Canada the Great

Well, it was fun to discuss Dylan's Nobel Prize yesterday—robert e hit the nail on the head when he said "It's a pretty dark time right now, and the award was oddly cheering. It reminds me that there were other dark times, and we got through them." I still think it's barmy to give an old rock star a literature prize, but it's a pleasant change to be able to dispute something that doesn't make people angry and upset. It's a bad time in America right now.

This might help too. I don't know if you're aware of this, but our neighbors in Canada have started a small movement to help us buck up. The headline I saw read "Canadians aghast at the bitter American presidential campaign have begun a campaign, 'Tell America It's Great,' as a way to give their neighbors a pep talk."

Check out one of the videos.

They're just being neighborly—they're nice people up there.

And you know what? It worked. It made me feel better.

Speaking as an American, thanks, Canada—we needed that.

And we think you're pretty great, too.

Mike

Original contents copyright 2016 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

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Comments

[Peter Wright]

And speaking as a Canadian, "You're welcome!"

[Daniel]

The Canadians would be better served to start a campaign to get border crossing types to be more polite and courteous. Then maybe they can prevail on the US border jerks to follow suit.
Both sides are rude as hell along too many of the crossings from Montana throught Minnesota. Don't know about the rest of the border. Maybe Donald will set it right when he builds "The Wall" on the Canadian border?

[Jim Kofron]

Perhaps the Donald can appoint Scott Walker as Chief of Northern Walls? He suggested that during his short lived campaign.

I've never had any rude incidents crossing the Canadian border from Upstate NY to Michigan. Everyone has been great... And thanks for the videos!

[Darlene]

wOw, that felt darn good!!
Thank you to the producers.

PS: This election has compelled me to change my party status for the first time ever."The Times They Are A-Changin'."

[Yonatan K]

Friendly neighbors...? Or are they concerned that the poisonous atmosphere down here may drive many of us north?

:)

[Denisio Fabuloso]

Just don't ask us (antipodeans) to choose between you.

[Alan Carmody]

. I don't know if you're aware of this, but our neighbors in Canada have started a small movement to help us buck up.

They really are nice people aren't they, Mike?

You could drive over easily and thank them on our behalf. Toronto is the other great North American city that is only a four hour drive away from you. Fall is a nice time for a long drive, but I understand that this year, frequent rain has put the kibosh on the colors up there. Is this true?

A minor anecdote. I used the term "buck up" in front of some twenty- year-olds. They looked completely blank—they had never heard the term before. They were a literate bunch—English majors—but I suspect they are unacquainted with "put the kibosh on", too.

This happens to me every so often, maybe twice a year or so. I suppose we carry with us, as we age, the dialect predominant in our youth.

If I'm around a couple of more decades I expect youngsters will be coming around to hear me speak just for amusement value.

[john Seidel]

Hi, Mike,
Those wily Canadians have been attempting to cheer us up for some time now, and I'm grateful for it. Here's another little bit of Canadian fun. https://youtu.be/sCyzdD0vYOw

[Beuler]

America has survived bad presidents before, and a long steak of good presidents is coming to an end. We'll check back 4 years from now.

[Dave I.]

Read about this on npr, but didn't watch the video. It's good to take a break from the murder and mayhem on the nightly news and take a walk outdoors (with camera) to take in the goodness, interact with other people.

[Some of the Blue Jays fans should watch the video! ;) ]

[Robert Roaldi]

I live in Ottawa. Stop watching those TV "debates". Come visit us anytime. Walk around, smile, try to stay warm, take pictures. It's turning out to be a good year for fall colours, the season is lasting longer than usual, but winds and rain in the last couple of days are threatening that. Rush hour is a pain, but if you can avoid that you'll be fine.