| July 8, 2005 Red Alert by Soren Wuerth America, the UN-coola
On the last night of a family reunion, my Canadian aunt apologized for telling the 40-odd participants that she hates America. “Not all Americans are bad,” she said, referring to those of us representing five western states. “I’m from the U.S. myself, originally.” We tend to stereotype along the line of least mental resistance—it’s easier to compartmentalize people in terms of either Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, politically correct or redneck. So when those foolish journalists, reporting on the worldwide Iraq war protests, blithely said, “Europeans don’t necessarily hate Americans, rather they are targeting their anger at President Bush,” they were suffering naïve optimism. No, network prognosticators, people take short cuts. After four-plus years of Bush, our global neighbors have shortened the euphemism “I hate Bush’s America” by subtracting the Bush’s. Besides, our neighbors know that Americans are responsible for a third of the greenhouse gases clogging our skies, spend more of their taxes on military machinery, are aggressively imperialistic, have a citizenry that is relatively more obese, and choose to be governed by a cadre of mostly men whose style can best be compared with a group of frat boys. Canadians are too nice to be outright anti-American, however. While they might let the comment slip at a reunion dinner with mixed nationalities, or at a hockey game, or curling tournament, they’ll quickly apologize. Though my sample size is small and limited, I can reliably claim that, after spending 12 days in the country, I have yet to meet a nasty Canadian. As a rule, thus far at least, the average Canadian is a good level above the average American when it comes to manners. Their tolerance extends, of course, to their public policy: they enable everyone to go see a doctor regardless of income, they are making steps to recognize indigenous sovereignty, and they recently institutionalized gay marriage. They are just nicer people! Look at their money. Instead of memorializing terrorists like Andrew “Indian Killer” Jackson on their currency, they have colorful images of women, waterfowl and Native artwork. But before I hoist the maple leaf any higher, I should recognize the anarchist heckling from the balcony. Canada’s premier, Paul Martin, is a water boy for Bush, big corporations control the country’s economic agenda, and I have seen the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at work (two times pulling over speeders, eh, and another time when I saw one leading the Canada Day parade dressed in an uncomfortable, starched red suit). I’m afraid to return to the states. We are hugging the border for as long as possible, paying higher gas prices, and driving over steep, mountain passes. This morning, at 9:50, I saw a guy sitting on a bench taking a long pull of Crown Royal. Thing was, he didn’t do much to hide it. I’m not ready to come back to the land of fear. Soren Wuerth is perhaps Alaska's best known community activist. He resides in an undisclosed location in Southeast Alaska and can be reached at soren@insurgent49.com. |
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2005
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Reserved. in-sur-gent (in sur'jent), n. 1. a member of a group which revolts against the policies of its leadership. |
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