"Sleeping with an elephant"

Ted. The Canadians that we have met have been quite friendly to us and seem to relish the close ties that their country has with the US. They have all traveled in the States and many have family and friends who live there. However, they seem deeply hurt by the new tariffs and caustic remarks made about their country and its political leadership. As I learn more of their history, I wonder if that sadness might also be mixed with a tinge of fear.

Historically, Canadians have had ample reason to shiver when they looked to the south. The US has actually invaded Canada twice! The first time was in 1775 (yep – before writing our Declaration of Independence). We invaded again in 1812,  scaring the crap out of the tens of thousands of British loyalists who had fled north at the end of the American Revolution. We were thwarted by an alliance of British troops, French and English speaking militias and First Nations warriors.

"Triumph Through Diversity"
War of 1812 Monument on Parliament Hill in Ottawa

Fear of their southern neighbor motivated Canadian politics throughout the 19^th century. The Rideau Canal and the city of Ottawa owe their existence to ongoing concerns of American incursions. In the 1860’s British troops began to leave the Canadian colonies while American military might grew (primarily for internal use). It is no coincidence that in 1867 the colonies of eastern Canada banded together to form the independent Dominion of Canada.

It is inevitable that our friends to the north will always watch us with a bit of trepidation. In 1969, the Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau illustrated his government’s situation to a group of American reporters. “Living next to you is, in some ways, like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly, or even-tempered is the beast…one is affected by every twitch and grunt.”