Various politicians of the northern states have been encouraging Canadians to come back, but the problem is that we are too often unwelcome. Following is the recent experience of someone whom I know whose child participated in a weekend sporting event.
Attended a basketball tournament with my kid in Syracuse this weekend. It's sad, but the message we received from most of the teams there was that Canadians were NOT welcome (the parents called our kids idiots to their faces, they repeatedly told us to go back to our own country, and the parents of one team verbally assaulted one of our parents for no reason at all). I thought this was going to be a friendly tournament for u14 girls, and a great opportunity for some international competition. I have never felt so unsafe. In the end, it was two Canadian teams in the finals ... Obviously the competition is much better on the north side of the border and there is no need to go south in the future. Nonetheless, it's a sad state of affairs.
America has clearly lost its way. Of course, we knew that already.
With good leadership, Canada will find its way.
Interesting. This is the first I've heard of people inviting Canadians in. Are these Canadians who moved to the US and left? All I've heard is Canadian pols inviting American doctors to enter Canada.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is about permanent residency, but it seems that some northern communities are being hit my the diminution of cross border shopping.
DeleteOuch, I apologize and really think that behavior is horrid.
ReplyDeleteWhat a**holes! So sad to hear adults giving their children that model of hatred toward others. Competition in sports is a great way to have healing between differences. Poor sportsmanship echoing the political leadership we now have.
ReplyDeleteSince Syracuse is a known very liberal city, I'm guessing the author was blowing up a minor incident or had a political axe to grind. Fear mongering is rampant these days. I've yet to hear anyone, besides our president, say anything negative about Canadians. But I've seen a lot of negative things about us on this and other Canadian blogs.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what Syracuse has to do with this post. And if you are accusing me of being anti-American, I'd like chapter and verse. You are being completely atonal if you don't get what is going on, and time after time you seem to indicate just that.
DeleteSyracuse was the place of the quoted incident at the basketball tournament that you included in this post. I've not seen any backlash towards Canadians and I live in a very conservative part of the country where I might expect that. I would be highly surprised if anti-Canadian sentiments were wide spread in a place like Syracuse.
DeleteI wouldn't call you anti-American AC. I would say your bringing this subject up again is like telling the same "dad joke" for the 100th time to the same audience.
Apparently, you've heard about this incident, so it has made the news and you know more than I. Whether Syracuse is liberal or whether you all like Canadians where you are is immaterial.
DeleteI personally know these people and am not repeating a news story. This happened. I hope that it was an isolated incident, and I don't think you and yours would behave this way. But incidents like this keep coming up and are part of the reason why very few want to cross the border.
I will say that if find your dad joke btw to be in rather in poor taste. What is going on is not a joke unless it is to you. Personally, I fret for your country's path, well beyond its implications for me. I assure you that we'll be okay, but I am not sure you will be.
I will probably have more 'Dad Jokes' to tell in the near future. They say we learn through repetition.
I do like both these memes. I am so proud & pleased at how our Provincial Premiers are all working together for Canada's good. Sad to read that some resort to less than kind behaviour, especially towards children.
ReplyDeleteThat's deplorable, as Hillary once accurately stated. I love this meme. I wish you'd let us stay!
ReplyDeleteI'm really sorry. I'd hate to think that would happen here, but I know it's possible.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for the jerk "Americans." I've read of increasing numbers of parents misbehaving at kid games everywhere in the U.S. Of course, their MAGA role model is encouraging such bullying. So sad. Please save me a place somewhere in Canada. It scares me that my grandkid will be born into a police state here. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteUgh, that is despicable behavior and it makes me sad. Unacceptable to act in such a way and deplorable to be teaching their children that is normal.
ReplyDeleteI think, and thankfully, we are good here in Canada. All I want to say is that I live in Montreal, and Quebec, although it is a beautiful province, as well as the largest province in Canada (in area, like space), our Premier, Francois Legault needs a good talking to about priorities. I love living in Montreal! I was born here and have lived here all my life. Francois Legault is so busy at making everything French here, nitpicking and causing problems for stores, businesses and restaurants because he wants them to have French descriptions on their names. For example, Canadian Tire...he wants it to read "Magasin" Canadian Tire. Not only does he want it like this, but he wants the word "Magasin", (which means "store"), twice as large as the rest of the name.
ReplyDeleteRidiculous! And guess who is going to pay for this change? Canadian Tire or any other business that needs to make such changes. Sorry, I just needed to say this because our health care system and schools and safety, in my opinion, are more important and should be prioritized over this ridiculous language. Enough said. Thank you for listening. :)
The language issue has gone overboard.
DeleteThose parents should be ashamed of themselves! I apologize for my fellow Americans. They know better.
ReplyDeleteWill Canadians be welcoming to Dan and I when we come later this month for ten days?
I'll be shocked if not.
DeleteI have heard similar tales. We are the victims, yet they are angry with us. On the other hand, people on border provinces are saying some Americans are visiting to support us here.
ReplyDeleteHi Jenn, yes, they are! A couple of weeks ago, many people from Vermont came here to Montreal to support us!
DeleteSyracuse is quite a mixed bag, politically speaking. It is a city, but one centered in a rural community, and that is where trump resonated most strongly. It has also got a huge military base not far from it.
DeleteIt is a sad, sad state of affairs. I have lived in the states for 49 years and I know things haven’t been perfect here by any stretch of the imagination, but to verbally attack children during a sports event is beyond the pale and makes me incredibly sad. If that happened to my kids I would be out of there and never go back, never support us either. I read a lot about politics to try to figure it all out, but it’s mind boggling. Good thing is I am learning more about Canadian politics too. Educating ourselves is the key because I do believe there are those, and I think you may know who I am talking about, who want us to become like mindless turnips!
ReplyDeleteHi Denise. Nice to see you. It's all very hard, isn't it?
DeleteI'm sorry about that. I know Washington is suffering from lack of Canadians but most people I know blame that on Trump and his government, NOT Canadians.
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of Americans who voted for Trump and may be upset, to use a careful description, at how Canada is reacting to him and his 'jokes' and his tariffs. I can well imagine that Windsor might be an unsalubrious spot for an American visitor.
ReplyDeleteIt may well be that the sports thing is blown out of proportion because of the American anthem being disrespected when it is played before a match. A Trumpian might well be upset. Where did you get 'Ed', for goodness' sake. I was not impressed with his comments, especially the 'dad' joke snark.
Ed is a conservative but not quite a trumper. He couldn't vote for T but he wouldn't vote for KH, so effectively he voted for T, I guess. I try to be a little bit open-minded and tolerant of other viewpoints although I don't do it very well at times.
DeleteAC is somewhat correct. I am an environmental liberal, fiscal conservative, passivist, against killing of prisoners or fetuses though I would make exceptions for the latter, for much stricter gun control, libertarian when it comes to government control except when it comes to the infrastructure of our country and limited defense on the world stage, somewhat of an isolationist/nationalist and many other diverse views. I hate being labeled in a simple political box in a very very complex political world. I have yet to vote for a Republican U.S. President but have voted for one Democrat back in the day when they balanced our budget. Mainly I refuse to vote for the lesser of two evils as many of my compatriots do and vote my conscious, even if they have no hope of getting elected.
DeleteAC is a good man but he lives in Canada, was born in Canada, and in my view, sometimes speaks of my country as if he knows it better which does get under my skin a bit from time to time. I'm patriotic of my country much like AC is of Canada. He might well know some of it better than me, especially those that more fully align to his political views, but not the rural Midwest. I was born, raised and live in the heart of the rural Midwest, home to blue collar workers and factories, which of late has been Trump's bread and butter for voters and I have a few good friends whom support him whole heartedly. They are decent folk and I would invite them over to a meal with my family anytime though I think they are misguided in their political beliefs. I also think those who don't live in my neck of the woods, can't possibly think they know what makes these Trump supporters tick. What I read on blogs and in the news about why these people voted and still adore Trump are completely wrong on many levels.
Mainly when I read these sorts of posts, I ask myself what was the author trying to accomplish? From my viewpoint, many serve perhaps inadvertently, only to point out the divisions in our country and deepen them which is the opposite of what our country needs right now. As a patriot, I want to see our country come together and do great things for humanity on the world stage. We will do nothing of that sort if we continue to resort to name calling and spotlighting our differences by both major political parties, our citizens and those of other countries. Instead of bashing one party or the other, we need to have discussions on how to solve these problems without name calling, trash talking and instead focusing on the common ground we share. Sadly, I see very little of this going on around me on the internet.
My two cents worth.
We got a lot for two cents. Ed, I grew up in Windsor where we had Detroit radio and access to American TV more than our own. I learned a bit about Michigan that way. I have never registered AC as 'trash talking'. And you would be surprised, I think, about how knowledgeable he is about a lot of things after a long career managing teeagers' schooling. He impresses me, frequently.
DeleteIt would solve a lot of problems if the present American president did not think he was above the law. ... my 2 cents.
With strong leadership and a commitment to respect and inclusion, Canada can rise above division and continue to lead by example.
ReplyDeleteAmericans hide behind he idea that they like us and they do like us but a few spoil it for other Americans.
ReplyDeleteCanada must stay on its own path and look after ourselves! Go Oilers!
ReplyDeleteIf I would a canadian I would toss a few rocks across the boarder.
ReplyDeleteThis is unacceptable, and yet just another example of those emboldened by Trumpism.
ReplyDeleteOn a more hopeful note, I'm beginning to wonder if we've hit the PM jackpot. Fingers crossed.
That behaviour is disgraceful. What an example to set young teenagers.
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly agree!
ReplyDelete