Nathan Hale is a big deal in the USA, M. Every American school child knows about him, but he's hardly heard of in Canada. I grew up in both countries (due to moves my parents made at different times), so that's why he's well known to me.

In Canada we hear a lot more about Sir Isaac Brock, who helped turn back an American invasion in 1812. Hurrah! I'm glad he was there when the need arose, and another who deserves mention right beside him is Lieutenant-Colonel MacDonnel, his second-in-command, immortalized in the great Stan Rogers song: MacDonnell on the Heights

Are Canadians proud of their country? You bet we are!

However, I don't post here to look for arguments with people, M. That's your chosen job, I think. I post here simply to explain an idea I am thinking about at the time and to express that idea.

Let me underline that by quoting this other post I just made to Don T on another thread, as follows:

What amazes me, Don T, is how hard most people look around for ways to disagree with each other, rather than looking for a means to reach an accord and a common understanding, and mutual respect.

(I'm not directing criticism at you personally in so saying, I'm just noting something that I see commonly happening, specially on the Net, which is that most people focus mainly on what they disagree about with others. They could instead focus on what they agree about, and they'd usually find that it outweighs the disagreements in a ratio of probably 100 to 1. This is also true in politics and relations between countries...the path of intelligence and wisdom lies in finding out what you have in common with other people and seeking solutions that benefit all parties rather than obsessing over the differences and fighting about them. We would be much better off seeking accord than seeking "victory", whether as nations or as individuals.)

It also gains nothing for us to pursue personal feuds, but you see them happening all the time on this forum. No one is going to "win" any of those feuds. They're not going to prove anything either. It's just a lot of huffing, puffing, and ill will that leads nowhere and accomplishes nothing except to create more ill will between people.