Archive: Opinions

At the naturalization ceremony Wednesday I was startled when they called a former Canadian to receive her certificate of American citizenship.  It seemed odd, because it was the opposite of what I have been hearing quite a lot in the course of the primary election, namely, "If Trump (or Clinton, or Cruz) becomes President I'm moving to Canada."  I have to say I am not usually an ostentatious flag-waving American (I prefer to wave my flag privately, or at least quietly), but people who threaten to move to Canada because they don't like a political outcome really tick me off.

There are plenty of good reasons to become a citizen of a different country, including being a victim of political tyranny, or wanting to live in the same country as your relatives, or really admiring and wanting to be a part of a particular nation.  But any American who thinks someone they don't like being elected is a reason to leave the United States is a coward who probably doesn't deserve to have it as good as we actually have it here.  I will never forget the bozo at a party in Ithaca during the Bush (the younger) years, who declared without regard to the feelings or opinions of those around him, "Well, Bush isn't MY president!"

I have news for you, Bosco.  Bush was so your president.  Here's why...

One of the great things about the United States is that we get to choose a president every four years.  That means if someone you don't like gets elected today, you have another chance to elect someone you like four years from now.  That's how America works.  We collectively elect a president.  Voting against the winner is part of the process.  There are supposed to be enough checks and balances in the system so one president (or Senator or Supreme Court Justice) can't do too much damage.

That person represents us all, because that's what elections are for.  We all get to vote.  It stands to reason that we don't all get our choice.  But the deal is that we get to vote again.  And again.  And again.

How does moving to Canada help America?  Besides removing whiners from our country?  The system doesn't work if the losers leave the United States.  If everybody who was left had the same political philosophy, we'd be well on our way to becoming a tyranny.  We need the people who voted for the losing candidate to stay in America and continue to represent their point of view.  We need them to speak up if they don't agree with the government.  To me it is nearly traitorous to leave, because diluting the diversity of views weakens this country.

Now I'm not saying that every US citizen that moves to Canada is a traitor or a coward.  Canada is a very nice country, if a bit chilly (not that upstate New York is a mecca of warm weather).  But if you are moving to Canada because of an election result, that is just wrong.  I don't even like it as a maybe serious, maybe just hyperbole declaration on Facebook.  It is seriously not amusing.  And whether I agree with you politically or not, I am not going to think at all well of you if you threaten to bail on your country because you only want to abide by the system when things go your way.

Being a so-called melting pot makes us stronger, bringing the strengths of many cultures together.  Take away that diversity and you take away our greatest strength.

And the cowardly part?  Well, you know that proverbial kid who took his bat and ball home so nobody could play, just because he didn't like the way the game was going?  Wouldn't it be better to stay and play the game?  And let everyone else play the game?  You win some, and you lose some.  When you lose one you live to vote another day.

Thinking of all the presidents in my lifetime, I really liked some, and I really couldn't stand some.  I won't say which is which except for Eisenhower -- everyone liked Ike.  It said so on his campaign buttons and posters.  That's how I know.

The naturalization ceremony was very inspiring, not just because those 35 people thought so much of our system here that they wanted to be a part of it, but because it was a reminder of what the best of being a United States citizen is.  Part of that best is having the guts to stay, and the integrity to invest in the system and make it work, and not having a hissy fit and taking your ball to Canada where it is probably too cold to play anyway.

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