Not long ago, Canada had a largely uncontested reputation for being very nice and polite, almost to a fault. This was often seen as quaint and perhaps a bit old-fashioned. Yet, it was also generally seen as refreshing in this world.
Lately, however, that is being challenged by American President Donald Trump.
You remember Trump, right? This was the guy who Americans have now voted into the Oval Office twice, and who himself is hardly known for decent manners or modesty.
And you remember how he threatened to militarily take over the Panama Canal, Greenland, and Gaza, and also threatened that American boots on the ground might be needed in Mexico? And how he also systematically went out of his way to try to disrespect Canada, undermining their status as a successful independent nation, instead referring to them as the "51st state?" He seemed almost convinced that they were seriously considering abandoning their independent status as a nation in order to be absorbed into Trump's United States, despite no evidence for it.
Well, Canada was not too happy about that.
Can you blame them?
I mean, really, what if it was the elected Canadian Prime Minister who undermined the United States and it's status as an independent nation? What if Trudeau or Carney suggested - relentlessly - that the United States would soon be the 11th province? How do you think that would make Americans feel?
So Canadians responded by boycotting American consumer products, particularly alcohol. And tourism is down by between 35 40% this summer, as Canadians are making a point of not venturing to the United States, costing billions in tourist revenue in the process.
Thanks, Trump.
In typical fashion, Trump is trying to dictate the narrative, claiming that Canadians are nasty.
But you know, it's strange how they only really are reacting to what could easily be seen as an act of American aggression. After all, relentlessly suggesting that Canada will soon be absorbed into the United States can and, frankly, should be regarded as a threat. A threat made by the elected President of the United States, who represents the American people. And he needlessly - and I might add, pointlessly - initiated these sudden hostilities with his ridiculous and relentless claims that Canada would soon be part of his American Empire.
Utter insanity.
Let's not take any of this as normal. And let's also understand that reacting to the aggression south of the border does not make Canadians nasty by a long shot.
Wake up!
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