A little self-promotion here: If Canada had different neighbors, she might find herself having to defend herself militarily just as a lot of other countries do. In that sense, perhaps the USA helped create the 'niceness' of Canada? (Only slightly TIC...:)

Larry, from my perspective, that's appalling. I have not been present at an incident of violence- except once at a party one guy jumped on his brother after the brother had made a belittling remark about first guy's wife, and they rolled on the floor together, scandalizing the whole party. Alcohol was involved.

Is it because of your activism as a peaceful Quaker that you have gotten involved in so many violent incidents? I can easily believe that if I were a black woman or man in this country I would be familiar with a wide variety of violence.