Years ago, the wife of a publisher for whom I briefly worked met a Canadian diplomat. She was not, shall we say, intellectually sophisticated. “Why don’t you just join the United States?” she asked.
I was shocked and horribly embarrassed. The Canadian took it all instride. They are used to it. They’ve been putting up with our boorishness for a century and a half, and usually handle our bad manners with good grace.
The more you learn about the way the United States has treated Canada, the more you want to put a bag over your head any time you cross the border.
A few years ago, I had a Canadian college student who was, well, gorgeous. All the American guys were after her. In an effort to impress her, one showed her his cell phone. “This is a cell phone,” he said. “Have you ever seen one in Canada?” Another guy, when told she lived in Canada, reacted with confusion. “The bars in Windsor?” he said. “You live in the bars?”
However, our leaders have done their best to top that. When Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau spoke to Congress, a senior Wisconsin member said with admiration: “Some members of Congress didn’t think a Canadian could speak such good English.” President Lyndon Johnson once grabbed a Canadian Prime Minister by the lapels and shook him like a dog for not sufficiently supporting the Vietnam War.
Later, when LBJ visited the same man, Lester Pearson, a burly guard grabbed Pearson when he got up one night. “Who are you and where are you going?“ he barked. “I’m the Prime Minister of Canada, I live here and I’m about to go to the bathroom,” Pearson said.
There are many stories like that. They are embarrassing most of all because Canada is so important to us. Trade between Michigan and Ontario alone amounts to something like $100 billion every year.
Life as we know it wouldn’t be possible in the United States or Canada without each other. So yes, you are bound to take your sister a bit for granted, eh? But you don’t ask her who her father is.
Nor do you cheat her out of money that is rightfully hers. With regard to the softwood lumber dispute, we are treating Canada with less respect than we would show Chad.
Well, you may think that’s fine. But they have a lot more lumber up there, and minerals, not to mention oil. Some day, Canada may say, “You’ll be sorry.” And if so, you know what?
We will be.
Since I currently reside in Ohio I am not sure whether I am allowed to comment or not. In the hope that I can I just want to say first of all that I enjoy listening to you; when possible that is.
Secondly, regarding your comments pertaining to the "Softwood Lumber" dispute I whole heartedly agree. The American argument is questionable at best. If Canada eventually decides to apply tarrifs on products that we sell to them we will be the big looser and I fear that Michigan will be the biggest looser. Additionally, I believe it was Ambasidor Blanchard that said on your show today, that this issue has hurt our immage with the rest of the world. I was afraid of that. How can President Bush be so blind or is it that he simply doesn't care?
Thanks for presenting this on your program.
Posted by: Joe from Toledo | November 28, 2005 at 02:56 PM
Thank you, Joe for your kind comments -- and I am always happy to have listeners and comment from everywhere!
Jack
Posted by: Jack Lessenberry | November 28, 2005 at 05:43 PM