Eventually, however, I gladly returned to the land of my birth (America). With all our problems, I still consider us the best country on earth.

I lived in Alberta, arguably the most “American” of the provinces in terms of culture and political ideologies. At that time, a strong conservative movement was developing in western Canada, but alas – it just never had sufficient population to sway the politics which were largely controlled by the elites in the population centers of the east (Ontario and Quebec). With each passing year of gradually increasing socialism, I’d finally gotten my fill of 40% personal income tax rates, -40 degree winters, 2 month summers, and a strange mix of religious conservatism and political liberalism.

One thing I found in general is that the cultural similarities tend to run vertically rather than horizontally. Someone from Vancouver, BC typically has more in common in terms of culture and ideology with people from Seattle and Portland than someone from Halifax, NS. Someone from Winnipeg is remarkably like people from Minneapolis, right down to the flat midwestern accents. Someone from Saskatchewan is barely discernible from my relatives in North Dakota. And someone from Toronto was more akin to NYC dwellers than to

Quebec? Well, we won’t talk much about Quebec as they would prefer to secede, but strangely want all the privileges of being their own sovereign nation without all the responsibility – whereby they’d get to ride on the coattails of the Canadian infrastructure without having to pay for it or support it. Doesn’t work that way, but the passions run much higher than the sensibilities there.

I still love to visit. Last summer I took VIA Rail through the Canadian Rockies and it was gorgeous. I love the cities, love the people, love the scenery. But I didn’t like the taxes, didn’t like the weather, and didn’t like the socialism. America seems to be working hard to follow Canada’s lead in terms of progressive socialism, but we thankfully have not caught up. So I’ll remain where I am and enjoy Canada, but as a visitor rather than a resident, eh?

The reason ketchup chips are amusing to me is that both countries saw ketchup from a completely different viewpoint when I was growing up in the 60’s and skiing in Canada during the 70’s. For example, Americans dumped ketchup all over their french fries. Canadians doused their fries with vinegar – which to an unsophisticated kid from Detroit seemed just plain weird – particularly having to ask for ketchup in the restaurant rather than seeing it on the table. Never ate a ketchup chip and, until reading this article, never heard of ketchup chips. Also, never saw the attraction of vinegar on my fries – being an American sophisticate by adopting the vinegar on fries habit seemed not only silly but pretentious as well.

But, you learn something new every day. I hope we will see more articles like this about Canadians – they’ve been our staunch friends and military allies for a very long time. And as good neighbors, we should be interested in their welfare and what they are doing. However, Canadians are used to being ignored by America – if they changed their name to Israel North, we’d know all about them, their politics, their problems, their achievements.

What’s to like about Canada? Just about everything. Beautiful country and a wonderful people. After 9/11, my Canadian friends emailed me their concern and distress over what happened to America. They sincerely cared and wanted to help. And, I found myself wishing Americans would be more like Canadians.

I remember visiting a Windsor nightclub because Canada didn’t have a hang-up about serving underage adults liquor in the 60’s – if you behaved yourself, it was no big deal to order a mixed drink – and it really impressed my dates. A group of Mounties and their wives were celebrating at a nearby table this particular evening and the band played the Canadian national anthem on request. Instantly, every Canadian in this large room stood up in respectful attention. My date and I did as well (those Mounties were huge and it seemed the prudent thing to do). About that same time in America, we were exporting our Vietnam War era draft dodgers to Canada and it was considered cool to remain seated when they played the American national anthem before the game in Tiger Stadium (Briggs Stadium by the old name).

So, please visit Canada to see some wonderful scenery and while you’re there hoist a Molson’s to our good friends and neighbors, the Canadians – they deserve it.