Di-van:

While I have disagreed with some of your posts, I may have seen more of Canada than you, and I urge you to see more of your own beautiful country.

Though I have been in support of the war in Iraq, I don't hold it against Canada that with the information in front of them, they have taken a different course.

I have driven the Trans-Canada, the Alaska Highway (which is mostly in Canada), and I have some strong beliefs:

1)That we in the U.S. have been luckier than we deserve to have the northerly neighbor we do.

2)I agree that most of U.S. has almost no knowledge of Canadian history and the part we played in it.

3)Stan Rogers was a genius.

4)Where has all the ginger beer gone?

5)I really wish the Canadian identity could hold out a bit better than it has, but I guess the McDonaldization of the entire world is bringing us closer together.

6)I don't forget things like having some of our Iranian hostages safeguarded in the Canadian Embassy and returned to us. I guarantee you that whatever bitchin we Yanks do, you will find that a lot of us remember.

7)I really hope you can keep your country together. Another reason you should spend some time travelling it. If Quebec goes independent, I think it's a matter of time before most of Canada would formally become American. It wouldn't be a disaster, but it would be a shame.

8)One of the great stories of incredible rivalry and friendship is the story of Halifax and Boston. Both fielded privateers against the other in the periods around the first two American English wars. Fortunes were built in Halifax on plundering the American trade. FAST-forward to the burning French munitions ship which exploded in Halifax harbor during WWI and a huge amount of aide was rendered from the city of Boston.


Now if only you guys would learn to spell...