The Cold War on the Northern Border

I spent part of this past week in Windsor, Ontario, which is just across the Detroit River from (surprise) Detroit, Michigan.

It was in the confined space of the 'no man's' land that is the border area between countries that I discovered that the United States of America is involved in another Cold War. The antagonist in this case is not the dreaded Evil Empire as President Ronald Reagan so aptly named the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, but instead is our northern neighbor, those overly aggressive Canadians.

Yes, it is the Canucks that now hold a place in American History previously reserved for those nations of the former Soviet Bloc. I can see it will be a very short time before students in elementary schools begin to fear everything Canadian and run to hide at the very hint of the lyrics of "Oh Canada".

How did we come to such a place you might ask. That is indeed the question.

The reality is this. Over the course of 3 days and 4 border crossings, what I discovered was a policy of intimidation, contempt and general rudeness from none other than the officers of the United States Border Patrol.

I was both ashamed and appalled. There was not one person that I encountered as a countryman that I am proud to say represented my nation to those entering - not one.

No doubt the US forces were 'over the top' in their Black Uniforms and intimidating actions. There dress was more reminiscent of a police state than any other thing. Think about the jackbooted thugs depicted in futuristic movies crashing through your doors and yanking family members to some dark place while they beat the holy heck out of them for some trumped up charge. That kind of intimidation. Obviously, these people were trained in their jobs by watching the movie "Vendetta", but failed to recognize the bad guys.

Too much? Don't believe it? How about a young girl being detained for an hour without parents? How about Being pulled from you car simply because you drive up holding your passport and say "Nothing to declare". How about refusing a passport because it was not handed in with another passport?

I lived through September 11, 2001. I will never forget it. I also stood in fear for years, before I recognized that to be free means inherently we are not safe. There is a trade off. Police States are safe. I just don't want to live in one. And neither should other Americans.

So is all this brought on by a little rudeness at the Canadian border? Yes it is. For the last 197 years, the United States has been at PEACE with Canada. The last issue was during the War of 1812. I dare say no one remembers that. We share a common heritage with our neighbors to the North. But over the last 8 years, because of the large unprotected border, we have gone security crazy and now view anyone traveling through that border with disdain. AND CANADA IS OUR LARGEST TRADING PARTNER!

It is easier to cross between European Countries than Between the US and Canada. Something is wrong with that very sentence.

Ronald Reagan called America "The Shining City upon a hill". Today that city is less shining, and much darker. The policies of the past that have not been eradicated as yet, must be erased from our society. Only then will America return to the place envisioned by President Reagan.