Happy Canada Day, July 1st!
Originally uploaded by David Wyman.

It’s a beautiful day for patriotism :O)

Keep up with the day’s antics by checking out photos on flickr tagged ‘Canada Day’

Since I’m posting this from the USA I’ll say for the record that I don’t believe Canada is part of any Axis if Envy (as Fox News dude John Gibson rants in this essay in Macleans mag.

We like to mind our own business as a country, and the only sense of anti-Americanism in Canada as I see it is more like caution when Administration USA tries to meddle with our ways. Sharing the largest trade border in the world often brings up instances of this, of course.

Some people also say Canadians think they are somehow ‘above’ Americans. Aside from that being geographically true, Canada is just being protective of our identity. Maintaining our identity on this continent isn’t always easy, so sometimes in conversations with Americans we talk about what makes Canada so great. And it is great.

How is that anti-Americanism, really?

Canadians strongly believe in freedom. That’s why same-sex marriage is OK, why there are successful efforts to legalize marijuana, why we try to use humane methods to combat drug addiction, why we honor a doctor who fought for abortion rights, and why we respect Aboriginal Self-Government.

There’s a lot we don’t get right, but when it’s good it’s really really good. I love you Canada!