Canadian

An idea was floated in December: the nation of Canada should become the 51st state of the U.S.A. I thought it was a joke. Maybe it wasn't serious, but I was surprised to find out that the idea is far from new, and is supported today by some.

According to Canadian Kevin O'Leary (businessman, investor, and star of "Shark Tank"), about half of all Canadians are not laughing. They'd like to hear more.

Why might the idea be attractive? According to our president-elect, they'd pay far less in taxes, American goods would be tariff-free, and they'd have more security. That sounds pretty good to some Canadians, possibly the same ones who are real happy about the resignation of their left-wing prime minister.

9-11 kindness

"We just fell out of the sky onto their town."

On September 11, 2001, after the attack on New York City, all flight traffic stopped. Planes were ordered to land at the nearest airport and wait.

Thirty-eight airplanes landed at Gander, Newfoundland, Canada, a small town of 9,000 people. The planes brought 7,000 strangers from 90 different countries, all in need - and Gander was up to the task for what turned out to be five days.

Sandwiches were made, travelers were housed in gymnasiums, high schools, and even homes. The people of Gander put their normal lives on hold to serve these strangers, out of the goodness of their hearts.



from "Hope is Contagious"

Cheesy support

Those nice Canadian air traffic controllers thought of a way to show friendly support for their American counterparts, who haven't been paid since Dec. 22 because of the government shutdown across the border.

photo: NYT

"[E]mployees at an air traffic control center in Edmonton, Alberta, decided to buy pizzas for their colleagues at an office in Anchorage, Alaska. Soon, dozens of other Canadian traffic control centers joined in . . .By Monday, about 400 pizzas had been delivered to air traffic control towers across the United States."

The recipients were grateful. 

"I might have to cheer for a Canadian hockey team."

"O Canada! We don't deserve you!"

"I know who I'm voting for next election: Canada!"
"Pizza diplomacy, eh!"