Let’s make U.S. visitors welcome

Dear Editor: Re: James Miller column “Let’s be kind to our visitors” (Herald, Aug. 22).

The American people realize and understand that they have plenty of problems; very often they criticize themselves — even before some of their “critics” bash the United States.

I would take the ugly American — even with all his/her wrinkles, any day — before I would take the ugly Canadian. Canadians are the most fortunate people on the planet. We are protected by the most powerful country in the world, a nation which is the most “benevolent” of all the world’s major military powers.

If the North Korean nutcase launches ICBMs toward North America, only the U. S. Air Force or U.S. Navy are capable of shooting down those missiles. If the Yanks miss their targets; if those missiles fall short, they could land in Greater Vancouver or even the Okanagan Valley.

Canada, militarily, has been riding for free since 1968 on the backs of our U.S. friends and allies. We have not pulled our NATO weight since ‘68. Where before Pierre Elliott Trudeau arrived, Canadian NATO troops were considered the pride and envy of the alliance.

P.E. Trudeau was Canada's “most infamous draft dodger during World War II,” he was elected to the “flawed” Canadian Parliament; flawed because Canada does not have the Triple E Senate: Elected, Equal and Effective.

The U.S and Australia have the Triple E and those two countries have a future, Canada on the other hand is standing on shaky ground. The future of Canada does not look very solid.

When I read where a Canadian man had used a profane remark against an American woman, my pot boiled over.

When ignorant Canadians — in this case most likely an ignorant Pentictonite — defames and insults an American womanthat clown had absolutely no idea of the “political and business” damage he has caused.

Having served a career in the Canadian Army and Air Force — 10 years before Trudeau and 10 more years after he arrived — I believe I speak for all English speaking Canadian troops

One of the problems I face today: I am 76, out of shape and occasionally need my cane to get around. Had I been present during that incident, I would have taken the time to remind him “just how out out of order he was.” Had the incident happened when I was in my 40s, that fellow would have had plenty of trouble sitting down for six months, because the cheeks of his fanny would be hanging off his shoulder blades for a very long time. Ernie Slump Penticton