Canadian Self-Righteousness
Self-righteousness in any form tends to make me angry, and many Canadians are taking on a particularly annoying form of it right now. See David Young’s letter to the editor from yesterday’s Globe and Mail, and my response to it.
The ambassador's words
Dec 15, 2005 Page: A20
Byline: DAVID YOUNG
It's a fine measure of the Bush White House's ham-fisted incompetence that it can't even manage to maintain cordial relations with Canada (Washington Scolds Ottawa -- Dec. 14).
Within his own borders, President George W. Bush has shown nothing but contempt for those who publicly disagree with his policies. He has no interest in the give and take of ideas that is central to a healthy democracy.
On the international stage, his cadre of ideological fantasists has done incalculable damage to the American agenda, unravelling relationships and obligations, draining reservoirs of goodwill and replacing compromise and accommodation with the loutish behaviour of a schoolyard bully.
Canada's responsibility in the cross-border relationship is to speak truth to power. Until the U.S. electorate comes to its senses and shows this evangelical dry drunk and his rogue regime the door, ambassador David Wilkins should shut his gob and hope that we don't turn off the energy tap.
That neighbourly spat
Globe & Mail
Dec 16 03:03 Page: A22
Byline: ANGRYMAN
David Young (The Ambassador's Words -- letter, Dec. 14) describes the Bush administration as a rogue regime of ham-fisted, incompetent, loutish evangelicals. Further, he advises U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins to "shut his gob." Yet, Mr. Young marvels at the Americans' inability to maintain cordial relations with Canada. Canadians being so very polite, you know.
The ambassador's words
Dec 15, 2005 Page: A20
Byline: DAVID YOUNG
It's a fine measure of the Bush White House's ham-fisted incompetence that it can't even manage to maintain cordial relations with Canada (Washington Scolds Ottawa -- Dec. 14).
Within his own borders, President George W. Bush has shown nothing but contempt for those who publicly disagree with his policies. He has no interest in the give and take of ideas that is central to a healthy democracy.
On the international stage, his cadre of ideological fantasists has done incalculable damage to the American agenda, unravelling relationships and obligations, draining reservoirs of goodwill and replacing compromise and accommodation with the loutish behaviour of a schoolyard bully.
Canada's responsibility in the cross-border relationship is to speak truth to power. Until the U.S. electorate comes to its senses and shows this evangelical dry drunk and his rogue regime the door, ambassador David Wilkins should shut his gob and hope that we don't turn off the energy tap.
That neighbourly spat
Globe & Mail
Dec 16 03:03 Page: A22
Byline: ANGRYMAN
David Young (The Ambassador's Words -- letter, Dec. 14) describes the Bush administration as a rogue regime of ham-fisted, incompetent, loutish evangelicals. Further, he advises U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins to "shut his gob." Yet, Mr. Young marvels at the Americans' inability to maintain cordial relations with Canada. Canadians being so very polite, you know.
3 Comments:
agree with you 100% - canadian self-righteousness makes my blood boil.
and while we're at it, how pathetic is it that most canadians identify themselves as 'un-american'.
Damn United Empire Loyalists!
I understand that you're angry. It's always upsetting to hear the truth about yourself. (I'm not Canadian, by the way.)
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