying my heritage and pride in my ancestor's homeland. Never once have I been unable to research, learn the language, travel to visit or encouraged against flying the flag on ANY other country. I guess we just have a different "take" on the subject.

[MistyCA]

Very disturbing. After all, marriage is a sacrament and Government has no right to interfere with God, imo. In fact, although the liberals would have us believe otherwise, that is the true intent of the separation of Church and State. How dare they! Government offends the senses of people when they begin to cast a net over us and tell us how to think. Our ancestors fought against that. I cringe to see their efforts spat upon.

[Canadian Outrage]

I wish you could have heard the "Dave Rutherford Show" yesterday morning. He's a Conservative talk show host from Calgary. He used to be on in Ontario but guess what - CUT!! No surprise. Anyway, he reported that some Liberals DID vote against it, All the Canadian Alliance voted against it and about 34 chickenshit Liberals stayed home. It became an absolsute tie so they had to bring in the speaker of the house to break the tie in favour of the Liberals. There will be repercussions from this. Normally, Liberals are NOT allowed to vote their conscience. If they do they are kicked out and relegated to the backbenches. Tyranny pure and simple. However, because the creep is on his way out some who would have been hurt politically DID vote against it. There is actually quite a bit of division in the Liberal Party right now. Chretien has not only been destructive to Canada but he's been destructive and divisive to the Liberal Party. I hope they self-destruct.!! The fall out is NOT over and I'm glad this happened because it is going to become an election issue you can be sure. I agree with you about attempting to make the Bible hate speech. They have been trying that for awhile now. It doesn't matter WHAT the Liberals pass, if the West doesn't like it, they refuse to enforce it. As in yesterday, The Kelowna RCMP said the possession of any pot in B.C. is illegal!! Ralph Klien from Alberta regularly tells the Feds to stick it!! Bottom line however, I agree, that if Liberals are continually elected they will destroy the Country. If a raging Liberal in the US is elected it will destroy that Country too. I cannot believe the venomous species of Democrats that now exist in the US. They are just like the Canadian Liberals. The safeguard that the USA has however is the Electoral College whereby the voting system is not completely lopsided (even with the Democratic cheat machine)!! I have no doubt what day we are living in. I wish you could get Dave Rutherford. He's our version of a Rush L. He's just great. Why else would they take him off the air in Ontario?

[MistyCA]

OMG....there goes my lunch again! :(

[Criminal Number 18F]

Many years ago -- in the Diefenbaker era -- the Canadian MOD made a conscious decision that Canada would abdicate its independent national defence and throw in with the USA.

That decision had consequences that still resonate. Prior to that date in the early sixties, Canada had everything it needed for self-defence, from its own arms industry to its own military thinkers. All of that is gone; Canadians go to war in foreign planes, holding a foreign rifle, following foreign leaders and implementing foreign ideas.

IIRC, the battle watch officer at NORAD was a Canadian, on 9/11, and many of the decisions taken that day were his. A Canadian infantry unit also served well in Afghanistan, the Canadians and Britons being the only conventional units that can plug into a US operation today without a serious degradation of capability (except night ops; no one can touch the US there, and Canada and the UK can't spend the training money).

But the Canadian forces, while professional, have no capability beyond UN peacekeeping or integration of a small element into a US task force. They are just too small. But this is a conscious decision that was taken by a Conservative government and which has only been affirmed by each succeding government, every one of which has cut back until there isn't much left beyond a political token.

It all started with NORAD integration and the CF-105. But the guy who made those decisions, MOD George Pearkes VC, was trying to do what was best for Canada -- and what Canada could afford. He had no fear of Americans, having fought alongside them as a peer in two world wars. What we see are the unintended consequences of Pearkes's decisions: Canadians still fight alongside Americans, sometimes, but not quite as peers.

It really doesn't matter whether Canada has a military any more, let alone whether they send it anywhere. We will defend the continent because we're on it ourselves, and the footprint of our defence is big enough that the vast majority of Canadians, whose cities hug the border, will always be safe, whether they do anything to help or not. The presence of 270 million people next door, probably half of whom don't understand that Canada is a separate country, is overpowering to many Canadians, and politicians take shots at the USA to show how independent they are. Because (and you see this in how this lady defends herself), anglophone Canadians really don't have much of a national identity, except in terms of, "Not the USA."

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[Alberta's Child]

Alberta, I personally think our historic response of sending money, aide, assistance, support, etc, is far more indictive of solidarity than flying the flag of that nation.

Exactly. Which is why flying flags to "show solidarity" is such a dumb idea to begin with.