I hope George W. Bush will make allowances for the fact that we've only had a couple of weeks to prepare for his first visit to Canada as President. That's hardly enough time to do a proper job of rolling out the welcome mat.
The Toronto Coalition to Stop the War, one of many city-based groups heading to the capital, planned to roll out a so-called "unwelcome mat" for Bush ? a giant carpet-turned-protest-sign.Organizer Dylan Penner called Bush a "war criminal" and said the protesters oppose what they consider Canada's complicity in the U.S. president's policies.
And while we're on the subject of props:
Toronto City Councillor Olivia Chow also turned up for the preparations, which included the loading of a four-and-a-half-metre effigy of Bush that protesters intended to encourage people to beat.
For the benefit of any American visitors, Olivia Chow is married to Jack Layton, the leader of the New Democratic Party which is Canada's most left leaning national party.
NDP Leader Jack Layton has issued a rally cry to anti-Bush protesters through "demon-dial." Layton yesterday defended his bid to draw demonstrators to Parliament Hill through an automated voice-mail message. Thousands of residents in the Ottawa area received his call to join him in demonstrating against the U.S. president."I'm calling to ask you to join me and other New Democrats to say no to Bush's arms race, no to the weaponization of space and no to Bush's Star Wars," Layton said in the message.
The NDP leader defended his "fundamental right" to protest and denied the move shows disrespect for the visiting dignitary. Layton will also be addressing the afternoon crowd today.
It looks like it'll be a busy day. Students against Bush at the University of Ottawa rally at 11 am. There's a major demonstration planned for noon and another one, variously described as a rally and a candle light vigil, scheduled for 5 pm.
The anti-war organization No War is organizing a mass demonstration in Ottawa on Parliament at 5 p.m. for Tuesday. Government officials expect tens of thousands to attend the rally. NDP Leader Jack Layton and Independent MP Carolyn Parrish are among those who speak at the rally.
And folks in Halifax are already warming up for Bush's appearance tomorrow:
The Halifax Peace Coalition will hold a mock trial of Bush for war crimes under Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act on Tuesday evening at 5:00 p.m. in Victoria Park. A rally is also planned for Bush's Wednesday visit to the city, but details are not complete.
And activities are planned in other venues too.
Protests are expected in two dozen other Canadian locations as well, including Halifax, where demonstrators will picket near Bush's speech at an immigration museum on the city's waterfront Wednesday.Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver will also be the scene of protests.
I hope this is enough to demonstrate our enthusiasm. Never let it be said that Bush doesn't evoke strong feelings in Canadians. Why I, myself, would have baked a cake but trust me, no one wants that.
Now to be serious for a moment. A Canadian group called Friends of America commissioned a poll of Canadian attitudes towards Americans for the occasion. You can view the results here in PDF format. Aside from the fact that 71% of the respondents identified the U.S. as Canada's "closest friend", to me the most interesting result is this:
Almost 3/4 of Canadians (73%) agree with the statement, "Opposing the policies of President Bush is not the same as being anti-American"
Works for me.
I think the .... more interesting .... fact is that 37% of our 18-34 year olds think it's "cool" to dislike Americans. Complete boneheads.
Not bad for short notice, but I can't help but wonder if it wouldn't have had more of an impact if Bush showed up for a state visit *and nobody cared*.
I mean, that'd be the ultimate dis, wouldn't it?
"President Bush is coming to visit? I'm pretty sure I'm busy that day..."
Instead, those of us who live in the capital are forced to endure NONSTOP radio coverage of this 'event', in which random dudes from Texas are asked to give advice on how to make Bush feel welcome (Apparently "serve cheeseburgers and talk about baseball". I swear I am not making this up).
Is he gone yet?
I think the President is more of a rib man, myself. Or maybe one could serve hot dogs -- I mean, FDR served them to the King and Queen when they visited the States in 1939...
"37% of our 18-34 year olds think it's "cool" to dislike Americans. Complete boneheads."
Agreed, but at least at the young end of that spectrum, it's something you outgrow.
I thought much the same when I was 18, then went on to do my doctoral studies at Cornell. I still think Bush is a moron and a miserable failure, but I hardly transfer that onto Americans in general. God help me, I even like a few Republicans.
It was great to see the video of the protestors all over Canada on the news - not that the American newscasters showed it for very long. If it weren't for Canadian news sources, one would have thought that there were just a few in scattered areas. Of course since not many of my fellow countrymen read or watch anything other than FOX...(or CNN, or MSNBC, etc.)
I know that he's going to want to visit the home of someone in Halifax who boarded a stranded American over 3 years ago. If it weren't for the unfailing politeness of Maritimers, I'd say it would be great if nobody would let him in.
Oh, and I'm sure whatever resulted from your attempt to bake a cake would be too good for the Shrub.
I think the entire country of Canada needs a lesson in "the basics of diplomacy" and "civil behaviour 101". "Taking the high road" is not to be confused with weakness, nor is demonstrating a measure of class and breeding in our behaviours. Unfdortunately, Canada/Canadians are too parochial to see the distinction. Having spent so long appealing to the lowest common denominator, Canada has no standards left. We don't stand up FOR anything, we only whine and complain and stand AGAINST initiatives launched by more motivated jurisdictions. We have devolved into the nanny-librarian state of the world, fated to make tiny puffing sounds under the covers with Belgium. How trite! Pity the Olympics don't feature "hypocrisy" as a competitive sport. Canada would take the gold every time.