Thursday, March 3

An Axe, worthy To Grind

It seems every week, I'm reading or hearing or seeing something that makes me glad to live in Canada.



This week it's this published letter to Condi Rice, from Lloyd Axworthy.



I liked this paragraph, particularly:

I invite you to expand the narrow perspective that seems to inform your opinions of Canada by ranging far wider in your reach of contacts and discussions. You would find that what is rising in Canada is not so much anti-Americanism, as claimed by your and our right-wing commentators, but fundamental disagreements with certain policies of your government. You would see that rather than just reacting to events by drawing on old conventional wisdoms, many Canadians are trying to think our way through to some ideas that can be helpful in building a more secure world.

Amen, brother.



12 comments:

neesie said...

The whole letter has a condescending, mean spirited tone and is closed with the sarcastic, in friendship. Come on you hate us at least have the balls to admit it.
How will condescention and sarcasm help us to build a more secure world?
Seems to me if you were all really concerned you could find it in your hearts to speak to us with just a tiny speck of respect.
Ask yourself, if someone approached you in this manner, what would your reaction be?
I know Im going to be torn apart for daring to have an opinion and daring to say anything other Hooray for Canada, Im just tired of the hippocracy.

Rob said...

I'd be tired of the hypocracy if I lived in the USofA too.
It's not you we hate, neesie. It's the war-hungry, self-interested government that runs your country that we hate. It's not me that you need to dare to have an opinion against. Dare to opine against your awful, awful government. That would be the brave thing to do.

Yanik said...

A sound just came out of my mouth that I can't spell. It sounded like a fart, but didn't smell bad (well…a little like tuna sandwich).
I find that respect is very easily reciprocated.
Could you remind me again, neesie, about that time US foreign policy was respectful of another nation.

neesie said...

There is that condescension I know and love, knew ya wouldnt let me down
I feel us all getting closer and solving the worlds problems already
sing it with me now...I'd like the teach the world to sing in perfect harmony
omg 2 typos, okay! okay! misspellings in last post, what's next involuntary drooling?

Yanik said...

good grief!

Rob said...

That is such a perfect American solution to world security: sing a jingle for a globo-corp.
Want fries with that world-wide good will?

neesie said...

rob, you need to lighten up
lay off the chicken fingers, all that grease is clogging up both your arteries and sense of humor
good grief indeed

graham said...

I'm not nearly as polite as whatever stereotype is imagined of us Canadians. Axeworthy didn't have the balls to say what we all feel in fear of being put indefinatly in some prison camp.
Do you morons ( yeah it's condescending, bitch) realize you are living in a police state where you can be jailed for anti-government opinions ?
Here's my jingle:
Fuck you, Americans.
Fuck the whole lot of ya with a giant rubber dick.
We all hate you. Not just Canadians.
I even hate the American children, I hope they all get hooked on crack.
I used to blame that Bush dipshit,
But you psychos voted him in again, so now I can blame the whole damn circus.
I know it doesn't flow
By the way, where the hell is your sense of humour neesie? You haven't said anything funny, yet suggest Rob lighten up.
I'm sure this post is the fodder you've been waiting to respond to.

neesie said...

Rob, nice guard dog you got there...he's a cute lil fella *pats graham head*

graham said...

You got me.

Lennie said...

i'm a flatulent sausage link who loves to swallow Ed Koch. oops, wrong post... though somehow it's fitting.
ps. the "who am i" link spelled koch like kotch but i think it's koch.

Yanik said...

In keeping with my perception of the I'merican way, you put forth a cry for a solution to the problems of the world, yet when anyone refutes your vision, your egoist societal upbringing makes you react like a child in a playground. Remember "freedom fries". Had the world-conquering wanna-be Brits not been led by a spineless ass, you'd have been eating "freedom muffins" too. In fact, you'd have to have changed the name of your language from english to freedom, which, incidentely, is the language I'merica claims to speak fluently. One way to improve the state of the world would be to convince the I'merican government to stop murdering INNOCENT people in order to spread its derelict vision of freedom. When 100,000+ people are killed by a tsunami, I'merica's eyes well up with tears of sorrow over such an unforseen tragedy. When 100,000+ INNOCENT people are killed by the I'merican-led "coalition of the will-KILL-ing" under the guise of freedom (AN UNNECESSARY TRAGEDY!), I'merica pats itself on the back as the hero of all heros. Why doesn't I'merica lick its own ass for once and look inward to all the problems within its own borders. Believe me, our Canadian shit certainly does stink but only we can smell it. The whole world can smell I'merica's ass. Our own government is under our constant scrutiny, which encourages it to manage itself in a responsible manner. (Refer to the new reality show, "Slap, Twist or Bag Tag" [Spree-ality TV] for an indication of how well I think it's going). Fortunately, so far the majority of Canadians have had the sense to keep our own Bush-league assholes from gaining power and leading our country into false wars and civil rights abominations. However, there's no shortage of Canadians I would gladly trade for many Americans who approach my vision of a utopian world.