I totally agree with your observations in your editorial (Good time to be better neighbours, PNR Aug. 5).
Let us not gloat over our great American neighbours ongoing problems and current crisis situation. We should not continue to feel overly smug about how much better our economy is compared to the present one in the United States. Let us not boast and grin too much about the misfortunes that have plagued the American people over the last two or three years and that have had ripple effects all over the world, including our country Canada, even though we have somewhat better circumstances here right now. We have strong ties and are closely linked to the United States, in many ways.
They are our largest trading partner and we’ve always had a very close relationship with the American people and the U.S. government and this will no doubt continue.
Many of us have friends and relatives south of our border and vice versa and we visit each others’ countries often.
Let us not forget who is always one of the first to help financially, militarily, with resources and manpower, when natural disasters and upheavals etc. strike in other places in our world.
But how many nations have been there to assist Americans, when their country had similar occurrences? As a Canadian, whose family came here when I was barely a teenager, I’m happy to note that this country has always been there for the United States and vice versa. My wife and I lived, went to school and worked in the U.S.A. for some eight years as Canadians and still have many friends and relatives there.
Our daughter married a great American fellow, who loves and knows a lot about Canada. They live in southern California. He said to me a while back now: “Canada and Canadians are very easy to like.” This statement has always stuck in my mind.
Let’s remind our American neighbours, that we’ll continue to be their friends and that we like them too.
Let us not sell the United States short, they are still the world leaders and as in the past, they will forge ahead and their future and that of their North American partner, Canada, is bright. Let us live the American dream together.
I have one piece of humble advice for the U.S. government at this time: It is time to stop considering yourselves the policemen of the world and concentrate on the welfare of your own country and people.
Walter Sartisohn,
North Saanich