Commentary--Canadian Bashing and American Bashing Don't Prevent Terrorism

I've been reading a number of articles and blogs that talk about why terrorism is now apparently rampant in Canada--and why it seems like such a shock to Canadians. Some blame Canada's tolerant immigration and political policies. Others blame their anti-American rhetoric as fomenting homegrown efforts (by in a sense, encouraging violence against Americans.)

Apparently anti-Americanism in Canada is often blamed as one reason why the government there might not try to aggressively stop potential terrorists--but why, then they ask, would terrorists turn around and bite the hand that feeds them?

I disagree completely.

I don't think either reason is that valid, but both are of concern to me, since it implies that Canadians are too tolerant and too anti-American. How can they be both?

I think it's very sad if it's fashionable once more to hate Americans, especially speaking as an American. It's as bad as thinking stereotypes of Canadians are valid. It's as bad as thinking that a tolerant society deserves to be victimized...or thinking that a tolerant society can redefine what tolerance is--who gets to be tolerated, who gets to be heard, who gets to be villianized and stereotyped.

I think it's a valid point that Canadians need to define themselves or redefine themselves. I know they often think they are influenced by American views and politics and they are--hell, the world is. But that doesn't mean it doesn't work the opposite. Americans, despite stereotypes and gov't heads, are very influenced by outside America events and views. The only problem is often getting those views on the agenda.

If Canada is doing the same, quashing some media it doesn't agree with while allowing others that fit the personal agenda of its government, then Canadians, if they truly want to be themselves, and be owners of their own thoughts, need to protest.

You need all the views available, including the ones you don't agree with, in order to obtain a fuller understanding of the real world.

I know America often sees itself as the designated policeman of the world--and it well may be, since it is (currently) the most powerful and one of the wealthiest (and certainly the very militarized) -- but policemen are not dictators, nor should they be allowed to think they can be. It's up to the citizens to remind and check the policeman and keep things in balance so that abuses don't happen.

Canada is often seen as a mediator and historically that has many reasons. But whyever the choice was made, it was a good one, since Canada has always found itself stuck between superpowers, weapons loaded, but with an understanding of the culture and history of both sides.

Even mediators find themselves targets of those who simply want to disrupt...or those who want power over someone else. Terrorists are always people that can't stand tolerance and use political events as an excuse to cause violence.

Revolutionaries, those who truly believe in change, often know that violence is the least effective means--ask Gandhi or Martin Luther King.

You can't appease terrorists. They'll just change the rules on you if you give in, to try to get you to give in again and again...it's not even the giving in they want, it's the power. They want to hurt others and will keep pushing until they do...and always with an excuse for their behavior.
Perhaps it's not that Canadians have become too politically correct, but that they've stopped being so...they've started to lean toward intolerance and closemindedness. Anti-American bashing acceptance may be a red flag.

I don't judge any people by their governments...governments change over time and aren't ever representative of the minority or even the majority. They often are the foci of a few individuals following their own agenda while trying to convince their country that it's for their own good.
But how a country does things over time, what it allows and disallows, what art it creates, what jokes it tells, tells me a lot about it's culture and thoughts as a people.

In that sense, American hating and bashing, concerns me greatly. I hope it concerns Canadians, too.

CG Anderson is a 10 year market researcher and web strategist involved in technology, science and the online world. Also a writer, blogger and novelist CG's comments are personal and opinionated and solely the responsibility of the author, so there. Don't like the opinions, disagree, agree, don't know? Great, make a comment—clean ones will be allowed, netiquette-challenged ones will be ignored!
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