Thank You Canada

[MickeyB]

Dear Canadian Citizens,

I am an American Citizen from New York City who lives on Prince Edward Island and is married to a most darling Canadian.

I am writing to say a most heartfelt apology on behalf of the people of my country for the absolutely appalling behaviour of my President. His neglect of a Thank You to Canada during his speech the other day was a true slap in the face to the good people in this country. I am embarrassed by his arrogant and irresponsible response and have shed many tears over the matter. We have an ignorant President (in my opinion which I am thankfully still free to have) which is quite a distress at this dangerous and precarious time. No matter what his political agenda or how he feels about Canada's Prime Minister he had a duty to the PEOPLE of this country to say Thank You.

I have just wanted you to know, as CANADIAN PEOPLE from AMERICAN PEOPLE, we are grateful from the tips of our tiniest toe to the very tops of our heads for the amazing response you have given to us during this tragedy. Whether you signed a condolence book, gave blood, housed stranded tourists, stood on Parliament Hill or volunteered to help every inch of your generosity has been appreciated by the people of one Great Nation to another Great Nation. We ARE brothers and sisters of the great continent of North America and I intend to inform every member of my country of what you did and every member of your country how Thankful we are, each to the best of my ability.

I wish I was more eloquent and could adequately express my emotions to help you understand how I feel. I hope that my deepest and heartfelt "Thank You, Thank You, Thank You" will be enough

Sincerely,
Michelle Butcher
(unabashed lover of my country and yours)

 

[MLEO]

You are most truly and heartily welcome. I had posted on the CB about the President's omission. Do not worry about your eloquence (I thought it was wonderful!) it is the voice of the heart that speaks louder than the spoken word in times like this.

Canadians often feel (IMHO) that we are all a North American family and while we may sometimes look at our southern cousins as being a little different and may have minor family disagreements the fact remains that you are family and no outsiders mess with family.

When I was growing up John Kennedy was (and still is) a hero of mine. Americans have always been called upon by other countries to aid and assist them in times of trouble. Now it is time for all citizens of the world to, "ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

By the way, give him time this is a horrible way to have to learn what it means to be the President of the most powerful country in the world but I believe he will grow into it.

In closing:
GOD BLESS AMERICA, STAND BESIDE HER AND GUIDE HER

Len Creamer

 

[MickeyB]

Thank you for your kindness.

Michelle

 

[mickey65]

Thank-you Mickey B!! That was a really nice thing to post

 

[CindyAnn]

You know, MickeyB, it's very kind of you to post your apology and thanks. As MLeo says, you were also very eloquent. I know that our two countries will stand shoulder to shoulder in this crisis, and I sincerely hope that most Canadians will simply overlook the incident in light of the much more important events that have taken place.

Thank you so much for taking the time to post your feelings here.

 

[sammi]

Thanks so much Michelle for your kind words! I was a little hurt by the President's message the other night as I felt we have cried many, many tears over your country's tragedy too, along with prayers, and I know we can't support you strongly with military help but as human beings we truly feel the same hurt that each and everyone of the US citizens feel. My heart breaks for all of the poor victims and their families and friends.

Michelle you have made me feel 100% better tonight after reading your post and I feel that it doesn't make a difference if Bush mentions us now, or not.......it's the everyday US citizens(like you) who appreciate us! and that's really what it's all about.....Thank you so much...and God bless! ..............Cindy

 

[DisFan2]

From my post on another similar thread:

I hope that no one gets too upset at me for saying this, but I agree with you PhotoBearSam. To our American friends (and I should add that while I was born here, my parents are U.S. citizens), your President is not ignorant (as a poster on another similar thread claimed) nor insensitive. I do not believe we were snubbed at all. I invite you to take a look at an editorial from today's National Post, titled "If it walks like a friend, talks like a friend..." I have edited it for length, but I think you'll get the general idea.

"But Canadians should ask themselves why it is that Britain, an ocean away, is declared such a true friend to the United States in its hour of need. Why is it that U.S. presidents do not automatically think first of Canada despite our advantageous position sharing a continent, being each other's biggest trading partner, speaking the same language, and (in theory) sharing the same ideals.

The answer to these questions lies in 30 years of shabby Canadian foreign and defence policy. At the end of the 1960s, Canadian scholars became obsessed with the close links between Canadian and American foreign policy. In the nationalist mood of the times, any agreement between Canadian and U.S. foreign policy was deemed an affront to our identity. Canada needed an "independent" foreign policy, said academics, whether or not principle was sacrificed to achieve it. The United States did not get along well with Communist dictators such as Fidel Castro, so Ottawa, particularly under Pierre Trudeau, went out of its way to get cozy with the tyrant. The United States was viewed as a military hawk, so Canada had to be the dove. This attitude continues into the present. Our pitiful military is one sign. Another is Canada's decision to stay at the United Nations' ludicrous recent anti-racist conference in Durban, South Africa -- thereby lending gravitas to the loathsome anti-Semitism on display there -- when the United States rightly walked out.

Britain, by contrast, does what "true" friends do; it instinctively sides with Washington with both moral and practical support. Mr. Blair's government rallied to America's side immediately in the aftermath of Sept. 11 without parsing global responses first. British and U.S. intelligence operations work virtually as one unit, cooperating completely by sharing life-and-death information as blood brothers do. To that Mr. Blair can also supply a military that is well equipped, effective, and capable of providing strategic, tactical, and logistical support in the battle against terrorism.

When a U.S. president speaks of his country's friends around the world, Canada cannot expect to be singled out unless it does something to make itself stand out. And Liberal governments have for a generation made sure this country does not stand out as too close a friend of the superpower that is our neighbour. Americans, including Mr. Bush, have expressed their gratitude to those Canadians who opened their homes and their hearts to stranded U.S. travelers diverted or grounded here on Sept. 11. But a country cannot, in conscience, nurture a culture of petty xenophobic disdain toward its neighbour and then pretend it has been mistreated when the neighbour is not carefully effusive in its thanks."

The citizens of Canada did this country proud on Parliament Hill at the memorial ceremony on the 14th of September. Our politicians, however, have let us down.

 

[eleanor]

Our PM made some negative remarks about the Pres. before the us election and our politicians did not exactly jump on the wagon quickly. I did not feel slighted at all. We are to quick to take offence and to slow to support. Politicians look at politicians not at the people.

 

[disney6]

Before I say anything else, Thank you to the Canadian citizens for all the support given to the American citizens, it was tremendous and will never be forgotten. That said, I wholeheartedly agree with Eleanor and DisFan2. While Tony Blair came to the US, where was Chretien? For heaven sakes, he's not even going to New York under the guise of not disturbing the rescue effort - please. He's quick to say we'll help you but don't ask us to do anything! So I don't believe for one moment (and I'd hope Canadian citizens are smart enough to look beyond) that the generous, supportive, kind citizens of Canada were snubbed but the government of Canada was sent a message - either you're with us or you're not.

 

[my3princesses]

My first reaction while watching the President's address was "Canada snubbed again". Jean Chrietien should have been up there standing beside Tony Blair - why wasn't he? Celine Dion received more respect for singing one of the most important songs on Friday night - there were many Canadians involved that night. (I still can't figure out why she sang and not some American diva instead - I bet Whitney Houston and Kathy Lee are mad!). Either way - why were we not included in the address and why has it taken our PM so long to visit the states. Maybe because we are too polite and didn't want to get in the US government's way when they were dealing with so much. I am sure Bush was quite busy and didn't have time to meet with Jean (or Jean didn't want to bother him). Canada has limited resources to help in this battle. We are a "peace keeping nation" not one to go to war (at least not in the year 2001). Who knows what's going on in the minds of our leaders.