I’m a Canadian, born and raised in Alberta. However, I have lots of ties to the U.S. My Father was born in Houston. My wife was born in Oklahoma. I earned my Graduate degrees in South Dakota and Texas. I went to the South Pole with a NASA science expedition. I’m a member of the Explorer’s Club. I love the U.S., even if I don’t like everything that happens there. Like many other Canadians, I sat in wonder watching this campaign season south of the border. As shocking as that was, Mr. Trump’s threats to take over Canada by economic or physical means, hit me like a 2 X 4 to the head.
People who know me will say I’m excitable on a good day. My long-suffering wife, a mellow retired attorney, tried to calm me down with rational, logical, reasonable answers. This time it didn’t work. Nothing she, or anyone else, told me calmed me down for days. Even the threat of taking my phone away from me didn’t help. Finally, when she described Mr. Trump as the large Wizard of Oz screaming to ignore the man behind the screen, I had to laugh at his antics and my insanity about it.
On the one hand, Trump talks about how the U.S. doesn’t need products from Canada, so high tariffs won’t hurt Americans. On the other hand, Canada apparently has enough that he’s willing to invade drawing the distain of NATO, the UN, the Commonwealth of Nations, and his own citizens. He’s acting like a pre-schooler on the playground doing everything possible to get their mom’s attention. Everything he says or does is about getting as much attention as possible. If everyone had ignored his threats against Canada, he might have begun threatening other countries.
Perhaps he could ask Great Britain for reparations for losing the Revolutionary War. Maybe he should ask for the Philippines back after getting the Panama Canal back in American hands. Instead of Greenland, I think I’d ask for Tahiti or Bali. There are much better beaches and probably better golfing, too. I wonder if the people who voted for Mr. Trump expected him to start a war with Canada. We certainly didn’t. He’s got little old ladies too scared to sleep up here.
Mr. Trump and I have many things in common. My Mother’s family left Scotland at the same time that his Mother’s family did, for many of the same reasons. My Father was an immigrant just like his Mother was. We are both married to immigrants. His Mother spoke Gaelic, so did my Father. We both had moms that were viewed as eccentric. We’re also both a bit insane, mine is a diagnosed one though.
I’ve been a proponent of Canada beefing up its military for years. I never thought it would be to defend ourselves against the United States. American military personnel are allowed to refuse orders they deem illegal. This was enshrined in the US Code of Military Justice in response to so many former Nazi’s saying that they were simply following orders. I served in the Canadian Artillery. My Father served in the British Army. My Father-in-Law served in the U.S. Army. I wonder if military commanders will obey an order from Trump to cross our border as an aggressor.
It’s a shame that the best mediator in the United States died. I’m not sure even Jimmy Carter could mediate between Mr. Trump and our Prime Minister, whoever that ends up being. My wife is an experienced mediator, and I asked her how she would handle such a mediation. Her eyes rolled so far back in her head; I’m surprised it didn’t get stuck there. It wouldn’t be the President doing those negotiations anyway. Presidents set the agenda, but it’s the lifelong diplomats who get the dirty job of making his dreams become agreements in writing. If it was me, I’m not sure I’d be in too big a hurry to codify anything. With his track record, Mr. Trump would change his mind before his signature was dry.
Canada survived his last presidency. We will all survive this one. He tore up NAFTA the first time around, and everyone freaked out, me included. Its replacement got worked out. All governments renegotiate treaties and trade agreements. Otherwise, there would be nothing for diplomats to do.
We’d never have to move borders on maps putting cartographers and globe makers out of work. If trade stopped between the US and Canada, what would we do with all this extra lumber, oil, water and electricity? Jim Carrey, Dan Akroyd and Justin Beiber might have to come home.
Dr. Austin Mardon, PhD has the Order of Canada and is an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and the John Dossetor Health Ethics Centre at the University of Alberta. He was recognized by Pope Francis with the Order of St. Sylvester.
