I have this theory: If the decent folks in the United States had to create a new country from scratch, the end product would basically be Canada.
Now by way of disclosure, I will note that I am writing this from a rented condominium in Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada. This is my third trip to Canada, with the fourth coming in August. There can be more after that, and it would be perfectly okay with me.
Canada is unique in that its is one of those places that manages to under-promise and over-deliver. You hear that the people are nice, then you come to here and are still surprised at just how friendly people really are when you meet them. You see pictures of how scenic it is, but then you come here and, well, you are pleasantly surprised just how much better things look in person. You sense that this is an orderly kind of place but then you walk along the road and you see streets that are cleaner than most KFC restaurants. It is a place of sometimes subtle, sometimes overt, understatement.
As a United States citizen I feel like I should be saying sorry to folks here for just how asinine our government has been treating the residents of the Great White North. Being here, there is one of part of U.S. policy that now make sense though: The (U.S.) president's comments about Canada reflect how a bully sees those they view as "weak" and "vulnerable". The failure of that logic lies in the fact that Canada is not a place for the weak (try lasting a winter here...) or the vulnerable. Like most bullies, the current president chronically underestimates those he targets, up until the point where eventually one fights back.
Having spent a little bit of time talking to actual Canadians about the current U.S. president, the good news, if you want to call it that, is they:
1) Recognize that most U.S. citizens don't support Drumpf.
2) See him for being as ridiculous as most of us do.
Case in point -
Actual Canadian Teenager: Why does he want to paint that pool in Washington D.C.?
Actual U.S. Citizen (me): Because he's an idiot.
Actual Canadian Teenager: Doesn't it cost like a lot of money to do that?
Actual U.S, Citizen (me): Yes. And he thinks this is somehow more important than providing healthcare of the poor.
Actual Canadian Teenager: That's stupid.
Actual U.S. Citizen (me): Congratulations, you are smarter than 32% of the U.S. voting population. Want to run for Pennsylvania Senator? If the current guy can run and actually be from Connecticut, then I don't see why a smart teenager from the Great White North (who has dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship, by the way) can't be elected as well.
(Part of the above is somewhat fictionalized)
One thing that I haven't sensed in speaking to actual Canadians is fear. That's a good thing. Fear is the currency that bullies trade in, and it's refreshing to know that most folks don't buy what Drumpf is selling.
As they say up here...
