Dear America — It’s the Canadian Writing Again

Summary

A Canadian writer expresses deep concern over the escalating crises in the United States, including the COVID-19 response, political turmoil, and social unrest, urging Americans to vote and engage in political activism.

Abstract

The author, a Canadian, reaches out to America with a heavy heart, expressing sorrow over the ongoing events in the U.S. Highlighting the grim COVID-19 projections and the lack of a cohesive national strategy, the author points out the potential risks of a rushed vaccine. The piece also touches on the political fallout, including the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Germany and the Senate's inaction on federal unemployment benefits. The author notes the concerning presence of federal enforcers in Portland and the possibility of the U.S. President being investigated for fraud. Amidst these dark developments, the author finds a glimmer of hope in the eulogies for John Lewis and encourages Americans to exercise their right to vote and consider political activism to effect change in the face of what seems like a dystopian reality.

Opinions

The author is deeply saddened by the continuous stream of distressing news from the U.S., particularly the COVID-19 death toll and the politicization

Dear America — It’s the Canadian Writing Again

Dear America

It’s me again — the Canadian who usually writes about her milk toast privileged existence and her dog. I continue to be saddened to my core to read about what is happening in your county.

It has only been four short days since my last missive, but so much has happened. Dr. Deborah Birx just predicted that there could be 300,000 deaths by the end of the year. She finally said it was imperative that people wear masks and social distance. Of course, without a national strategy making it mandatory to do both, there will be many who won’t listen, putting others in grave danger. Trump’s response was to tweet that Brix was pathetic.

Today I read again that scientists worry that the US is rushing an inadequately tested vaccine to the market -just in time for the US election.

Each day more than 1000 people die. Needlessly.

If this isn’t enough, your President handed Vladimir a beautifully wrapped gift — the withdrawal of US troops from Germany where they have been since 1945, stabilizing Europe, supporting NATO allies and keeping Russian aggression at bay.

Herman McCain died of COVID, possibly infected at the Tulsa rally that he attended.

The Senate has been unable to pass legislation on federal unemployment benefits that have now expired.

Federal enforcers have left Portland accomplishing nothing but showing that the US is on the precipice of becoming an authoritarian regime. Some might argue that it is.

On an uplifting note, four former presidents delivered eulogies at the funeral of John Lewis, and for one brief moment, the world remembered how a real American president sounds.

To distract you from all of this, your President is tweeting that mail-in ballots will lead to a fraudulent election –even though he and his family have used them to cast their votes — and maybe the election should be postponed anyway.

It’s wild watching this up here in Canada. All of this news in just four short days. I keep thinking of Homeland, Scandal and House of Cards. After two or three seasons, the plot lines of these television shows just became over-the-top, dark and dystopian. I kept wondering what kind of writers could make this stuff up? I tuned out. Yet for more than three years, we are watching a reality television show that is far weirder and where the stakes are life and death. We can’t turn it off.

I realize most of you who are reading my letter feel the same way. Perhaps you feel helpless and there is nothing you can do or you are in an abusive relationship and cannot escape.

I urge you to make sure you can vote and then cast your ballot. When you don’t vote, you are giving power to someone else to decide for you, and they might not see the world the same way you do.

And I urge you to consider political activism. Mass peaceful protest is your best hope.

If street demonstrations make you nervous, then call someone running for office — someone who reflects your values — possibly believes that health care, racial equality and education are fundamental human rights in one of the wealthiest nations on earth — volunteer to work for them from home.

Dear America, my heart truly bleeds for what is happening in your country. It is not normal, and I am very worried. Thinking of you constantly and sending love from Canada.

Alice Goldbloom is a recovering serial entrepreneur (aka she is retired). She shares her stories and is interested in the stories of other people’s lives. She finds that writing is therapeutic, and it smooths the edges of her day, just like a couple of glasses of chardonnay used to.