April 21, 2005
In the previous post I identified some of the images that Americans have of Canada and Canadians, gleaned from a number of sites that deal with American attitudes to Canada.It is interesting that truth is less palatable than fiction on occasion. Many Americans, especially of the far-right variety, insist on repeating the fiction that the 9/11 terrorists entered the United States from Canada, when in fact they did not. They entered the US legally, through American ports of entry such as new York City. They were in possession of valid visas issued by the good old U.S.ofA. They received flight training, such as it was, in places like Florida, from U.S. trainers. Imagine that.
One wonders why the U.S. far-right, and their pet media outlets, such as Fox News and CNN continue to promote this falsehood, and only admit it is not true when cornered by some of their own news releases. What is to be gained from this?
Those who label Canada a communist country, a la Cuba, China or North Korea, are either displaying their ignorance of political and economic theory, or are simply trying to use it as a slur against Canada, to support whatever other biases that they want to promote.
I have visited Cuba 2x in the last few years and have noted less poverty and disenfranchisement of people that I have seen in visits to New York City, Chicago, Detroit and Miami. All children go to school, and no one dies because they are so poor they can't pay for treatment.
While Cuba's record on human rights is not great, the United States operates an interesting facility at Guantanomo Bay, that is not exactly for the promotion of international human rights.
Excuse me for wondering if the word "communism" has become a meaningless epithet that Americans throw out every time they want to condem some one who has a different point of view.
It boggles the mind trying to figure out how the U.S. tax payers are construed as paying for
Canada's defense. Are we to believe that our neighbour to the south has troops on guard 24/7 to just protect Canada from our enemies, who are just waiting for the US to let its guard down so they can invade Canada?
Are we to believe that in the event that missiles are fired at the US on a trajectory that would take them over Canada, the shooting down nuclear missiles would not take place over Canada if we joined missile defense?
I think what many mean, but don't have the gall to admit it, is that Canada should be helping pay for the invasion and occupation of any country that the US, in its infinite wisdom, deems to possess weapons of mass destruction...... or petroleum.
So to the American tax payers, keep your cheque book handy because George might decide that Canada needs more protection.
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