March 11

Scary dreams last night.  It's interesting what is happening in the minds of many Canadians in regards to the US as a world power with the current impending attack on Iraq.  Some individuals in US politics, and other US citizens wonder at the occasional, and perhaps increasing, hostile or prejudiced anger directed at them from some Canadians. 

I have a number of friends who are US citizen's and whose politics I respect and values are in line with my own, and others I respect who's beliefs and values are different from my own.  Though there are other, experiences, I've had with US citizen's, and messages from them, that have created, an underlying edge in my thinking when it comes to regard to the US.  Though I have many friends in the US, and I think of them as normal, sane, caring, friendly, warm, intelligent people, my underlying gut feeling about the US as a country, is something very different.  How many times working in the tourist industry in my youth, did I encounter tourists from the US, who ridiculed Canada, and not always in the easy going friendly way in regards to language differences or money differences, those comments fly freely between the border - both ways, but the more, well, really frightening sentiments, that I encountered over and over again. 

Sentiments in the minds of an uncomfortably large percentage of US citizen's that I've encountered, and people I know have encountered that have left a negative impression, that continues to grow, in the thoughts and feelings of many of my fellow Canadians. Implications or out right statements from those in the US that Canada doesn't really exist, we're really just a part of the US and don't realize it, or, comments about how they could just come in and take over Canada, or Canadian resources, any time they wanted, and our independence is some kind of 'gift' that we should be grateful for.  Spoken and unspoken reminders that because we have invested less in our military power, that we are weak, and with all the resources we possess, ripe for the picking if we don't 'put out' in regards to US demands.  Sharing such a big border, with our 'big brother' is an interesting position to be in. 

There is a growing world view, of the US as a bullying, terrorist Country.  This view, in many places, is coming to the fore front in the light of recent developments in the conflict between the US and Iraq.

After the tragic events of September 11th, there was an increasing tension in the air.  Palatable.  I started hearing stories of more and more unpleasant border crossing experiences.  Elderly people I know subjected to random body cavity search, the explanation given to them, harshly, that they were simply picked at random.  People being turned away with or without a passport.  I made the decision, that I just wasn't comfortable crossing the border at this time, given the climate at the border.  I haven't been comfortable since.  There are people in the US I would like to visit.  I'm honestly, afraid to go there.

I'm not alone.  Many of the people I know say they won't visit the US now, an increasing number of people I know say they are afraid to visit the US, are they afraid of terrorist attacks from other countries on the US? partly, mostly, they are afraid of US authorities, even though these people have done nothing wrong.

Last night, I had a dream, I dreamt that someone had dropped bombs all over the country, I dreamt that the ground and soil was saturated and contaminated with vile chemicals, I dreamt our water was polluted and all our forests burnt to the ground, I dreamt that the US had bombed us.  I dreamt that I was afraid to leave my home, and afraid to stay, and that I had no where to go, and fires raged everywhere.  I woke up, stayed awake for an hour, went back to sleep, and still dreamt the same dream.

People around the world are saying over and over again, that one of the main concerns they have with the US going to war without UN backing, is that they are setting a precedent, they are saying, if we are big enough, and powerful enough, it doesn't matter what the world thinks, we're right, might makes right, and if we don't like what another country is doing, we have the right to go in and do something about militarily.  This is a message that many people 'get' from the US, over an over again, directly, or indirectly, and it's terrifying.  Where do you draw the line?  Yes it's clear there really is a 'bad guy' over there in Iraq, and there is some justification behind the choices and actions of the US, though I don't personally feel it is justification enough, not for waging war.  But if it requires no one's justification but their own?  How can you trust that next time, the justification won't even involve a 'bad guy'...  Words like, if you're not with us, your against us, and anyone not fighting the terrorists with us, is a terrorist as well... well... we've heard words like those from the US, and the feeling is, what stops us from being next on the list? 

Canada has huge amounts of natural resources... if we're already 'them' because we're not 'us', then... ?  Is it only a matter of time? 

Is Canada just the US's 'bitch' and we're still in favor, because even though we talk back at times, and hold our own ground on occasion, the bottom line is, we're still putting out.  If we decided not to, then what? 

Do something right now, go into the search engine of your choice, and type in: US sentiment

What percentage of your results yield anti-US sentiment?  Change your search by changing the name of the country from US to any other country.

Another brief search, yielded some interesting quotes from US citizens.

"Not satisfied with a war in Afghanistan, a War on Terror, and an impending war with Iraq, my buddy, Jonah Goldberg, editor of National Review Online, wants the US to invade Canada. However, the warmongering editors at National Review should bear in mind that historically the Canadians have thrashed us every time we invaded them."

"The US would roll over canada in a few days. We would have subs on 3 sides of the country launching nukes, the army and marines would be going across the border. The air force would come from all directions with stealth tech. and smart bombs. What makes you canooks think you stand a chance. The reason the us did not win veitnam is we were not alowed to win. We weren't alowed to take ground. The only reason we have't done more is all the hippie war protesters."

"Anyway, speaking of finite natural resources, the best-kept secret in world politics right now is the impending global water shortage. You think you can't make do on less 25 gallons of gas a month? Wait'll you have to cut down on water.

Here's the deal: Worldwide, consumption of water will double over the next 20 years, yet the amount of water on Earth will remain exactly what it has always been, according to a recent report called "Blue Gold: The Global Water Crisis," which warns of impending shortages. Now, only 1 percent of the water on Earth is drinkable, and 20 percent of that water is in Canada. Not coincidentally, the report is authored by Maude Barlow, a Canadian activist. See, the Canucks are already scared. They know the US of A has had no qualms about bombing the snot out of countries we've never heard of for the sake of shaving a few pennies off gasoline prices. They know that if Uncle Sam gets thirsty, he's not going to play nice."

"So I say, why wait? Let's invade Canada now, eh? Bomb Montreal or Quebec or whatever their damn capitol is and send the marines in to surround Lake Ontario. Do it now and beat the rush, while we still have enough gasoline to get there."

"Canadians suck
a response by, December 4, 2002

we r gonna bomb your asses"

"Without US cash, you would still be living in a vast frozen tundra. Let's face it - the US is being merciful to you by only allowing a 29% tariff on soft lumber. The US could just say "oh well, F canada, let's ban importing their wood..." We're all facing a declining economy, and hey, I'd rather save an American job over some Ice Monkey's...

As I've stated before, your people should be appreciative that we don't just ban imports from your country. As much as you'd like to think that closing off your gaslines and water would hurt us, it isn't really that big of a deal. The US could easily live without anything Canada has to offer - it's plentiful elsewhere. Without the US, Canada would collapse into total disarray..."

"Yes, this was made about Bush, and his plan to blow the hell out of Iraq. I feel though that we should take a bigger, more resourcefull landmass like Canada."

"Everyone hates Canada. Here are a few of the reasons I do. Since it's invade Canada day on MeFi, let's take a moment to realize what Canada has given us"

...

There is also a lot of humour out there, about the whole situation, but humour is often the way people deal with uncomfortable issues.  It's getting to be less and less funny, as I sit watching the news night after night.

Do I hate the US, no, I think most US citizens are intelligent, caring, decent human beings.  Am I afraid of some elements of US government and culture, and the effect it has on Canada, and.. the effects it has on US citizens themselves.  Yes.  The US is a unique country in the world.  It's a powerful country, and in many areas, a conflicted country. 

I don't have answers, I don't have solutions... unfortunately, I do have nightmares.

Hopefully, they are not premonitions.

I think as individuals, we are more powerful than we give ourselves credit for.  I don't want to tell anyone how to think, and I don't want any of my 'might' what little I have, to make right.  I want people to think for themselves, and empower themselves, and the people around them.  Whatever -your- sentiments are, voice them.  Whatever your beliefs are, research them, understand them, educate yourself, so that you feel confident and grounded in your sentiments. 

If you truly want to make a difference, you can find a way.

We are not our countries... we are ourselves, but together, we can create movement.

I had another little dream last night, it was a weird dream, I was using the metaphor of food to explain to someone about being true to their own nature.  I was saying "don't eat meat and potatoes if your not a meat and potatoes person, if your a spicy prawn stir fry person, eat spicy prawn stir fry, because if you just go with the status quo most of the time, and order meat and potatoes, soon there won't even be spicy prawn stir fry on the menu, future generations may not even know they had the option"

Dreams are weird, powerful things.

and you are, what you eat.