Your reply is both justified and counterproductive. It's a legitimate fear that we can and will be invaded. The idea that the strongest army in the world could flood over us is terrifying. At the same time, the ONLY way he will stop is if it comes from within. We need American allies.
We don't need them taking our culture in support while the rest try to take our country by force. Americans have shown us the worth of their allyship. Relying on their loyalty is a gamble we can't afford. If they really want to show support, we don't want hashtags. We want action.
We need all the help we can get. Whatever it takes to go back to how it was... Turning away like-minded Americans doesn't help us. Just like how pro-Trump/51st State Canadians exist, Americans who love Canada exist.
Not turning them away. Just denying access to our culture. Using our culture to make themselves feel better doesn't help us. We don't need them to tell us they're on our side, we need them to stop their politics from being our problem.
We can at least agree that actions speak louder than words.
💯
Thank you! As a Michigander who grew up & raised our kids on CBC and TVO we have such a love for Canada. We are appalled at the direction the orange madman is taking us.
Including many of us who can trace both sides of their family back to Canada, and have ancestors who fought in world wars under her banner.
Same here.
For what it's worth I thank you for holding space for my anger. It's the Scots-French Canadian in me. It's not personal.
It’s worth a helluva lot! Thank you! I can’t fathom any way that the military would comply with an invasion order. But God forbid it did happen—I, MANY other Americans & NATO will be fighting on the side of Canada! I promise you! Thanks, again!💖
Nah, I get the anger (I think) and it's justified. White women especially are guilty of thinking our cute symbolic gestures - chucks and pearls, anyone? - are sufficient activism, but are unwilling to put our own necks on the line. Until we get our hands dirty we don't deserve anyone's trust.
This is a very relevant point. My feelings about this situation are very much informing me on how I should be showing up for people of colour. I didn't need to feel this way to "get" their experience but having this small taste of it has really deepened my understanding.
This is a good point, and I'm genuinely so damn sorry that it's becoming real for you. Keep boycotting, keep sharing your anger. I promise in return to keep calling my representatives and sending email to their largest donors and trying whatever else might have a chance of changing things here.
We're all still watching to see how this unfolds here and there's not yet momentum for mass civil disobedience. I honestly don't know whether there's enough political will for it to get to that point, which is discouraging. We appreciate citizens of the world sticking by us, though. It means a lot.
Can we please stop singling out groups for vilification? It’s another way of creating “others”, and only helps the fascist in their efforts to divide and conquer. If individuals exhibit unhelpful behaviors, let’s help them understand how they can achieve their goals in more helpful ways.
Nope. If a large part of a group is guilty, they get called out. Keeping it vague in the name of "unity" only allows people to avoid looking at themselves in the mirror and taking responsibility.
“Unity only allows people to avoid looking in the mirror….” Perhaps it also gives people access to new ideas, new ways of seeing things. Divided groups have preconceived notions of each other—that tend to fade away, when different groups engage in a common cause. Perhaps something to consider?
I’m sorry, “a large part of a group”? Who gets to decide? How is this not part of the same old problem?! I can’t agree. The brush is too broad. Plus, the derogatory/accusatory manner that this slur is tossed out, does nothing to precipitate introspection. It’s divisive & counterproductive.
Canada definitely has loads of American allies... Most of us, I'd bet.
you've got 'em!