US Servas - Canada NOT a 51st State

P e a c e a n d U n d e r s t a n d i n g
T h r o u g h T r a v e l & H o s t i n g

Log in

Canada NOT a 51st State

April 01, 2025 8:41 AM | Bill Magargal (Administrator)

by Claude Lefrançois, Servas Canada

Dear American friends. Hello from Quebec! I'm feeling so uncomfortable about what is happening in the United States that I need to write to you. I'm so sad to see that your democracy is being threatened. I must say that all my information is coming from social media such as FaceBook, a Montreal newspaper (Le Devoir), and Radio-Canada.

The point to start my writing is the dictator in chief saying that Canada will become the 51st state of the United States. We are good neighbors. We share a lot of economic exchanges.

BUT Canada doesn't want to become an American state. We are a country and want to stay that way. Right now, many of my friends and family are cancelling their holidays to the United States. Many, many people in Canada don't buy any more food produced or made in the U.S. All stores and groceries are putting big maple leaf stickers on their wares, emphasizing Canadian food. We buy cellular phones from Korea. Drivers are putting stickers on the numerous Teslas already sold here saying they bought the car before Elon went crazy. That is something we didn't want to do... but that is the only way to put pressure on the 2 men who "seem" to control your country right now... We cannot vote in the US... I'm sending you all these comments in case your newspapers or social media are silent about us in Canada.

So, tell me if I am right or wrong. What can I do to help you? I don't want a dictatorship or autocracy to develop in North America. We read that people, politicians are reacting, for example: "Stand up for science," Bernie Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez...is it enough? How can we help?

Hope everyone is well...

Amitiés, Claude Lefrançois, Saint-Lambert, Québec.

Add comment

Comments

April 01, 2025 6:18 PM | Anonymous member

You are correct.
Sad times for us.

Link • Reply
April 01, 2025 6:54 PM | Anonymous member

We will be spending our vacations in the Country of Canada this spring and summer. We are as disgusted by our leadership as you.

Link • Reply
April 01, 2025 7:41 PM | Anonymous member

I joined Servas on the understanding it was an apolitical organization. Increasingly, I see that is not the case.

Link • Reply
- April 01, 2025 8:53 PM | Anonymous member
  
  Very good point David. It's about loving your neighbor as yourself. You can get all that other stuff somewhere else.
  
  Link • Reply
- April 01, 2025 10:20 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  
  Apolitical yes, but we can not bury our heads in the sand and ignore that which is amoral.
  
  Link • Reply
- April 04, 2025 8:58 PM | Anonymous member
  
  Thank you David for reminding me we are an apolitical organization....in addition to having peace as our foundation. At times, for me, it is difficult to reconcile the two.
  
  Link • Reply
April 02, 2025 12:01 PM | Anonymous member

What a beautifully written piece Claude. Your gentle nature comes through here, and I've never met you. My husband and I are from New Zealand currently living in Atlanta, GA. Rest assured there are many Americans that are appalled at what is being said. What can we do? Not much that will directly change anything and we can stick together, stay peaceful, be kind to each other and emotionally supportive, and ride it out. Sent with love x

Link • Reply
April 02, 2025 2:31 PM | Anonymous member

Merci, My friend!! I agree with you and am also very saddened&alarmed by the current administration's dedication to sowing mistrust, retribution and division. It sounds like you're doing what you can and trying to stay as informed as you can. Regarding the "staying apolitical" comment, the mission of Servas is to create peace through mutual understanding and curiosity.
The aggressive behavior of the current administration runs counter to this by expressing hostility towards our global allies, while sowing division between different ethnic groups, as a distraction tactic. Thank you, Claude for posting...and to Justine for your comments. Two actions we can do is to use our collective voices for peace&justice while being mindful of how and where we spend our money.

Link • Reply