Happy 4th USA, from me, from Calgary

~ from our side of this fence, a birthday card, wishing American neighbours, sent with care, while keeping a respectful distance

To American citizens, our neighbours; you’ll hear us clapping, politely of course, from this side of the 49th parallel - it’s not a fence or wall, but a solid and well-surveyed property line. It isn’t the only thing that separates us …

We know it’s your big day. The flags, the parades, the speeches, the fireworks. All the spectacle, all the noise, all the red, white, and blue-berance.

But times change. Old friends can drift. The view over the fence doesn’t bring the same comfort it once did. I still care - deeply - about what happens next door. But like most of my fellow Canadians, we just don’t want it blowing into our backyard.

So today, I send warm greetings, tempered by caution, to citizens of the United States, to ones I know, ones I’ve met, and those who also shudder at the actions of your president.

Each year, just after our Canada Day, we pause to acknowledge your country’s birthday - July 4th - a date drenched in American pomp and circumstance, independence, pride, and a particular brand of confidence. We know it well. We've been fed it through your television networks for decades.

For most of my life, it was easy to wish America well. Your optimism, your opportunity, your outsized ambition; it was hard not to admire, even envy, at times. Like putting astronauts into space, or on the moon.

Less so for wars in Vietnam and Iraq (twice), or for meddling in other nations’ affairs, and your human rights history.

And we love many of your entertainers - many of them are ours, still Canadians and others who’ve become American citizens.

But we’ve watched as good trade relationships soured.

You’ve been solid NAFTA partners, and then USMCA co-signers, but your adherence to treaty obligations is slipping. Your leaders haven’t just messed with us; they’ve messed with many of you, too.

We remember Canadians risking their lives in helping Americans escape Tehran, and so many who opened welcoming arms and airport landings, hosting many thousands on Canadian soil when flights were grounded on 9/11. We’ve lent hands. And we remember too that Canada was first in during both World Wars, and more recently, in helping Ukraine.

But our admiration isn’t unconditional.

As for me, I was born not far from the U.S. border — Estevan, Saskatchewan, 9.9 miles away, and I’ve spent the last 26 years living in Calgary, 254 kilometres away.

It used to feel closer.

Now, politically and socially, it feels an enormous number of miles apart.

That’s not a swipe at ordinary Americans - and though I don’t know many personally, there are many readers of this publication, as well as proud Americans I’ve happily worked with, admired, befriended.

This tempered greeting is a reflection of what your country currently represents to me and to my country, to my fellow Canadians.

It’s the politics of division. The erosion of trust. The shouting over listening.

So yes, happy birthday, Americans.

To the people: thoughtful wishes.
To the institutions: careful scrutiny.
To President Trump and his enablers: stay off our lawn.

This isn’t hostility.

It’s about boundaries; literal and moral ones.

Canadians are watching.

Many are worried. Many more are weary.

But, ever the polite neighbours, we won’t be yelling over the fence. We’ll let our governments and leaders negotiate. They have my support, and the watchful eyes of most Canadians …

Many Canadians haven’t waited for action, revised treaties or withdrawn tariffs.

Instead, many have begun voting with their feet by buying Canadian, bypassing American where they can, seeking equivalent goods from Canadian suppliers or other countries. Not saying “never again, America,” but for now, not so much.

We’ll just hope someone over there is still listening.

Meanwhile, happy Fourth, eh!

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