小蓝视频

Skip to content

Canada: the true "land of the free"

I've always heard that one should avoid talking politics and religion in social settings, but I'm Canadian, and French Canadian at that, so political discourse is in my blood.

I've always heard that one should avoid talking politics and religion in social settings, but I'm Canadian, and French Canadian at that, so political discourse is in my blood.

Now, I usually do know when to hold my tongue, so it was a surprise when on a recent holiday across the border to the "the land of the free" I experienced for the first time the danger in discussing politics.

I spent four days camping and rock climbing in a desert in the middle of Washington State, and since it was the U.S. Memorial Day weekend, my friends and I had a lot of company. I tend to shed my usual Canadian reserve across the border - "when in Rome" and all that - so I felt free to openly and respectfully chat about all things Canadian and American. Now Washington is a so-called Blue State, and I was surrounded by like-minded earth-lovers so I felt completely at ease asking questions related to politics. And even though I avoided poking at any of the sores - the big W, Iraq, Michael Moore - I nonetheless quickly realized that even a whiff of political jargon is not only intolerable to many Americans, it's downright threatening.

I should clarify that at no point did I feel threatened; I didn't even catch someone scowling my way - Americans tend to give Canadians a lot of slack. But I was warned that everyone just wanted to "chill" so give it a rest.

My immediate reaction was absolute embarrassment. I'm still Canadian and a social faux-pas runs deep. But soon, one new American friend and another and yet another approached me in private to discuss - you guessed it - politics.

My own shame turned to pity for these compassionate and frightened U.S. citizens. One free-thinking young artist told me in hushed tones that he's ashamed of being American - and anyone who's been there knows that this is a mighty strong statement.

Another burly jock-type confided to me that people overheard dissing W can be hauled off as suspected terrorists. He said that U.S. fear-mongering has alienated him from his own country and his overwhelming emotion is sadness. And just think of how much pressure is on the U.S. media to toe the line - imagining myself in those shoes, I feel a little frightened just writing these words. But then I look at the award conferred to The Chief last week for its "provocative" and "pull-no punches" editorial content and I know I'm on safe territory. I don't want to fall into the same trap Americans did by claiming to live in "the land of the free." I know that the freedom Canadians possess is relative, but after my experience in the U.S. I have a newfound gratitude and respect for organizations that continue to battle for freedom of expression.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks