Barack Obama flew into Ottawa to meet with the Prime Minister - and according to news reports - was given a hearty welcome by a posse of high-spirited Canucks!
One reveller manipulated the wording on a tag from a well-known Beer Commercial popular above the border to get a message across.
"Yes we CANada!"
By the way, our Canadian ale packs a bigger wallop than those pi**y American brands.
Hope you chug-a-lugged one, Barack!
A local bakery one-upped, though, by serving commemorative "Obama Tails" - a version of the beaver-tail fried-dough pastry - topped with a maple-syrup flavored frosting in the shape of an Obama "O".
There was time when my fellow countrymen may have shaken their fists - or given the "finger" to a U.S. President - on the heels of which they may have angrily shouted:
"Yankee Go Home!"
Having been raised in the great white north - in the suburbs of Toronto - I have always been keenly aware of the anti-American sentiments that run deep in the Canadian psyche.
Years ago, Canadians felt that the U.S. was gobbling up the country.
In fact, I recall a joke from my youth, that said it all:
"America drinks Canada Dry."
Many Canadians didn't much like living in the shadow of a major super power, either.
On occasion, when disputes arose over fishing territory, the price of lumber, or an outbreak of mad cow disease on a wild outreach at a cattle farm in Calgary, it was fists across than border.
When I was a kid, I recall that adults were particularly put off - by what they perceived - as a vulgar respect for the almighty dollar in America.
Why, the U.S. mint even etched a handful of sacred symbols on the greenback - an all-seeing eye in a pyramid, the awesome image of an eagle, even mystical symbols - then crowned 'em with an uplifting spiritual message.
In God We Trust."
Even so, Canadians were ever wary of their neighbors to the south.
At one point, the Canadian Government became troubled by the fact that the airwaves over Canadian space, were being dominated by broadcasts of trite sitcoms and fluffy action-adventure dramas from below the border.
To shore up the Canadian identity (ha!) the CRTC implemented stringent requirements that a portion of shows broadcast daily must contain Canadian Content.
In Vancouver, CKVU circumvented that little hurdle by broadcasting a two-hour live show - packed with local celebrities, National News, and endless dog & pony shows - to meet their staggering quota.
Local on air personalities like Pia Shandel (who later married into the wealthy Southam Family), and Laurier La Pierre (who?), saw their stars rise in Hollywood North!
And, don't get me started about run-a-way production and greedy producers in Tinsel Town struggling to keep a stranglehold on the whole pie!
Shortly after landing on Canuck turf, Obama thanked supporters who trekked stateside during the elections last fall to work on his campaign.
I expect the folks he was referring to - in part consisted of a handful of "snowbirds" - retirees who migrate south each year to escape the bitter-cold winters.
After all, for half-of-the-year, this sector of Canadian Society is inclined to be mindful of the way Uncle Sam is running things during the duration of their cozy stay at their properties in Florida and other states in that region of the country.
Of course, Barack was probably singling out a number of draft dodgers, no doubt, who took flight to escape the draft during the Vietnam War and tricky Dick's rein of terror.
Most, have since become legal residents of Canada since.
The Government sponsored an amnesty program a couple of decades ago - much like the one the U.S. Government implemented in 1986 - to resolve the long-standing issue of illegal aliens within Canadian borders.
As to the current war?
Although I was residing in the U.S. when the Iraq War broke out, I felt very proud of my countrymen - and Government - when the decision was made not to go full-throttle and get involved in the "Imperialist Occupation" of that Nation.
Likewise, I gave my full support when Canada refused to become part of the "Star Wars" fiasco many years ago.
To some, Barack is probably a bit of an oddity.
Yes, Prime Minister Trudeau opened the "immigration" door wide a couple of decades ago.
And, today - because of it - Canada is a multi-cultural Nation.
But, when I was a boy, things were quite different north of the border.
I was raised in an all-white neighborhood, and attended district schools that were - likewise - entirely Caucasian in make-up.
The balance of race wasn't planned that way - truth of the matter is - there weren't many blacks residing in Canada during that era.
In fact, it wasn't until I attended Humberside High in the West End of Toronto as a teen, that I came into contact with a multitude of students with multi-cultural backgrounds.
In fact, one of my first new friends at Humberside - Shaheen - was a lively boy with dancing eyes - who hailed from India!
For the most part, Canadians are a generous kind-hearted people.
But, if you're an American visiting one of the major cities - Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver - you'll probably notice right-off-the-bat that Canucks are bit reserved and that they mind their own business.
Years ago, when I first moved to New York City, I always withdrew like a shrinking violet when strangers on the street - and die-hard New Yorkers in general - would get right up in-my-face.
And, ask frank questions, that would be considered rude in Canada.
Questions like - "How much rent do you pay" - are strictly verboten.
I guess it's a carry-over from the English Empire.
Politeness, giving people space, respecting privacy - yup - all Canadian traits.
Gosh, in view of that, I can't help but wonder.
How well did Barack and Harper get along?
Obama, if there were tense moments, don't blame yourself!
Harper is quite a conservative - an old-stuffed shirt - if you ask me.
Yes, time we had some young blood in politics in Ottawa.
Justin Trudeau, are you interested in carrying the torch?
http://www.julianayrs.com
