I just happened to hear the press briefing Monday, and I wondered at the time where in the world Sanders had gotten her information claiming the U.S. had been so nice to Canada all these years. Even CNN, which I was watching at the time, failed to comment on the statement, much to my surprise.
But the Toronto Star’s editorial board was not so silent, and I give them credit for defending Canada in the piece they wrote on our Independence Day, July 4.
The Toronto Star began by forgiving Sanders’ for not knowing a lot about her neighbor to the north because Canada wasn’t part of her educational curriculum. The Star may very well be right on this aspect of education in America.
I would venture to guess that if you asked 10 people in Virginia what the capital of Canada was, a few would probably say Niagara Falls. And the only reason why more Americans know that Mexico City is the capital of our neighbor to the south is that the country’s name gives it away.
But as the Toronto Star put it, “But to paraphrase the great Olympia Dukakis in the splendid movie Moonstruck, what President Donald Trump’s press secretary doesn’t know about history is a lot.”
According to The Hill, The Star claims that American’s have been “indifferent” to Canada, and Canadians are sort of used to being snubbed. They mention our great American, Al Capone who once said: “I don’t even know what street Canada is on.” And maybe, Canadians like it that way – I wonder, though.
Does Canada take advantage of the U.S.?
The editorial staff gently reminded Sanders of how Canada has treated America over the years. “Let’s just say Canadian heroism in Tehran in 1979 in helping free American hostages, and Canadian generosity in 2001 after the terrorist attack on the U.S., not to mention Canadians sacrificing their lives in the Second World War two years before America got around to joining is hardly that,” the staff penned.
None of these actions had to be discussed at great length by the federal government or by taking a poll of Canadians on a national level. Canada did what any good neighbor would do for another neighbor in a time of dire need.
The Star wrote: “But still. We live right next door. We’re the first at your door when you need a hand. You’d think that would count for something.”
Basically, most Americans do the same thing when others – either next door or across the world are in need of help. And this is the way civilized people react, wherever they live.
America flaunts its status on the world stage
We say we are considered a “superpower.” And we may be, or t least in the past, we were considered a power to be dealt with. The editorial board describes it this way: “We get it. You’re a superpower. We aren’t. You have 10 times our population. You bestride the globe like a Levis-clad, Bud-drinkin’, rock’-n-‘rollin’ colossus.”
The Star notes that Canadians know what “nice” really is and have even made it an art form. “And your boss, Ms. Sanders, couldn’t spell nice if you spotted him both the vowels,” the newspaper concluded.
And in that last statement, The Star has hit the nail on its head. To Sarah Sanders credit, she is only the voice of the current administration, and she is still in the position of press secretary because she does not deviate from anything President Donald Trump wants her to say.
If any readers actually listen to her press briefings, they sound like a rehash of Trump’s daily Twitter rants.
