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Sheltering Walls

Bare Trees in Fog

Righteous Indignation!

Writer: Marie Laure
Marie Laure
Aug 25
2 min read

Let's just start right in, shall we?


Whether you have ever traveled north of the U.S. border into Canada, or been an armchair travelever, or a rabid hockey fan on either side, let's just say things have changed dramatically and forever between these two countries sharing the North American continent, along with Mexico. Let me explain why I make such an unequivocal statement:


In French Canadian family life and in Franco American households in which I grew up close to "Little Canada" where my grandparents lived, anger was slow to rise, but once it did, no manner of cajoling or placating or backtracking could sway one from the position of righteous indignation! If you don't know what I mean, it was on full display when Prime Minister Mark Carney stepped before a microphone to condemn the proposed "trade agreement" while swinging above his head was Damocles' sword. Yet, with all the composure of a diplomat and power of a steam locomotive, his hazel-brown eyes conveyed his righteous indignation while his words were clear and resolute. Mark my words, he will not change his mind. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/24/canada-trade-deal-trump-mark-carney-french-language


Canadians from Coast to Coast to Coast have stood behind his resolute "NO" with the same righteous indignation, and who can blame them? Their government will not have to convince them to refrain from buying American alcohol or products, or to go elsewhere for winter vacation--this has been the case for over a year now and it is hurting tourism not only in border states, but as far south as Florida. Losing a friend hurts, we all know that, but seeing a friend stand tall and speak truth to power is to be cheered on with a loud, Bravo!https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/markcarney-canada-us-failed-trade-deal.htm


There will be many news reports about this ongoing saga because it is in part what this shenanigan is meant to do. We all know the drill by now: look away from the mess in progress to a new one over here. That's exactly how to distract a toddler--but the American public is way beyond the toddler phase--and like our counterparts in the Great White North we are full of righteous indignation and love of neighbor.


I wish I had stayed in Quebec a few more days to be there when Prime Minister Carney visited to reassure the French province of its "right" to be French Canadian. I heard echoes of my own grandparents standing for the "survivance" of heritage--their own righteous indignation long-held to protect what was rightfully theirs from birth in Nouvelle France.



The U.S. will know soon enough that it comes naturally for Canadians to look the other way--to shun--anyone who threatens their own sovereignty--inspiring solidarity that is solid as a frozen St. Lawrence River in January.




 
 
 

In 1940: The Relations of Canada and the U.S.

Writer: Marie Laure
Marie Laure
Aug 18
2 min read

Published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace


There’s a long arm of history reaching across the world’s longest border dating back to the late 1800’ when French Canadians began a migration that would continue into the twentieth century. They left in growing numbers reaching to a million in search of work in the U.S. This is not just a story of economics, though it is easy to understand that as being a motivating factor to leave the homeland.


All these years later, currently up to a million so-called “Lost Canadians”, or as some have called it the French Canadian “diaspora”, have applied for a certificate of citizenship to claim what our ancestors left behind. Once they had settled into “Little Canadas” in the U.S., the return was no longer an option for them. If Robert Frost meant what he said about fences and neighbors, Canadians in America had to jump that fence, but getting back over it was nearly impossible for most.


Up until today, the fence has been invisible to most Franco-Americans like me steeped in a culture rich in language, food, and for some, at least, faith of the homeland. We feel less like neighbors across a border and more like friends because we are family!


I, like so many others on both sides are scratching our heads today when it comes to punishing tactics that will not serve to fortify long-term relationships between us. How will we maintain our friendship that means so much to so many when we bet the dairy farm on an unnecessary trade war with trading partners over the fence? Even the cows know, it makes no sense, no cents at all!


By the time this thing gets settled, I will be back across the fence in my own backyard after a summer in a friendly neighborhood full of music and goodness of life on every corner. When I return next time it will be as a Canadian citizen “by descent”. It will be like coming home.


A bientot, Québec!



 
 
 

Something’s Rotten in Denmark!

Writer: Marie Laure
Marie Laure
Aug 11
2 min read

Sound the alarms! Call Greta Thunberg, Nordic world climate activist to rally her followers to go to Greenland ASAP! Nobody in the whole world should look the other way while a global emergency unfolds before our very eyes. Look up everyone!


It’s one thing to turn our heads when violent wars destroy landscapes and lives—innocent bystanders—-watching the world powers play games with nuclear threats day in and day out—-threats making hostages of the whole world. We all know this feeling of helplessness at the hands of power-wielding governments. We stand in solidarity against them waving flags and written cardboard signs. Stop IT! We say.


Looking the other way is exactly what an imminent threat is meant to do.

Threats can be loud like a missile or quiet like a tug boat pulling up in the dark of night on the coast of Greenland. That’s exactly what happened while we in the Northern hemisphere slept a few nights ago, resting on our laurels while the greedy ones made their move. Wake up everyone!


After months of threats to “take Greenland”, the world must sit up and take notice. Do not look the other way as barges bring oil-drilling equipment from Texas under the auspices of a newly-formed oil company called—Greenland—not an idle threat—-a strategic move to take something without permission that does not belong to them. Some children never learn, do they? It is up to us to teach them by sending a loud and unequivocal— Hell NO! Later will be too late to save something. Whatever you do—DO NOT sit idly by.


Here is the information on the company named GREENLAND—not to be mistaken with the country:


Board Members and Affiliations

  • Larry Swets Jr.: Chairman and major shareholder. [1]


  • Carol Craig: Class I Director, audit committee member, and CEO/founder of Sidus Space. [1]


  • Roderick McIllree: Board member appointed with the board-level title of Managing Director to oversee Greenland regulatory and permitting relations. [1, 2]


  • Melanie Furlan: Board Director. [1]


  • Phil "Dr. Phil" McGraw: Retained by the company to produce a documentary series capturing the exploration project, though not listed as a formal board director.




 
 
 
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