Mo from Canada
Dear America,
A lot of people are angry with you right now, and I think you may have trouble understanding why.
It's not just that you lie, cheat and steal. And it's not only that you don't care what the rest of us think, or even if we exist. It's not just that you're always at war and telling us to jump in. It's more than the fact that you never admit to being wrong, ever.
It is indeed all of these things, and plenty more, because let's face it; you've banged into everybody over the years, with varying damages. There isn't one nation most of us can name that you haven't invaded, exploited, threatened, tried to intimidate, or disenfranchise at one time or another, and let me tell you, the ones we can't name have seen for themselves or heard us all talk. But the reason I am angry is one I believe is buried underneath the surface of a lot of frustration toward you in the world, because, as you often tell us, you're not all bad.
The things you have bragged about for so long, your courage, conviction, willingness to stand up and fight for what's right, for the rights and freedoms you claim to have introduced to the world, we are not seeing; it is clearer than ever at this moment that you have been resting on your laurels. You have really accomplished many things to be proud of, and if you could sit upon your feats humbly, perhaps much respect would flow your way. However, it seems that for years you have pointed at the will of your forefathers and demanded respect for their integrity, yet these are men who would have looked at your last two elections and picked up guns. Not only are you resting, your accomplishments are being erased.
A large part of you realizes what's wrong, but we the world see no significant effort on your part to take control while crimes are being committed in your name, and so sympathy is fading fast. It is not enough to say that your vote went the other way when you know that the process is damaged. It is not enough to say that it is out of your hands when you have not attempted to grasp it. When your system has run away from you, and is taking drastic measures throughout the world for its self-preservation, it may take drastic measures to halt it and set it right. If this is not done before it is too late, eventually you will have to recover what was lost by inaction.
We are frustrated because something has to be done, only you can do it, but you're not. And quite possibly over two billion people in the world are behind you.
This is not a left or right issue. It is right or wrong, do or don't. You don't blame the left arm for letting the right arm smack when they share the same head. You who understand what is happening are already more capable than the rest in this tug of war, because your fight is on the side of truth. History shows that truth eventually conquers, but not by itself. It has to be spoken loudly, shouted when necessary, and defended at all costs. If there is one ultimate purpose we as a species can reasonably point to in response to "why?" it is truth.
You have been taught to take criticism of your country personally, and respond defensively, but the America I am speaking to should be hearing encouragement. The truth is, led by you, your nation has the influence and wealth to steer the world in the curing of many of humanity's ails, thereby greatly reducing angst, conflict and the "need" for exorbitant defenses, and vastly increasing the wealth and standard of living for everyone. We have reached a place in time when we can either create huge problems or solve huge problems, and you just happen to be at the helm, holding the responsibility that goes with it. Is America a place where you sit back and see what happens? The destructive force that smears your name represents you only with your consent.
About the author:
Name: Mo
Age: 22
Country: Canada
City: Ontario
Gender: Male
Experience with America: Visited the United States
21 Comments
Published on Thursday, February 15, 2007 at 9:05 PM. A lot of people are angry with you right now, and I think you may have trouble understanding why.
It's not just that you lie, cheat and steal. And it's not only that you don't care what the rest of us think, or even if we exist. It's not just that you're always at war and telling us to jump in. It's more than the fact that you never admit to being wrong, ever.
It is indeed all of these things, and plenty more, because let's face it; you've banged into everybody over the years, with varying damages. There isn't one nation most of us can name that you haven't invaded, exploited, threatened, tried to intimidate, or disenfranchise at one time or another, and let me tell you, the ones we can't name have seen for themselves or heard us all talk. But the reason I am angry is one I believe is buried underneath the surface of a lot of frustration toward you in the world, because, as you often tell us, you're not all bad.
The things you have bragged about for so long, your courage, conviction, willingness to stand up and fight for what's right, for the rights and freedoms you claim to have introduced to the world, we are not seeing; it is clearer than ever at this moment that you have been resting on your laurels. You have really accomplished many things to be proud of, and if you could sit upon your feats humbly, perhaps much respect would flow your way. However, it seems that for years you have pointed at the will of your forefathers and demanded respect for their integrity, yet these are men who would have looked at your last two elections and picked up guns. Not only are you resting, your accomplishments are being erased.
A large part of you realizes what's wrong, but we the world see no significant effort on your part to take control while crimes are being committed in your name, and so sympathy is fading fast. It is not enough to say that your vote went the other way when you know that the process is damaged. It is not enough to say that it is out of your hands when you have not attempted to grasp it. When your system has run away from you, and is taking drastic measures throughout the world for its self-preservation, it may take drastic measures to halt it and set it right. If this is not done before it is too late, eventually you will have to recover what was lost by inaction.
We are frustrated because something has to be done, only you can do it, but you're not. And quite possibly over two billion people in the world are behind you.
This is not a left or right issue. It is right or wrong, do or don't. You don't blame the left arm for letting the right arm smack when they share the same head. You who understand what is happening are already more capable than the rest in this tug of war, because your fight is on the side of truth. History shows that truth eventually conquers, but not by itself. It has to be spoken loudly, shouted when necessary, and defended at all costs. If there is one ultimate purpose we as a species can reasonably point to in response to "why?" it is truth.
You have been taught to take criticism of your country personally, and respond defensively, but the America I am speaking to should be hearing encouragement. The truth is, led by you, your nation has the influence and wealth to steer the world in the curing of many of humanity's ails, thereby greatly reducing angst, conflict and the "need" for exorbitant defenses, and vastly increasing the wealth and standard of living for everyone. We have reached a place in time when we can either create huge problems or solve huge problems, and you just happen to be at the helm, holding the responsibility that goes with it. Is America a place where you sit back and see what happens? The destructive force that smears your name represents you only with your consent.
About the author:
Name: Mo
Age: 22
Country: Canada
City: Ontario
Gender: Male
Experience with America: Visited the United States
Labels: 20's, americans, canada, foreign affairs, foreign policy, freedom, male, military, north america, politics, visited the US, war and conflict
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Point taken, but wouldn't you say that the record number of protests, the recent elections which brought the democrats to power, and the extremely low approval ratings of the president are a sign that Americans actually do care and are actually trying to do something about it?
record number of protests are happening too late and aren't working. sorry, try harder please?
It must be very easy to just sit back in Canada and blame people
We lie, cheat and steal?
Nice generalization.
That's like saying all Canadians resent the US because we are bigger, freer, more successful and smarter than you are.
But we all know that is only 90% of you that suffer from "geopolitical penis envy", not all 100%
Protests are nothing more than unhinged and immature liberals all getting together to prove how smart they are, to share drugs, find an excuse to skip school/work, and get laid. Liberal protesting hippy chicks are known to be easy scores.
Thank goodness you speak from such a moral authority, mr.smarterthanyou. You are in the perfect position to criticize someone for generalizing... oh wait, nm "Liberal protesting hippy chicks are known to be easy scores."
Up your meds Mo.
What a load of lefty crap. The world is far better off for America, especially Canada and Canadians who can rail against America on an Internet developed by America and go to bed without a worry because their big neighbor to the South buffers them from any shock or harm.
It is a particularly unhinged criticism to charge that America has not helped cure the world's ills. Do you worry about contracting polio, cheddarhead? I'll bet that nice American vaccine cures you of any worries. How about smallpox? Eradicated. Guess who made that happen, you witless America-basher? I'll give you a hint: It wasn't Canada.
Every country that establishes a relationship with America becomes richer and freer. We beat two racist tyrannies in WWII, then made them into economic superpowers. Where in human history is such benevolence to vanquished foes duplicated? Nowhere.
You should thank your lucky stars that you have America for a neighbor instead of Russia or China or Iran. Canada has gotten one big free ride, carried along by America's market and protected by American might.
Of course America is sometimes wrong and not infrequently. But will non-Americans ever admit that America is ever right about anything? Will non-Americans ever admit that other non-Americans blame a lot of their own problems on the United States? Lets face it, if the major conflicts of the last century had depended on the intervention of, say, Canada, democracy would likely be extinct in places like Europe today.
I am afraid many of you are proving part of my point, as nationalism is oozing out of nearly every comment.
My generalizations were aimed at the way America conducts itself as a body on the world stage. This was not an attack on the people of America, but a plea for you to halt the momentum of a process which a majority of the world believes will lead to disaster.
As I wrote, you have indeed accomplished many things to be proud of, there is no need to list them. However, many of you seem to be proud of spreading the ideal of democracy when your own system has proven to be ineffective. I urge you to look in to the failures of the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections and realize that simply voting for the other side of the coin won't solve this problem. There is a dire lack of accountability being displayed in the highest levels of American government, and it is having world-wide repercussions. This is what makes it the concern of Canadians and every other citizen of Earth.
I only wish to communicate the philosophy that a citizenry should show political responsibility equal to or greater than their international influence. I do not speak on behalf of a country, I speak as an individual living in the world.
Canada? Where's that? Haven't we taken over that place yet. Where's my world map? :-)
Oh Dear Lord, define 'political responsiblity', please. Accountable to whom, and for what exactly?
We freaking fund the UN. We're behind fighting against human rights violations. We pour more money into the world community than anyone else. We will also put our physical selves on the line when necessary. Got a tsunami, here we come. Earthquake? We're there. Ethnic cleansing? We get there when we can but we cannot interfere with every squabble worldwide. No matter what our reputation, we actually do have limits. Take a number.
What is it exactly that we're failing to do? Oh, sit here humbly because we're being criticized again? I'm sorry but I'm LMAO.
Son, if Canada were invaded tomorrow, you darn well know who would be the first over the border to die protect your asses because it would be the right thing to do. And yes, all the while a segment of your population would be griping that somehow, we got it wrong, AGAIN.
We're used to doing and being criticized. We're used to writing checks and sending out the posse, only to be condemned. AIDS in Africa, here is 5 billion. Oh America, that wasn't ENOUGH. Ad nauseum and infinitum.
Whatever, Mo. Like children, the world will gripe that they don't like our style, our priorities, our methods no matter what we do. Yeah, sure we step in it upon occasion, but damn if we don't get it right a lot of the time.
And our political situation is intact, thanks. The grand idea that is America is bigger than any political party or administration.
Aww, c'mon guys. Let's get along, can't we?
I'm a proud U.S. citizen, but I know that Canadian students are proud of their heritage, too. Who invented insulin? Don't know? Look it up.
Who invented sonar? Java computer language? Snow mobile, zipper, BASKETBALL?
I agree about the lefty crap label, though. :)
I don't expect to reverse your programming Mr. "Anonymous." But I do wonder who it is who could attack Canada. I only wonder because Americans are always saying they are protecting this country from some enemy. To my knowledge, Canada has no enemies, and we only border one nation. Well, there's a French owned island pretty close, but I don't think it would be the best launching pad for a French military invasion.
You can indulge in the hero fantasy all you please, though.
Mo: "But I do wonder who it is who could attack Canada. ... To my knowledge, Canada has no enemies, and we only border one nation."
Mo, think carefully about that statement. You only have one neighbor and no enemies. One neighbor. No enemy. You can't even imagine any country who could attack Canada. Why do you think that is? Why do you feel so safe? Why?
Take all the time you need. I'm confident you'll figure it out.
Then when you've got it, put yourself in American shoes and consider how much Canada sounds like a whiny teenager who boasts that he is so much better and smarter and moral than his parents, the ones who keep him safe.
Wait, wait, wait, safe from who? Canada doesn't piss anyone off.
Why does America have enemies? Because America attacks and intimidates countries that don't bow to them. You can't answer my question, who would or could attack us? It's easy to claim to be protecting us from nonexistant danger.
How did your government do protecting you on 9/11 by the way? Maybe if they had struck in Canada, you guys would have intercepted those planes! Thank you so much for your shelter. We would be invaded by polar bears if it wasn't for you guys.
Hey, maybe you're protecting us by acting like such fascists on an international level, that no one would want to attack us no matter what we did. They might as well just attack you guys. That might serve a purpose. Keep it up America.
Mo, get off your high horse before you do any more damage to your credibility. You've finally gotten around to calling the US (or was it Americans?) fascists which is a real low blow, not to mention rediculous. You can continue parsing with our American friends until you're blue in the face but it won't get you anywhere because you are simply wrong. Wrong about many things, including claiming that Canada doesn't have any enemies. Does the name Osama Bin Laden ring any bells? Canada has been identified as an Al Queda target, even before we (I am Canadian) got into Afghanistan. Can't remember what we did or said that upset him so much. Also, we have our own fair share of homegrown Islamic radicals who conspire against us. Yes, I know it's hard living next door to the most powerful nation in the history of the world, and no the US is not perfect, their democracy is as imperfect as ours, but thank your lucky stars that it's not China, Russia or an Islamic Caliphate running the show, then you'd really have a legitimate beef. People all over the world have lost all their perspective when they reserve their most strident criticism for democracies, where the rule of law generally prevails, where people are generally free, where there's freedom of speech and freedom of religion. It's a crazy, mixed up world but the US is not the cause. I only hope it has the solution because as far as I can see there's not another nation on earth that's even prepared to confront the issues that are plaguing us. You may not like their solutions, and I sometimes don't, but who else is there to do the dirty work for the rest of us? Or haven't you realized yet that the world is a lot, a lot, smaller these days?
If you don't realize that the current US administration has fascists tendencies, you need to read the dictionary definiton of fascism again. And if you still don't realize it, you should go and read all the US news from the past five years.
Please wake up, this isn't a game.
Who funded and trained Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan? Who allowed the Taliban to take control and did business with them? Come on, this isn't secret information. The one enemy of Canada you could name was created by America.
I am a Canadian, and this summer some some of us are going to have a hunt of our own. That's right there is a government sponsored special season on Yankee. For furthur information email Dennis Rohel at drohel2004@yahoo.ca. Ask about the "We Bag Em Special" to kill your own Yankee today.
Mr. Smarterthanyou
3/02/2007 12:21 PM
We lie, cheat and steal?
Nice generalization.
That's like saying all Canadians resent the US because we are bigger, freer, more successful and smarter than you are.
But we all know that is only 90% of you that suffer from "geopolitical penis envy", not all 100%
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Uhh actually Canada is a bigger landmass than the US. After living in the U.S. for over 17, and now living in Canada, I realize it is "freer" over here. Oh and for the most part, people here could pin pint where you live on the map.
I think legal proceedings and police investigations of Dennis "I kill Americans" Rohel are in order. Seriously.