A proud Brit - and European - here. Sending this to my Canadian friend. The good that I see is us maintaining our sense of humour and taking small, but mighty actions. As for the Trump-Musk bromance, due to the billions, I've a feeling it might last longer than we might hope. But then I don't see how Trump is going to cope with the space invasion for too long...
I'm a Brit loving royalist. I loved the Queen and her sense of duty and her quiet diplomacy in bringing the Commonwealth countries together. Was so sad when she died.
As for the bromance, when it does implode, it will likely be a spectacular explosion given both of their egos and need for the spotlight.
I support all Canadians to fight back, make your voices heard. I have definitely begun to change my purchasing habits toward supporting the small businesses. So sad to think it's likely too little too late.
Musk is a predator, and Trump is his prey. I'm hoping when the country is nearing depression that we impeach Trump.
Haha. We've had a few requests. Including trying to find some single friends who might be looking to marry! As for impeaching Trump, I don't think that will happen. He's got everyone in lock step down there. Just look at how he brought everyone into line to vote for his unqualified picks to lead various government agencies. Oy vay. It's going to be a long four years.
I have definitely changed my purchasing habits. Like the rest of the world I now live with a knot of fear in my belly about what the future holds but, as you said Kim, the silver lining is the unification of our country from the grassroots level❤️ Thanks for this excellent essay.
I’m having a tough time getting passed the fact that the Molson ad is 25 years old! Where has the time gone?
My purchasing habits haven’t changed much as I made a shift towards buying local a number of years ago … now I’m extra happy to support Canadian companies.
I have no idea what’s going on with Elon and Trump, but the Oval Office speech Elon gave with his toddler in tow was one of the strangest things I’ve ever witnessed. I didn’t even know Trump could remain quiet that long … and it makes you wonder who’s really in charge.
I’m hoping the renewed Canadian pride helps us keep the Cons from winning federally! PP is just Trump “lite” and perhaps this is the wake up call voters needed!
It's interesting to see how the U.S. election has really flipped the switch and moved the needle for our own upcoming election. I thought PP was going to win for sure because people were so mad and were likely going to protest vote against Trudeau and Libs, but I saw the swing in poll numbers yesterday and with Carney now in the race, they're in a dead heat. So, the Liberals have come back from the dead. I don't think Canadians are in the mood to gamble on a protest vote with what's happening in the U.S. I want someone with a clear head and not prone to bluster.
I love these videos and your silver lining. A Canadian friend long ago said he felt Canada felt like a “little brother” to the USA. If this period reveals that Canada has all along been the non-flashy older sibling of the relationship, that will be a worthy and just outcome. Hopefully there won’t be too much suffering first. But history doesn’t promise relief from suffering, so we may be in for a time of it. Even so, I expect silver linings all the way through this. You’ve offered a refreshing example!
Yes, the time of suffering is definitely upon us. Even if he doesn't go ahead with all these tariffs, the dizzying nature of his announcements is enough to make you want to crawl into a hole and not come out for the next few years. But, like much of reality TV, we won't be able to turn away. So, let's all look for the silver linings. Here's to more hallelujah's and hope! ;)
Hopehopehopehope - Say it fast enough and it’s like blowing bubbles. I can’t believe he’ll really stick with the tariffs on Canada. He’s got a lot of hot air, and if there’s no personal grudge, he doesn’t actually care about policy matters.
Speaking to my American friends and family, and listening to US commentators, I don’t think Americans have any idea how angry Canadians are right now. In the long list of things Trump is threatening/doing, making us the 51st state seems to them to be on the ridiculous side of the scale. But the tariffs are meant to break us, and break NATO. I think that much is clear.
We’re all in for a bumpy ride. I am more alarmed than angry at this point, but I’m sure it’ll come. This is definitely the topic in the locker room these days. (I swim 3x a week and the group before me is older women and I love listening to their take on all this as we’re busy getting changed.)
I have heard it absolutely everywhere. Stores, community centre, library, schools and directly from neighbours, who know I’m (also) American. I was in a grocery when they started marking all the Canadian products. I am very, very angry and no doubt part of my anger is my native country is attacking my adopted country and it is so utterly stupid and makes me feel helpless.
trump and musk seem like two peas in a pod so I'm not counting on a blowup.
In America, many of us are treating this like a war over the rule of law. So the good will be if the rule of law triumphs in the end and lawlessness is repudiated.
I think Trump will take things too far and will eventually lose his very thin margin of power. In the meantime there will be a lot of destruction to people's lives. History is both riveting and scary.
I live in the other CA. We are spoilt by our own produce. And if I see one avocado leave my state, there will be hell to pay ('cept to the other CA; you can have some of our green gold). I am lucky to live in California. But we had an earthquake the other night. (Those I don't worry about. Crack of dawn? Those are the biggies.) But imagine another natural disaster on top of the last natural disaster and having to turn to those bumblef*cks for aid? Leopards will eat faces. And, like a Tesla battery fire, there's really not a whole lot we can do until it burns itself out except to keep a safe distance. Apartheid Clyde will overstep (it's inevitable) and Sh!tler will probably deport him then (and find a way to seize his money on the way). It's a horrible thing to have to endure. But this will be the end of it. I worry for the casualties taken along the way. This year has been a long decade already. xo
"This year has been a long decade already." INDEED! About as far as I can go most days is the headlines. Even then, I try to skim past the political and look for other interesting articles...like, what the heck is Europe going to do to stave off the US/Russia buddy movie that's playing out right now? So, all to say, I'm working on my happiness quotient by doing the little things I can do in my own neck of the woods and to spread a little happiness and kindness to others I see along the way. Stay safe down there. xo
I love how you are protecting and nurturing your happiness, Kim! And please know it’s not the US buddying up, just the fascists that the undereducated, red-hat wearing, l-didn’t-know-the-leopard-would-eat-my-face bigots voted for. While I’m not a conspiracy theorist, I really don’t doubt election interference occurred, especially in states we know have trouble counting and where Black votes would matter. xo
Kim! This was so well written 👏 I adjusted my profile a week ago already, adding my Canadian flag 🇨🇦
I've definitely changed my shipping habits and I don't think there's a single thing I can't replace with "made in Canada" or elsewhere. I'm actually learning lots too! It's been fun ☺️
And I'm super proud to see the vast majority of Canadians banding together and following suit.
Great read, Kim! -- I'm a California Kim BTW, and found you via Rona Maynard and Nan Tepper. First off, I want to assert that I, along with ~52% of Americans, feel as you do, if not more acutely. This is the nightmare many of us warned of, only to lose the attention of our fellow Americans to FB scrolling and Fox entertainment company trolling.
To your question about change in habits: I've purchased locally as much as possible for as long as I can remember, strongly rallying against Shein and Temu et al. In response to all of this I resist! I call a minimum of 6 Republican senators and congress critters most days imploring them to do their jobs and stop abdicating to Musk.
Will this relationship go sideways? Yes. But not in the ways we normally consider because their lusts are not the same. Trump will demand more, Musk will too. One will rake in money, the other, power. They are a mutualistic, symbiotic creature. Who will pay the price? Americans, starting with most of "the base", and sadly, the rest of the world for a time.
What will come of all of this? I hope Canada, and many others, will realize that they've held a lot of power all along and will step into it. Americans, who've complicity and complacently rested on history without actually knowing it, will endure a period of autocracy and kleptocracy. A new world order indeed.
What say you? I'd love to hear what you think?
1) American or Canadian, are you changing your purchasing habits as a result of the potential trade war?
2) What’s up with Elon Musk and the President? How long do you give it before that relationship goes sideways?
3) Looking on the bright side, is there any good that can come out of this sabre rattling, other than renewed Canadian pride?
A proud Brit - and European - here. Sending this to my Canadian friend. The good that I see is us maintaining our sense of humour and taking small, but mighty actions. As for the Trump-Musk bromance, due to the billions, I've a feeling it might last longer than we might hope. But then I don't see how Trump is going to cope with the space invasion for too long...
I'm a Brit loving royalist. I loved the Queen and her sense of duty and her quiet diplomacy in bringing the Commonwealth countries together. Was so sad when she died.
As for the bromance, when it does implode, it will likely be a spectacular explosion given both of their egos and need for the spotlight.
Could you adopt me and my family?
I support all Canadians to fight back, make your voices heard. I have definitely begun to change my purchasing habits toward supporting the small businesses. So sad to think it's likely too little too late.
Musk is a predator, and Trump is his prey. I'm hoping when the country is nearing depression that we impeach Trump.
Haha. We've had a few requests. Including trying to find some single friends who might be looking to marry! As for impeaching Trump, I don't think that will happen. He's got everyone in lock step down there. Just look at how he brought everyone into line to vote for his unqualified picks to lead various government agencies. Oy vay. It's going to be a long four years.
If nobody else steps up, I'll adopt you Sue!!
Dual citizen here, writing from Toronto, my home since 1968. I’ve never been more proud of Canada.
I have definitely changed my purchasing habits. Like the rest of the world I now live with a knot of fear in my belly about what the future holds but, as you said Kim, the silver lining is the unification of our country from the grassroots level❤️ Thanks for this excellent essay.
I’m having a tough time getting passed the fact that the Molson ad is 25 years old! Where has the time gone?
My purchasing habits haven’t changed much as I made a shift towards buying local a number of years ago … now I’m extra happy to support Canadian companies.
I have no idea what’s going on with Elon and Trump, but the Oval Office speech Elon gave with his toddler in tow was one of the strangest things I’ve ever witnessed. I didn’t even know Trump could remain quiet that long … and it makes you wonder who’s really in charge.
I’m hoping the renewed Canadian pride helps us keep the Cons from winning federally! PP is just Trump “lite” and perhaps this is the wake up call voters needed!
It's interesting to see how the U.S. election has really flipped the switch and moved the needle for our own upcoming election. I thought PP was going to win for sure because people were so mad and were likely going to protest vote against Trudeau and Libs, but I saw the swing in poll numbers yesterday and with Carney now in the race, they're in a dead heat. So, the Liberals have come back from the dead. I don't think Canadians are in the mood to gamble on a protest vote with what's happening in the U.S. I want someone with a clear head and not prone to bluster.
I love these videos and your silver lining. A Canadian friend long ago said he felt Canada felt like a “little brother” to the USA. If this period reveals that Canada has all along been the non-flashy older sibling of the relationship, that will be a worthy and just outcome. Hopefully there won’t be too much suffering first. But history doesn’t promise relief from suffering, so we may be in for a time of it. Even so, I expect silver linings all the way through this. You’ve offered a refreshing example!
Yes, the time of suffering is definitely upon us. Even if he doesn't go ahead with all these tariffs, the dizzying nature of his announcements is enough to make you want to crawl into a hole and not come out for the next few years. But, like much of reality TV, we won't be able to turn away. So, let's all look for the silver linings. Here's to more hallelujah's and hope! ;)
Hopehopehopehope - Say it fast enough and it’s like blowing bubbles. I can’t believe he’ll really stick with the tariffs on Canada. He’s got a lot of hot air, and if there’s no personal grudge, he doesn’t actually care about policy matters.
Speaking to my American friends and family, and listening to US commentators, I don’t think Americans have any idea how angry Canadians are right now. In the long list of things Trump is threatening/doing, making us the 51st state seems to them to be on the ridiculous side of the scale. But the tariffs are meant to break us, and break NATO. I think that much is clear.
We’re all in for a bumpy ride. I am more alarmed than angry at this point, but I’m sure it’ll come. This is definitely the topic in the locker room these days. (I swim 3x a week and the group before me is older women and I love listening to their take on all this as we’re busy getting changed.)
I have heard it absolutely everywhere. Stores, community centre, library, schools and directly from neighbours, who know I’m (also) American. I was in a grocery when they started marking all the Canadian products. I am very, very angry and no doubt part of my anger is my native country is attacking my adopted country and it is so utterly stupid and makes me feel helpless.
Loved the videos, especially the last one.
trump and musk seem like two peas in a pod so I'm not counting on a blowup.
In America, many of us are treating this like a war over the rule of law. So the good will be if the rule of law triumphs in the end and lawlessness is repudiated.
I think Trump will take things too far and will eventually lose his very thin margin of power. In the meantime there will be a lot of destruction to people's lives. History is both riveting and scary.
So we have one year and 9 months until there’s a check to his power? Counting down the days. I just hope we can be resilient enough until then.
I live in the other CA. We are spoilt by our own produce. And if I see one avocado leave my state, there will be hell to pay ('cept to the other CA; you can have some of our green gold). I am lucky to live in California. But we had an earthquake the other night. (Those I don't worry about. Crack of dawn? Those are the biggies.) But imagine another natural disaster on top of the last natural disaster and having to turn to those bumblef*cks for aid? Leopards will eat faces. And, like a Tesla battery fire, there's really not a whole lot we can do until it burns itself out except to keep a safe distance. Apartheid Clyde will overstep (it's inevitable) and Sh!tler will probably deport him then (and find a way to seize his money on the way). It's a horrible thing to have to endure. But this will be the end of it. I worry for the casualties taken along the way. This year has been a long decade already. xo
"This year has been a long decade already." INDEED! About as far as I can go most days is the headlines. Even then, I try to skim past the political and look for other interesting articles...like, what the heck is Europe going to do to stave off the US/Russia buddy movie that's playing out right now? So, all to say, I'm working on my happiness quotient by doing the little things I can do in my own neck of the woods and to spread a little happiness and kindness to others I see along the way. Stay safe down there. xo
I love how you are protecting and nurturing your happiness, Kim! And please know it’s not the US buddying up, just the fascists that the undereducated, red-hat wearing, l-didn’t-know-the-leopard-would-eat-my-face bigots voted for. While I’m not a conspiracy theorist, I really don’t doubt election interference occurred, especially in states we know have trouble counting and where Black votes would matter. xo
Kim! This was so well written 👏 I adjusted my profile a week ago already, adding my Canadian flag 🇨🇦
I've definitely changed my shipping habits and I don't think there's a single thing I can't replace with "made in Canada" or elsewhere. I'm actually learning lots too! It's been fun ☺️
And I'm super proud to see the vast majority of Canadians banding together and following suit.
I saw so many houses with Canadian flags flying on my way home today. It’s awesome.
Your post has prompted me to dig my flag out this weekend.
Great read, Kim! -- I'm a California Kim BTW, and found you via Rona Maynard and Nan Tepper. First off, I want to assert that I, along with ~52% of Americans, feel as you do, if not more acutely. This is the nightmare many of us warned of, only to lose the attention of our fellow Americans to FB scrolling and Fox entertainment company trolling.
To your question about change in habits: I've purchased locally as much as possible for as long as I can remember, strongly rallying against Shein and Temu et al. In response to all of this I resist! I call a minimum of 6 Republican senators and congress critters most days imploring them to do their jobs and stop abdicating to Musk.
Will this relationship go sideways? Yes. But not in the ways we normally consider because their lusts are not the same. Trump will demand more, Musk will too. One will rake in money, the other, power. They are a mutualistic, symbiotic creature. Who will pay the price? Americans, starting with most of "the base", and sadly, the rest of the world for a time.
What will come of all of this? I hope Canada, and many others, will realize that they've held a lot of power all along and will step into it. Americans, who've complicity and complacently rested on history without actually knowing it, will endure a period of autocracy and kleptocracy. A new world order indeed.