# US Naval Officer makes this Canadian Blush. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 2, 2006, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-naval-officer-makes-this-canadian-blush/355061 "2006-05-02T04:25:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-naval-officer-makes-this-canadian-blush/355061/1 "2006-05-02T04:25:31Z")
Prompted by the death of four young soldiers in Afganistan, David Meadows, a retired naval captain and author wrote the following: "Canada is like a close uncle who constantly argues, badgers, and complains about what you are doing, but when help is truly needed, you can’t keep him away: he’s right there along side you. We have a unique relationship with Canada. We have different political positions on many issues, but our unique friendship has weathered world wars, global crises and the every so often neighbourhood disagreement. Meadows says he was in the Pentagon during the 9/11 attacks, when the US closed it’s airspace and dozens of planes were diverted to Canada. Canada rapidly mobilized its forces. Within hours, the Canadian Navy was on alert with ships preparing immediately for any US port to help victims. Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team prepared to deploy from Trenton, Ont. Canada dispersed CF 18 fighter aircraft to strategic locations throughout Canada. No politics. No negotiating. No questions. They were just there. Canada would have fought any adversary that approached the United States that day. Canada is more than a neighbour. It is a close family member with the gumption to disagree with its brother to the south but always there when disaster strikes and America needs help. For that, I salute you, Canada, and extend my respect for the sacrifices given by members of the Canadian Forces. An Officer and a gentleman, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-naval-officer-makes-this-canadian-blush/355061/2 "2006-05-02T13:57:52Z")
I’ve never met a Canadian I didn’t like. Of course, I don’t encounter many in Texas. Oh, and I apologize for [this](http://www.state.nh.us/ww2/ww43prt.html) being the first thing to spring to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-naval-officer-makes-this-canadian-blush/355061/3 "2006-05-02T14:21:47Z")
I have met exactly two canadians that I did not like and many others that were just fine. And of the two I didn’t like, it had nothing to do with her being Canadian. They’re all over the place down here in Florida. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-naval-officer-makes-this-canadian-blush/355061/4 "2006-05-02T17:23:47Z")
What a nice guy! He even took the time to spell “neighbor” and “neighborhood” wrong for you! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-naval-officer-makes-this-canadian-blush/355061/5 "2006-05-02T17:57:51Z")
Hey, Canadians is people too. Don’t let the funny accent fool ya. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2006, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-naval-officer-makes-this-canadian-blush/355061/6 "2006-05-02T19:05:44Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] Don’t let the funny accent fool ya. [/QUOTE] Why would an accent foul us? ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-naval-officer-makes-this-canadian-blush/355061/7 "2006-05-03T00:29:14Z")
I wonder if we can get the Canadians to run FEMA for us? ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-naval-officer-makes-this-canadian-blush/355061/8 "2006-05-03T01:08:46Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Why would an accent foul us? [/QUOTE] I don’t know. something aboot the way they talk. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-naval-officer-makes-this-canadian-blush/355061/9 "2006-05-03T01:40:24Z")
[QUOTE=caveman] Oh, and I apologize for [this](http://www.state.nh.us/ww2/ww43prt.html) being the first thing to spring to mind. [/QUOTE] Don Knotts is my friend? I didn’t even know he was Canadian. Tripler Or is that just an old picture of Colin Mochrie? ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-naval-officer-makes-this-canadian-blush/355061/10 "2006-05-03T03:35:56Z")
And, you know, right after this is the thread about our Prime Minister eating babies. Thanks, you guys. It’s always nice to hear. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-naval-officer-makes-this-canadian-blush/355061/11 "2006-05-03T04:02:45Z")
[QUOTE=caveman] I’ve never met a Canadian I didn’t like. Of course, I don’t encounter many in Texas. [/QUOTE] I am Canadian and there are a few of us that I just can’t stand. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-naval-officer-makes-this-canadian-blush/355061/12 "2006-05-03T05:29:50Z")
**elbows** I was in Vancouver BC on 9/11. I saw first hand the jumbo jets parked wing tip to wing tip down the runway at YVR. I saw the people that jumped into their cars and drove to the airport to offer a spare room. So many local people did this they had to close the road to the airport, it was jammed. I talked to people that were put up by local hotels, and churches. The weekend after 9/11 I was still in BC. I took a car and drove up the coast from Vancouver. About an hour up the coast, I came to a small town. Driving up the main street I saw the post office. On the roof were two flag poles. One flag pole had the Canadian flag at half mast. The other an American flag at half mast. In the middle of all that hate, it made me stop and cry that our neighbors liked us that much. I still wonder just where that American flag came from. Seeing that flag that day means more to me that I can tell. Like an uncle? No I think it is more like a couple of cousins that make fun of each other. We make fun aboot the way you talk. You make fun of how we all seem to think you live in igloos, run dog sleds, and polar bears walk down the streets. But OG help anyone that messes with our cousin. Canada is a great country full of real good people (and maybe a hoser or two) eh Thanks cous ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-naval-officer-makes-this-canadian-blush/355061/13 "2006-05-03T12:35:12Z")
…or maybe like a step-brother. We came to be what we are via a common ancestor. ::: gives weird palm-out salute to Canada ::: Now if they’d just keep their damn cold fronts to themselves. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2006, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-naval-officer-makes-this-canadian-blush/355061/14 "2006-05-03T12:50:06Z")
Every now and them, my wife and I will see someone on TV and one of us will say: “There’s something not quite _right_ about that person”, then it’s :smack: “Of course! They’re _Canadian!_” 😃 Kidding! (sort of). I love you guys, and we so totally need your moderating influence here in this crazy hemisphere…thanks!