Patriots

In 1940 things looked dire. We were losing to Hitler. Beseiged Britain was trying to get American involved – which wouldn’t happen until December of the next year (Pearl Harbour).

As part of the effort, Winston Churchill signed 99-year leases allowing US air and naval bases to be established on its North American turf – Newfoundland. In return, Britain got fifty destroyers. The war eventually ended. The bases were decommissioned. But they’re still American property. Stephenville, Argentia, St. John’s.

“Are Canadians aware of the potential security risks to us should Trump decide to forcefully annex us?” asks blog dog Clare, in Kitchener. “This gives Trump and Putin a toehold in Canada. It scares me, and it should scare all of us. Has our government and our Department of Defense considered this?”

That seemed like a weird question when it landed a few days ago. Now, after the slap-down of the Ukrainian president by the orange guy and his attack-dog sidekick on Friday, not so weird. Who is Trump working for? Why this historic turning upon allies? With America on one side and Russia on the other, is Canada vulnerable?

Are these tariffs designed to hobble us, then convince a growing number of Canadians it’s better to capitulate (51st state) than resist?

After all, he says the 25% hammer is coming on Tuesday. Then eight days later our steel and aluminum industries will be additionally taxed. And this weekend the White House ordered a new investigation of Canadian lumber exports, saying unfair competition from the north must end.

It is, economists say, the most existential threat Canada has faced since Churchill gave Roosevelt space on the Rock. The Bank of Canada agrees. The impact could be “structural”, it says, and “permanent.” Layoffs and recession will ensure. Retaliatory tariffs could bring widespread inflation and possibly higher interest rates. Manufacturing, retailing and house-selling will be whacked.

Trump is serious about annexation of Canada. The migrant-drugs-border rhetoric was fabricated to justify imposition of tariffs on the grounds of national security. He wants to do to us what he almost did to Ukraine – bully and coerce his way to Hoovering valuable natural resources. The spectre on Friday of a leader who attempted to thwart democracy berating one who is trying to save it was as historic as it was sad. But there ya go. This, as Clare says, is now a world of risk for Canada.

We’re not a perfect country, of course. But we’re not broken. Zelensky faces Ruskie tanks drones, missiles, artillery shells and combat troops. We face MAGA – led by a president elected by 49% of the 62% of Americans who voted. There is still time to engage to the majority of US citizens, decent and reasonable folk, as they awake to the ideological takeover of their country and the destruction of brotherhood with allies like us.

America needs more Canada. So maybe we need the truckers.

You remember the Freedom Convoy? It galvanized attention here and globally. Our nation’s capital was overrun by big rigs and supporters who rallied around the words “patriot” and “freedom.” They flew Canadian flags, nailing them on every possible surface, tying them to hockey sticks and wearing them as capes. They immobilized and panicked the administration.

And while the movement was eventually corrupted by foreign money, xenophobia, conspiracy and pandemic misinformation, most of the public saw it as grassroots, spontaneous, powerful and pride-inspiring. Pierre Poilievre got that, and used the occupation of Ottawa as a springboard for his own career. Now he campaigns on ‘Canada First’.

So, maybe we need these guys again. If they’re truly patriots. And if they truly want freedom – because ours faces a threat unseen since German U-boats snuck into Halifax Harbour and up the St. Lawrence.

Imagine the wall of Peterbilts, bouncy castles, BBQs, anthem-singing and maple-leaf flags circling the White House and choking off Capital Hill. All these guys would need to do is alter their banners a little from F-Trudeau to, well, you know.

Not gonna happen, of course. But surely the flame of patriotism that burned in the hearts of hundreds of thousands of us can be fanned once more. We’re not a jingoistic people. Not nationalist, either. Nor aggressive and territorial. But we have a good thing going in this country, where moderation, civility, tolerance and boring middle-of-the-roadness suddenly look worth driving for, air-horning about and loudly, fearlessly defending.

Where are the patriots now? Need you, bros.

Source: https://www.greaterfool.ca/2025/03/02/patriots/