Straddling the 49th Parallel

The FreeOnline Dictionary defines straddle as;

strad·dle
v. strad·dled, strad·dling, strad·dles
v.tr.
1.
a. To stand or sit with a leg on each side of; bestride: straddle a horse.
b. To be on both sides of; extend over or across: a car straddling the center line.
2. To appear to favor both sides of (an issue).
3. To fire shots behind and in front of (a target) in order to determine the range.
v.intr.
1. To walk, stand, or sit with the legs wide apart, especially to sit astride.
2. To spread out in a disorderly way; sprawl.
3. To appear to favor both sides of an issue.
n.
1. The act or posture of sitting astride.
2. An equivocal or a noncommittal position.
3. The option to buy or sell a specific asset, such as a block of stock, at a predetermined price before a certain date.Idiom:
straddle the fence Informal
To be undecided or uncommitted.
[Akin to stride.]
straddler n.

What a wonderful definition! It would indeed be an accomplishment if over the period of this Blog's life I was able to touch at least each definition once!

I have purposely left out my location as I believe we all tend to stereotype each other in this wonderful bastion of free democracy and speech that all Canadians and Americans enjoy. So I will begin by "straddling" both sides of the 49th Parallel.

I think its time that all Canadians woke up to a few hard and fast facts, and stopped pretending to be autonomous.
1) Canadian economics are dependant on American tolerance--Oh I can hear the gnashing of teeth over this one. Let me explain, if America decides that it is in her best interest NOT to allow certain exports, entrance to a large profitable economy is denied. The softwood lumber dispute, or Canadian beef is a perfect example.
2) There are more people in the state of California than there are in the country of Canada.
3) If it wasn't for American military might, the thousands of miles of "unprotected " border between the two countries would not exist. Rather Canadians would be speaking either Russian or Swahili, or Mandarin as a second language.

Its also time the Americans grew up, understood some basic geography and looked at some of the positive things happening north of the border.

1) Universal health care is not the big bad bogey man. Rather the increase in taxes justifies the decrease or non existence of medical bankruptcy.
2) The decriminalization of pot, does not make for streets flooded with dope smoking pinko commies.
3) Same sex marriage has not resulted in total anarchy and chaos, whereby the "family" is no more. Marriage and religion are totally separate. After all if they weren't, you would be unable to marry at city hall!

As to geography, the average Canadian can name most states, their capitals, and find them on a map. The average American cannot name the majority of the Provinces, and believes that Canada is "somewhere up there".

Both countries need to make some changes in their perceptions of each other, but this will not happen in my opinion. It is neither the Canadian nor the American politicians interest to change some of these perceptions. Without political change, there used to be no other venue. However we now have the Internet and Blogs..whereby the world is only a click away.

Welcome to my Blog. It is MINE, as only an only child can claim. These are my opinions, and at times will be my rants, and my observations. They are not open to debate. Comments--yes--Debate no.