On behalf of the people of the United States who do not look at Canada as a territory to acquire, but as a strong independent nation with a culture to be appreciated, I offer my apology to you for the expansionist ramblings being offered by President Donald Trump.
They do not represent the views of the majority of our country, especially in my hometown of Buffalo. We have always appreciated the cultural and societal differences of our northern, though coming from Buffalo, western neighbour.
While most people realize Trump would rather talk about anything other than his past, the American people did reelect him as our president, and his statements, as irrational as they might be, carry some weight.
Since the conclusion of the War of 1812, our two great nations have generally shared more than 200 years of peace as allies in the promotion and fight for democracy, but with different identities. That difference can be viewed when we compare who Canadians voted for as the “Greatest Canadian” versus what some of my American brethren value in their states. In 2004, your people voted Tommy Douglas, the father of universal Canadian health care, as the Greatest Canadian.
In my country, the favoured, and often highest paid state official is not the director of health or public safety, it is the state’s college football coach.
While I enjoy a good college football game, your nation’s appreciation of promoting and ensuring the general welfare of your people is something our president and his MAGA followers could learn from.
Furthermore, in attacking the sovereignty of Canada, Trump and his supporters are showing their disregard not just for national sovereignty, but that you are proud Canadians. In their eyes, you are nothing more than Americans who live above our northern boundaries. As someone who has spent a lifetime watching Canadian television, especially Hockey Night in Canada, and spent many a day, night or weekend in your country, nothing could be further from the truth.
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
We in western New York know our Canadian friends share many beliefs with Americans but we are not the same, and that’s a good thing. Just like Bruce Springsteen speaks for the soul of the American experience, the late Gord Downie did the same for Canada. If in the past the United States included Canada as a state, it is doubtful Downie and The Tragically Hip would have been noticed outside of Kingston, and our world would simply be a worse place for that fact.
There is a difference between our nations, like there are differences between brothers and sisters. Siblings sometimes disagree and occasionally fight but always come together for the common good of the family.
Instead of trying to annex Canada, my fellow Americans need to understand we are a stronger country when your nation is strong and independent, united with us in similar goals and aspirations, not just living together under one house.
— Mark C. Poloncarz (D) has been Erie County Executive since 2012