In 2009, while phone interviewing Realtors for a buyer referral to Florida, I was confronted with a most upsetting agent, and was hurt by the conversation. Sara (not her real name) had the nerve to say that my buyers (and Canadians as a whole) were opportunists and poaching property due to the US economic situation. Actually, they owned manufacturing facilities in the United States, employed and supported the economy, and gave back generously to the local community. I wasn't about to enlighten her to this fact, I didn't think she deserved it.
I know in my heart that the majority of Americans don't feel this way but I feel a need to set the record straight. Canadians are more concerned about you, as people, and your well being, than we let on.
Hurricane Katrina was a horrible natural disaster. While catching the recaps and highlights of the tragic stories, both on CNN and CBC, I'm reminded of the atmosphere at home during these events. Tonight's media reminders, prior to the President's visit to New Orleans, sparked a strong emotional cord to me. I remember it well.
Dear Americans, yes you! In case some of you weren't aware of it, our world stopped too. We were glued to the news and turned to each other in concern. We did our best without expectation of pra
ise or compensation.
We're not only geographical neighbours (and yes... it's spelled correctly), more importantly, we're your brothers and sisters; we are associates, and your close family, we are attached to you emotionally.
We grew up learning on Sesame Street and Mr. Dressup, ABC Sports and Hockey Night in Canada, Bruce Springsteen and Anne Murray, Jiffy Peanut Butter and Maple Leaf Bacon.
Get it now? We are with you every day. We cheered when Armstrong walked on the moon, and cried when shuttle Challenger exploded. We celebrated your Bicentennial with the big ships in NYC harbor. On 911 we stopped our lives to pray and gather in our homes, in and our churches. Your stranded travelers became our children, your tears wet our shoulders, and your confusion was our call to embrace you. There were no borders or dissimilarities between us (then or now), neither sympathetically or in empathy, we didn't see distinctions.
A characteristic between siblings is that the younger child always pays more attention to the older one. We're like your little brothers and sisters, Canadians tend to know you much better than you know us. If you don't believe it, just ask Rick Mercer, and if you don't know who he is, discussion closed.
All in all, we have our own culture and nuances' that keep us Canadian, yet some Americans don't know how close to them we really are.
About us Canadians, we rarely spend time analyzing and pointing fingers. Historically, we just get to the doing part. We jump quickly and act accordingly when it comes to human concerns. We take action and move towards a solution when helping people in crises. We don't give a hoot about the politics, instead we prayed for Michael Brown to help the victims of Katrina, not criticize him.
We buy American Real Estate and you buy ours, we trade and not steal, we say ‘thank you' a lot, but we don't poach. In fact, we're more likely to give the fish mouth to mouth if we hit our limit.
So if Love is Action then we show it often... For all the good and not so good, the politics and opposing views, for all that you are... we love ya.
Oh! By the way...Sara didn't get the referral.
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