I want to offer my sincere apologies to you and all of Canada for the madness and vitriol that have emanated from that one office. We who are citizens here are living in a dystopian society trying to live our lives while we watch our freedoms being taken away one by one while our elected representatives seem powerless to do anything. We are holding our breath as seniors to see how badly we will be affected by the changes in Social Security and Medicare. I am devastated at the country my grandchildren are going to come of age in. These are not our values as a nation. This is not the country that my parents defended during WW2. It’s not the country my husband and daughter pledged to defend during Vietnam and Enduring Freedom. We are being held hostage by a corrupt administration and an unelected shadow government. I fear for how the next four years will play out. This is not how we planned to live our golden years. I’m afraid to even travel domestically let alone leave the country. I no longer trust social media and it’s like we are being watched and flagged by bots. Even though your country is being bullied, please know that most of us are as horrified as you are. Thank you for your sage advice.
It is with outrage that I, as a citizen of the USA, have to say that these leaders and I have no common values. At age 73, it is shocking to face. My father and mother sacrificed the greater part of their youth and much of their health to fight for respect and dignity of all. Where are the leaders that will say plant a garden, devote 30 minutes a week to making something from scraps, have a neighborhood party with brownies and iced tea. I am certain that the people who are yelling insults are not gardening, refinishing or setting up a table for their neighbors.
Barbara, like the other U.S. citizens who have responded here, I want to add my personal apology - from me to you and your family - for this shameful situation. As others have said, we are appalled by Trump and his supporters. On April 5th, a march is planned to protest, hopefully one of many marches. I’m 81 and I will march proudly - as far as I can. 😊 As my mom would say, there will be better days.
In Australia many of us have similar feelings, though we have not been so grossly insulted. Like you I have found it necessary to limit the time I spend accessing political information. Just sending sympathy and hope that decency evenbtually prevails.
This is beautifully written and encapsulates how we are all feeling in these crazy and bewildering times. I have been reading the Globe and Mail and Peter the New York Times in an effort to keep up, particularly with what is happening in Canada. Even from this distance (Australia)it feels like a relentless assault from the White House. We too face tariffs, but so far not so many insults, but anti American feeling is growing. Perhaps I too should limit my news. Thanks for sharing your feelings.
Oh Gayle so good to hear from you! Strange times and hard to understand. Also completely incompatible with the great experiences I have had in the US my whole life. Not easy to understand, or to accept.
Southern Californian here. I have adored your writing since discovering you, years ago. It seriously devastates me that our country’s best neighbor and friend is under verbal assault by our presidential admin. It frightens me that so many have taken his cue to be hateful and mean, to so many. It petrifies me that America is failing the lofty ideals so many sacrificed their lives to support.
Please know that I am crushed by your expressed feelings.
I hope, someday, this man and his hatred will all go away and never return! Canadians and Americans deserve so much better, along with the rest of the world.
Dear Barbara, I've been thinking of you every day throughout these past weeks. It's appalling to me, and to everyone I know, that Canada has been roughed around like this. It's frightening, it makes me cringe, it horrifies me to hear what has been said. It seems to me that someone precious [you] has been bitterly betrayed. ....... I admire what you've written with all my heart. I stand beside you. May peace descend upon us all.
Like almost half (or more) of all of us on the Southern side of Canada, I am absolutely appalled at what is going on in our country. I think that somehow the felon and the manical billionaire have decided they want the US to become a third world country, where only the wealthy belong and everyone else can starve. I hope I live long enough to see both of them in jail. This is not the country or the way of living I believe in. Has Putin paid them off? Who knows. But I do know they are criminals who are taking advantage of our representatives who are fearful of the power they wield. I no longer watch the news and have eliminated all social media because it makes me so ill to see the hatred and evil taking charge and destroying our reputation world wide. Know that most of us are with you and are awaiting a regime change. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Better start my garden also!
My dear friend sent this to me this morning and I felt compelled as she did to email you. While I am not directly responsible for what you are going through, and never will be, I nonetheless do feel a responsibility to apologize as a citizen of the United States for what you and your fellow Canadians are going through. The mean spirited, soulless comments are not American and they are not what exemplifies the majority of my neighbors, countrymen/women. They are however rooted in peevishness, ignorance and object hatred stewing in one person who has nurtured it in a select few. While you are growing a beautiful garden, they are growing weeds.
I am so sorry you are going through this! I live in California, and absolutely avoid the news. I believe we all affect each other, so I make every effort to be kind, enjoy my life, and help other people. The news is so very toxic. The majority of us are just as horrified as you are.
I apologize - I don't know what else to say. Looking forward to better days and trying to bring them about. Please, Canada, don't give up on us here in the U.S. and please forgive us for those among us who are forgetting our friendship and common humanity and dignity and are behaving horribly, crazily and rudely!
I have crossed that border so so many times in my life and have had nothing but great experiences and hospitality. This is not who you are and we know it.
I'm sorry you are having to go through this. The majority of Americans are just as horrified as you are. I avoid the mainstream US news and have found European news and Substack to be more realistic, informative, and truthful. Sending a big hug.
Thanks Sydney, much appreciate this. Going your way next month.
I don't live in California, but if I could, I'd meet you at the airport and give you a hug.
I want to offer my sincere apologies to you and all of Canada for the madness and vitriol that have emanated from that one office. We who are citizens here are living in a dystopian society trying to live our lives while we watch our freedoms being taken away one by one while our elected representatives seem powerless to do anything. We are holding our breath as seniors to see how badly we will be affected by the changes in Social Security and Medicare. I am devastated at the country my grandchildren are going to come of age in. These are not our values as a nation. This is not the country that my parents defended during WW2. It’s not the country my husband and daughter pledged to defend during Vietnam and Enduring Freedom. We are being held hostage by a corrupt administration and an unelected shadow government. I fear for how the next four years will play out. This is not how we planned to live our golden years. I’m afraid to even travel domestically let alone leave the country. I no longer trust social media and it’s like we are being watched and flagged by bots. Even though your country is being bullied, please know that most of us are as horrified as you are. Thank you for your sage advice.
And thank you for your comment. The greatest damage is done to Americans in all of this. We all deserve better. Your support means everything
It is with outrage that I, as a citizen of the USA, have to say that these leaders and I have no common values. At age 73, it is shocking to face. My father and mother sacrificed the greater part of their youth and much of their health to fight for respect and dignity of all. Where are the leaders that will say plant a garden, devote 30 minutes a week to making something from scraps, have a neighborhood party with brownies and iced tea. I am certain that the people who are yelling insults are not gardening, refinishing or setting up a table for their neighbors.
Barbara, like the other U.S. citizens who have responded here, I want to add my personal apology - from me to you and your family - for this shameful situation. As others have said, we are appalled by Trump and his supporters. On April 5th, a march is planned to protest, hopefully one of many marches. I’m 81 and I will march proudly - as far as I can. 😊 As my mom would say, there will be better days.
Thank you so much Marjorie. This means so much to me.
Thank you Helen, this means a lot.
In Australia many of us have similar feelings, though we have not been so grossly insulted. Like you I have found it necessary to limit the time I spend accessing political information. Just sending sympathy and hope that decency evenbtually prevails.
Helen so much appreciated. No way we all thought we would be here. Sharing that feeling seemed to right thing to do
Hi Barbara
This is beautifully written and encapsulates how we are all feeling in these crazy and bewildering times. I have been reading the Globe and Mail and Peter the New York Times in an effort to keep up, particularly with what is happening in Canada. Even from this distance (Australia)it feels like a relentless assault from the White House. We too face tariffs, but so far not so many insults, but anti American feeling is growing. Perhaps I too should limit my news. Thanks for sharing your feelings.
Gayle
Oh Gayle so good to hear from you! Strange times and hard to understand. Also completely incompatible with the great experiences I have had in the US my whole life. Not easy to understand, or to accept.
Southern Californian here. I have adored your writing since discovering you, years ago. It seriously devastates me that our country’s best neighbor and friend is under verbal assault by our presidential admin. It frightens me that so many have taken his cue to be hateful and mean, to so many. It petrifies me that America is failing the lofty ideals so many sacrificed their lives to support.
Please know that I am crushed by your expressed feelings.
I hope, someday, this man and his hatred will all go away and never return! Canadians and Americans deserve so much better, along with the rest of the world.
Travel safely!
Gerrie
You said it. We do deserve better because we both are.
You have said it perfectly. Devastating.
Dear Barbara, I've been thinking of you every day throughout these past weeks. It's appalling to me, and to everyone I know, that Canada has been roughed around like this. It's frightening, it makes me cringe, it horrifies me to hear what has been said. It seems to me that someone precious [you] has been bitterly betrayed. ....... I admire what you've written with all my heart. I stand beside you. May peace descend upon us all.
Thank you so so much. This means a lot. We just have to look past it.
Like almost half (or more) of all of us on the Southern side of Canada, I am absolutely appalled at what is going on in our country. I think that somehow the felon and the manical billionaire have decided they want the US to become a third world country, where only the wealthy belong and everyone else can starve. I hope I live long enough to see both of them in jail. This is not the country or the way of living I believe in. Has Putin paid them off? Who knows. But I do know they are criminals who are taking advantage of our representatives who are fearful of the power they wield. I no longer watch the news and have eliminated all social media because it makes me so ill to see the hatred and evil taking charge and destroying our reputation world wide. Know that most of us are with you and are awaiting a regime change. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Better start my garden also!
Thank you Lynda. Americans have always had such a fantastic reputation and earned it. The damage is unfair.
Hi Barbara,
My dear friend sent this to me this morning and I felt compelled as she did to email you. While I am not directly responsible for what you are going through, and never will be, I nonetheless do feel a responsibility to apologize as a citizen of the United States for what you and your fellow Canadians are going through. The mean spirited, soulless comments are not American and they are not what exemplifies the majority of my neighbors, countrymen/women. They are however rooted in peevishness, ignorance and object hatred stewing in one person who has nurtured it in a select few. While you are growing a beautiful garden, they are growing weeds.
Sally very beautifully put. I think you've nailed this.
I am so sorry you are going through this! I live in California, and absolutely avoid the news. I believe we all affect each other, so I make every effort to be kind, enjoy my life, and help other people. The news is so very toxic. The majority of us are just as horrified as you are.
So good to hear from you Sydney. I think your approach is the only sane one.
Ugh! Another American here, we're so sorry. The casual cruelty of this too moment is mind-boggling. Would you share the book title? Sounds useful!
Here it is:
The Home front in World War Two by Susie Hodge.
Cruelty is the right word for it, and one I do not for a minute feel is representative of the US. Exact opposite. That's what makes this hard
I apologize - I don't know what else to say. Looking forward to better days and trying to bring them about. Please, Canada, don't give up on us here in the U.S. and please forgive us for those among us who are forgetting our friendship and common humanity and dignity and are behaving horribly, crazily and rudely!
I have crossed that border so so many times in my life and have had nothing but great experiences and hospitality. This is not who you are and we know it.
I'm sorry you are having to go through this. The majority of Americans are just as horrified as you are. I avoid the mainstream US news and have found European news and Substack to be more realistic, informative, and truthful. Sending a big hug.
Oh Ginger thanks so much. Hugs are much appreciated right now.
Thank you.
And thank you for understanding.