Today was declared a national day of mourning in Canada. There was an incredibly large ceremony in Ottawa, the capital, this morning with a turnout that rivaled Canada Day. Every Canadian television station… including the Comedy Channel, the cartoon channel, and our two music channels… preempted all programming to bring live footage. That has never happened before, not even on Canada Day.
So… does anyone care? Do Americans even know what we’re doing here? I can’t imagine they’re watching our television stations.
P.S. Half of me wonders if this is political ass-kissing, since George Bush has thrown over Canada for President Fox of Mexico. I wondered when a president would realize that America’s largest ethnic group is Mexican, not Canadian.
Yes, we care and we appreciate it. No, I hadn’t heard about this until I read it here, but that’s true for a lot of things over the past few days.
This may also be just as important for many Canadians as it is a show of solidarity with us. I live in Cincinnati, which is further from NYC than many parts of Canada. Like it or not, we share a common heritage and in many ways a common culture. My “hometown” near Tampa, Florida has many permanent and part time Canadian residents. Your country’s friendship and political support often puts Canadians in harm’s way as well, which is the ultimate show of support. Although I don’t know of a specific instance, statistically it is highly probable that there were Canadian nationals who were casualties last week, so this is your loss as well as ours. Canada’s mourns for her own as well as her American brothers and sisters. Obviously it was important to everyone who turned out.
60,000 soccer fans in Iran were silent for a couple of minutes before a World Cup preliminary match today. I only know about it because I’m listening to a stream from WTOP news right now.
I was changing stations this morning and I saw that stuff on a Canadian channel. Today was a day of mourning here too so it was on almost all the channels. There’s even a Canadian station in French that had it on.
I think it is wonderful to have other countries praying for us. I just wish SOME people could care about the feelings of others. You are so worried about Canada Day and if we care that you care, you should be thinking of all the people who lost their loved ones. What if that happened to you, would you want Americans getting an attitude with you?
Keep the peace.
Rest in peace all who must.
Of COURSE we care. If the same thing had happened in Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, do you think we wouldn’t have done the same thing for you?
I live 30 miles south of the US/Canadian border. I consider the people of BC to be my neighbors. Actually, I think of them as part of my country. I know they aren’t, but for all practical intents and purposes, they are.
We appreciate your caring and loving gesture. We thank you for all of the kind letters, faxes and emails you have sent to our radio stations. We have heard your voice, and we are eternally grateful.
Your kindness is not ignored, nor is it slighted. We love your country. At least in this neck of the woods we do.
Calm down. He didn’t mean to be snide, he just wanted to know if his country was making a difference. It is natural that we should get all testy…we are all on edge and upset. But the man just wanted to know if his country was making a difference.
It is, and we appreciate it. Let’s just all calm down here, okay?
I have long advocated the annexation of Canada (might as well make it formal, you know?) or, better yet, Canada’s annexation of wherever in the States I happen to live. Australia, too. So of course I care and appreciate it. Thank you for passing it along.
They care very, very much as far as I can make out here,which is a thread where Dopers who are abroad, including Canadians, are recording world reaction.
I was watching ABC today, and they showed how all the countries showed their love for the U.S., and I was deeply touched. I started crying when I saw that other countries cared so much. Thank you. We do appreciate it.
I cared too, I was more moved today, when I saw the moment of silence/prayer being observed in Canada, London, Bonn, and Paris,… than I was seeing us here in the US observe it. I was amazed that people in other countries took notice and cared. It touched me that we could be united in our humanity, and shared pain regardless of ethnicity, country, location, or gender. THAT still gets to me.
Another “me too” post. Here in New York, we know and care. A large part of the news tonight showed people all over the world (so yes, we saw Canada) responding in various ways.
And we also remember that many people in the WTC were citizens of other nations, who lived or worked or were visiting New York. New York is truly a cosmopolitan city. I think this is a loss felt all over the world, not just our city.
Calm down. He didn’t mean to be snide, he just wanted to know if his country was making a difference. It is natural that we should get all testy…we are all on edge and upset. But the man just wanted to know if his country was making a difference.
It is, and we appreciate it. Let’s just all calm down here, okay?
Yes I know. It is just people should not worry so much about things like that when others have lost their lives. I was not trying to be mean, it is just upsetting to me. I don’t want to be mean to anyone that is not me, but I just don’t think he would like someone saying that if it happened in his country. There could have been Canadian born people in that building you never know. Canada is wonderful for helping out and worrying about America whether Americans care or not.
The thing is, I don’t think that ANY of us are thinking straight these days. I know you weren’t trying to be mean.
And please let me say that I never DID think you were trying to be mean. Things are just so…upsetting to all of us. Everything is just so mixed up.
I saw it on the news. It was great, especially when they used terms like “we Americans”. I never felt funny about calling myself an American, except when visiting Canada. Now I like the idea that it can be used as a common term of brotherhood.
