Friday, March 04, 2005
The Woes of Canada
We, Canadians, have this personality complex.
We don't want to be a little brother of USA.
We are "proud" to be Canadians when we stand up anything against the Americans; when we did not join the Americans in the second Gulf War against Iraq; and when we say NO to the American's North American Missile Defence System.
We try to have our own Canadian "culture " different from USA by decriminalization of marijuana (and forgetting the fact that the marijuana grown here is mostly exported to our neighbour), redefining marriage (becoming the third leading country to legalize same sex marriage), and accepting all kinds of immigrants (forgetting that some of these illegal immigrants are terrorists and criminals who will target the US).
On the other hand, we behave like a crying baby to do business with the Americans. Eighty percent of our exports will go to USA. When we had Mad Cow Diseases in our cattle, USA shut down the border for cattles. We cried and tried our best to reopen the border. When the American imposes duties on our soft wood lumber, we cried again and fought all the way to the International Trade Organization. When our dollar is up against the US, our industries cry because our products will be harder to compete.
We love the American business, but hate their policies. We love their money, but we hate to have a big brother taking care of us.
The North American Missile Defence System is the latest joke. Since 9/11 the US is planning a Missile Defence System to protect North American. Terrorist missiles can come from all directions targetting US cities. The fastest and easiest route is from the North, snice the Artic Ocean is an open space. The US is asking the Canadian government to joint the system to protect North American from missile attack, without costing us a penny. Our Prime Minister first agreed with this system for country security reason, then later change his mind because of "sovereignty" reason stating that he would not allow foreign missile flying over the airspace of Canada. When our PM announced not to join the US, people cheered and said they were proud to be Canadians. Airspace of a country is limited up to the atmosphere. Transcontinental missiles usually fly above the atmosphere. Protecting our airspace sovereignty is to fool people. If the US detected a missile coming toward an American city from the North, do you think the US would ask Canada for permission to shoot down the incoming missile over Canadian airspace? Don't be so naive. Does the US care about Canadian's opinion? They will shoot it down first and then discuss. They have the right to protect their own people.
We may have developed some good trading partners with China, India or Japan. However, if Canada is under terrorist attack, which country would come to help Canada first? China or USA? Who is more reliable?
If you want to have good neighbours, you would not stand up against your neighbours all the time. You don't need to go along or agree with your neighbours all the time, but at least when your neighbour is away, you should keep an eye on your neighbour's house. If you irritate your neighbour all the time, do you think your neighbour would want to do business with you?
Poor Canadians, we try so hard to be a nice man. We want to be grown up. We want to develop our own culture different from the US, UK and France, and finally develop a multicultural society (see more this in the future article).
We don't want to be a little brother of USA.
We are "proud" to be Canadians when we stand up anything against the Americans; when we did not join the Americans in the second Gulf War against Iraq; and when we say NO to the American's North American Missile Defence System.
We try to have our own Canadian "culture " different from USA by decriminalization of marijuana (and forgetting the fact that the marijuana grown here is mostly exported to our neighbour), redefining marriage (becoming the third leading country to legalize same sex marriage), and accepting all kinds of immigrants (forgetting that some of these illegal immigrants are terrorists and criminals who will target the US).
On the other hand, we behave like a crying baby to do business with the Americans. Eighty percent of our exports will go to USA. When we had Mad Cow Diseases in our cattle, USA shut down the border for cattles. We cried and tried our best to reopen the border. When the American imposes duties on our soft wood lumber, we cried again and fought all the way to the International Trade Organization. When our dollar is up against the US, our industries cry because our products will be harder to compete.
We love the American business, but hate their policies. We love their money, but we hate to have a big brother taking care of us.
The North American Missile Defence System is the latest joke. Since 9/11 the US is planning a Missile Defence System to protect North American. Terrorist missiles can come from all directions targetting US cities. The fastest and easiest route is from the North, snice the Artic Ocean is an open space. The US is asking the Canadian government to joint the system to protect North American from missile attack, without costing us a penny. Our Prime Minister first agreed with this system for country security reason, then later change his mind because of "sovereignty" reason stating that he would not allow foreign missile flying over the airspace of Canada. When our PM announced not to join the US, people cheered and said they were proud to be Canadians. Airspace of a country is limited up to the atmosphere. Transcontinental missiles usually fly above the atmosphere. Protecting our airspace sovereignty is to fool people. If the US detected a missile coming toward an American city from the North, do you think the US would ask Canada for permission to shoot down the incoming missile over Canadian airspace? Don't be so naive. Does the US care about Canadian's opinion? They will shoot it down first and then discuss. They have the right to protect their own people.
We may have developed some good trading partners with China, India or Japan. However, if Canada is under terrorist attack, which country would come to help Canada first? China or USA? Who is more reliable?
If you want to have good neighbours, you would not stand up against your neighbours all the time. You don't need to go along or agree with your neighbours all the time, but at least when your neighbour is away, you should keep an eye on your neighbour's house. If you irritate your neighbour all the time, do you think your neighbour would want to do business with you?
Poor Canadians, we try so hard to be a nice man. We want to be grown up. We want to develop our own culture different from the US, UK and France, and finally develop a multicultural society (see more this in the future article).
# posted by CyberMan @ 12:00 PM 
