Hey, Hamshank, it is a common presumption of some Americans that a whole lot of other people around the world "owe their freedom" to the USA. This is debatable, although there are certainly some examples to support it which one can point to here and there...and there are some examples of the diametrical opposite too.

As a Canadian, I would say that I owe my freedom to:

1. My own free will and the courage to use it wisely.

2. The social and political traditions developed by the British Empire over the last few hundred years.

3. The democratic institutions which Canadians later instituted and maintained themselves under their own jurisdiction...on the foundation which the British provided us with.

4. AND...our repelling of several American invasion attempts during the years 1812 to 1814.

That pretty well sums it up.

As for World War I, World War II and all that...you helped us...and we helped you (the Canadian Navy was the 2nd largest in the world in 1945 and fought very hard in the Battle of the Atlantic. It was a mutual effort. We all defeated the Nazis and Japan together. The USA did not do it alone, though they were the biggest player. Russia was the 2nd biggest player...and sacrificed the most lives in that effort. So...do I owe my freedom to the Russians too? We all shared the burden, and nobody owes anyone anything at this point, except mutual respect and good will.

Nevertheless, I understand how you could be irritated by the title of this thread...and it may have been launched precisely to do that...irritate you. Or it may have been launched in all seriousness. Hard to say. If it was launched to irritate people, it sure is working.

- LH