As a Canadian, I was moved by the kind and supportive messages many Americans tweeted for our national holiday, Canada Day, July 1st. Thank you, dear folks, for giving me the nudge I needed to write this tribute to our long Canadian-American friendship; it’s something I’ve been wanting to do for quite some time. What better time than now, with our birthdays so close together and with the challenges facing our friendship as regards trade and other matters?
May we consider that just as all people need friends, particularly in times of hardship and sorrow, countries need friends too. It’s not healthy for individuals or nations to alienate themselves. As for our two countries, it’s important to remember that we’re neighbours who’ve been there for each other in the past. It’s wise to remember that bond and the other special bonds Canada and the USA have shared over the course of many many years.
Along with wishing our neighbours to the south (and north!) a safe and happy Independence Day, I’d like to provide some information that many Americans and some Canadians may not know regarding our mutual friendship. Here’s a video by Tom Brokaw from the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. (A little dated now, but still…)
International Peace Parks
The video starts with the Peace Arch border crossing south of Vancouver. I have fond memories from childhood of that place. It intrigued me that I could have one foot in Canada and the other foot in the United States at the same time, just by straddling an invisible line called the 49th parallel!
In preparing this blog, I came across another international peace park, actually garden, shared between our two countries: the International Peace Garden in Dunseith, North Dakota. I was touched by the joint 9/11 ceremony of remembrance held there in 2008. State Senator Richard Marcellais is reported to have expressed gratitude that in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, “our northern friends grieved with us.” For Americans who don’t know: On 9/11, your pain was felt keenly by Canadians and we did indeed grieve with you.
Personal Stories
Sharing the personal makes for more interesting reading. I’ll share a couple of little stories here and sure hope you’ll do the same in the comments section below! It could be your reflections about anything in this blog, OR stories pertaining to Canadians and Americans relating with each other, OR the notions (perhaps stereotypical) that we have of each other. For instance, I grew up thinking that “all Americans” (or most anyway) were loud, pushy, egotistical, etc. I learned quickly from the Americans I met in my travels in the USA and elsewhere (and from those coming to Canada), that my ideas were not true.
Little Story #1: happened in the 80s, while I and my husband were camping in Michigan. I noticed a couple of fellows staring at our license plates. They were perplexed, said they’d never heard of “British Columbia” before and asked if it was a country in South America. I explained: “No, it’s a province in Canada on the Pacific coast, north of Washington.” They didn’t get it till I said, “north of Seattle.” [The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, about two decades later, helped to put BC on the map in more ways than one, I’m glad to say!] The two fellows told me they didn’t learn anything about Canada in school. Has that changed?
Little Story #2: Another memory involves my own ignorance, about New York City. The year was 2000 and it was my first visit. A friend and I arrived in the afternoon by train from Boston. I clutched my belongings and held my breath as I stepped out of the train station. Somehow I had the idea that if I let down my guard for even one second, I might get mugged. It didn’t take long for me to relax. I could feel that New York was a friendly city where I didn’t have to exercise anything more than normal caution.
In Closing
In closing, I’d like to say that in my worldly travels, I’ve found that people are just people everywhere and that we have far more in common than we have different.
With political matters weighing heavily upon the hearts and souls of millions, including me, I also want to say about “regular” people (us): We are not our leaders or ruling elites or whatever you want to call them. Politicians are not the ones to make the real difference. It’s us; we’re the ones. Let’s each do whatever we can to create a more breathable, humane world; let’s open our hearts and minds to each other. It’s time to foster, more than ever, a spirit of mutual goodwill, friendliness and caring. It’s the only way to go.
Another terrific post Ramona! I always love reading your perspective on things.