Blame Canada? Why bother?

Americans fire back over column

First of all, I wasn't even aware that Americans actually READ Canadian newspapers. Personally, I love Canada, but it's not as if there is a lot of news generated by our neighbor to the north (no, not Oklahoma, not in this case, anyway). Canada is largely a vast, empty expanse whose main exports are cold fronts and hockey players. So, what's the fuss, then?

Well, it could have something to do with this column: "It's not our fault we're morally superior to the US". Of course, after I read the column, it became clear that most Americans probably never got any farther than seeing the title pop up on a Google search. The reality is that Richard Gwyn, the column's author, does not in fact launch into a screed on the morality superiority of Canadians vis a vis Americans. His point had more to do with the Canadian national inferiority complex when it comes to Canadian-American relations.

So, once again, Americans have distinguished themselves with their "shoot first, ask questions later" approach. Rather than read, ponder, and then react in a reasoned manner, some of our esteemed brethren have completely (and immediately) gone off the deep end. After reading some of the emails sent to Mr. Gwyn, it appears obvious that some of my countrymen benefited not at all from doing hard time in our nation's public edumication system. Apparently, rational and contemplative thought is too much to expect of Bubba and Eleanor Sixpack.

So, rather than waste time on bemoaning the the sorry state of intellectual discourse in the country, I'll leave you with one of my favorite songs: