Americans Don't Hate Canada - Trump Does

I'm having tea this morning instead of my usual coffee in honor of my deceased Grandma Baxter who was born in Canada where she met my British grandfather who later became an American citizen.

Maybe because I have some Canadian DNA, I take Trump's brutal treatment towards Canada personally. 

Since crawling back into the Oval Office like a cockroach, Trump has gone out of his way to disrespect one of our closest (literally) allies and fellow member nation in NATO. He brags about making Canada the 51st state when he's in his bullying mode... which is growing in frequency.

Trump's bluster against other nations lately is scary. I grew up during the Cold War, and it looks like I'll die of old age during this version of paranoid isolationism by Trump and his fascist cohorts. 

Speaking of bluster, Trump is upping the stakes against Canada by warning the country that the U.S. will send fighter jets frequently into Canadian airspace if they pull out of a deal on purchasing 88 American-made F-35 fighter jets. He also threw in the usual tariff threat of 100% against Canadian goods.

The U.S. ambassador to Canada warned that the arrangements involving the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) may have to change if Ottawa doesn't follow through on the $14.2 billion deal.

Why, you may wonder, is Canada hesitating from consummating the agreement? The F-35 has some major issues. For starters the control model is a problem. As is their functionality in cold weather. And Canada, is...COLD.

On top of the F-35s reliability issues in cold climates the reliance on US Software during a time when they can't trust Trump or American's military-industrial complex and you can see why the deal has gone sour.

This senseless assault on Canada is going to end up with both countries being less safe in the skies when, and if, an enemy strikes from above.

I know Americans don't hate Canada. We've been too great of neighbors to suddenly split like this. Tourism in both countries is suffering along with both economies because of Trump's tariffs.

Canada is a beautiful country. My best friend and I traveled across Canada and then down into Minnesota in the summer of 1969 after graduating from high school. Our trip back to California was a story of discovery in itself.

As it Stands, I sincerely hope that the damaged relationship with Canada ends soon before Trump goes too far.