It Took A Great Deal for Canadians Universally to React to Injustice
I’m a reasonably well-educated Canadian man who has spent significant amounts of time in the U.S., even having served time as an exchange officer with the U.S. Navy some 57 years past.
In those days I was both an optimist and a believer in the United States, in spite of the obvious racism I witnessed while in the U.S. or while serving.
I tolerated it, thinking that black leaders would eventually successfully see the changes occur that America needed to make in order to finally reconcile its xenophobia and racist attitudes.
When studying ethics, morality and later, teaching strategic studies and conflict resolution, I then naively believed that America would reconcile its anger, — and its ever increasing xenophobia.
The reasons for such feelings may well be many but the reality is how this behaviour imprisons Americans.
I thought that the U.S. population would find the mechanisms to talk to, instead of simply talking at other people. I believed that by not appreciating that the animus being created was, and is entirely within one’s own control, that while it would be simple to then blame the ‘others’ for one’s anger, some self-analysis would shed light on how individuals perceive others. I actually thought that the loss or failure as it hardened hearts, minds and the intellect and reason of people would at least serve for them to seek solutions.
I was wrong.
Conflict, especially societal conflict has increasingly become worse in the United States due to the media, social media and the ‘echo chambers’ of intolerance. In America, the belief that ‘free speech’ includes what in almost every other democracy would be called ‘hate speech’, means that positions have become so visceral and concrete, and the void or the walls become so pervasive and entrenched, that they are nearly mentally impregnable.
People, like those in Germany in the 1930’s, have been provided with scapegoats by their respective interest group, leading to ‘group think’ (Irving Janus) taking over. Even those willing to become the voice of reason are muted instantly by the group’s sanction. What is often heard is the following.
“They are wrong, and if you don’t change your mind, you can join them”, it is a message that forces acquiescence and conformity to the group.
In America, one need only switch a channel of a tv, and you are instantly in a world diametrically opposed to whatever your position might be. The ‘enemy’ and the ‘mental defectives’ cannot be appeased. Man the ramparts and pass the ammunition.
For a period of about ten years I was involved in labour management conflict through a college that would have me attempt to resolve or at least lessen the animosity between groups that were undergoing either merger or corporate acquisition.
I learned a great deal about human behaviour during that time, but not much about tolerance, empathy or understanding.
As a tool, I used a very simple, but highly effective instrument known as the Thomas-Killman Conflict Model to at least enable the divergent positions to see how their sense of injustice and anger may well frame the responses they use, and how, if they remained fixed on their ‘position’, reaching a rational and reasonable outcome would be unlikely.
https://managementweekly.org/thomas-kilmann-conflict-resolution-model/
What the model illustrates are the positions one can take in a conflict, and the likely outcome of taking a specific position that inherently leaves one of the parties unsatisfied.
Without spending time on its application, may I simply suggest that depending on one of the options in specific situations is likely to be much more productive, — however, it is not necessarily a solution in and of itself.
Which simply brings me back to my argument, — that being that ‘hate’ in America is so entrenched, having actually been a constant in America for nigh on 250 years, — in both the political discourse (or the lack of it), in its racism, its true ignorance, and particularly within the opinions and positions taken by each side, — that today, rational discourse is an oxymoron.
As an outsider, both politically, nationally and geographically, the situation in the U.S. appears now to almost be unsolvable. The scapegoats have been identified, vilified and the hatred stoked to such a level, that were it not for policing (at least to some degree), open and in some cases, physical conflict would exist between them.
I’m also not naive, as I realize that this is happening as I write this article.
How America Is Viewed by Canadians and Most Of the World’s Democratic Peoples
At the same time as the conflict that exists domestically within the U.S. continues to boil, the United States Federal Government is in the process of misrepresenting the facts, stoking fear and hatred of ‘others’, external to America in order to enhance their own lies and illegal actions internationally.
America’s Federal Government’s pathological lies, threats, economic tariffs, disrespect for the rule of international law, international trade law and the legal agreements and treaties that they are signatories to, has led former allies, friends and neighbours to completely distrust the United States.
By threatening their neighbours, America has hardened the resolve of Canadians and Mexicans, such that ‘they’ no longer trust America or want to do business with America, at all.
The level of anger and disillusionment that exists within Canada, (as I can speak directly to this issue), is so great, that Canadians by the end of Trump’s tenure will not only not travel to the United States, but demand that Canada, to the greatest extent possible, not trade with America.
Canadians are willing to pay an economic price for this action, as the United States is obviously willing to take measures to damage Canada in order to force compliance.
Canada is in the process of doing just that, while considering conscription and a massive increase in defence spending and the size of the Canadian Armed Forces to approximately 500,000 regular, reserve and supplementary reserve personnel.
The expenditure of 5% of GDP, or $150 billion will be met by 2035, with 2.5% by 2030.
America has lost an ally in Canada.
America has lost any interest in economic collaboration in relation to providing American with any of Canada’s vast natural resources, minerals, oil, commodities, etc., etc.
Trump has told Canadians that he doesn’t respect them, nor is he willing to compromise on his expectation that Canada will become Americas 51st State.
Canadians won’t accept invasion or a tyrant in Canada.
The border of more than 8,800 kilometres is indefensible and porous to a fault.
In terms of defence we understand that significance.
Sovereignty is not negotiable.
Hatred Is a Powerful Word. It is an even Greater Impetus to Defence
I’m also aware from the perspective of somehow finding resolution, that it is now intractable and unlikely. In the future the position of Canada will not likely result in collaboration.
That should not surprise Americans, seeing that the U.S. started from a position of bullying and threatening Canada in to acquiescence.
How this resolves itself is likely to be unlike anything that has transpired in the past.
Canadians are incensed with America.
There is no possibility, never mind probability of reaching even a compromise where Canada’s sovereignty is involved.
Canada is intent on securing and maintaining its sovereignty, including its assets and its independent economic future.
Once activated by threats and injustice, Canadians will pay almost any price to ensure that our country remains sovereign and independent. This applies to every square inch of Canada, and it applies to every facet of Canada’s governance.
Canadians are unwilling to be ‘ruled’ by a demagogue, pathological liar, xenophobe, kleptocrat and convicted sexual felon.
We are therefore, done with America.
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