March 20, 2006
Politics: seal hunt and Canadian travel boycott
Yesterday's post on the cruise ship disappearances wasn't exactly political, but it was on a fairly controversial topic. This post is all politics so be warned (and if you want the controversial posts to stop, don't worry - I'm working on a post about wolf watching in Spain). Quotes below come from the Edmonton Sun.
Anyway, you've probably heard about this issue, the Seal hunt in Canada that has environmentalists crying themselves to sleep or sending you petitions in your email.
Well one U.S. family, the McLellans of Minnesota, cancelled a Canadian vacation because of the seal hunt. They wrote to some Canadian senators about their plans to boycott their vacation in Canada to protest the seal hunt.
Quebec Senator Celine Hervieux-Payette replied "What I find 'horrific' about your country is the daily killing of innocent people in Iraq, the execution of mainly black prisoners in the U.S., the massive sale of guns to U.S. citizens every day, the destabilization of the whole world by the aggressive foreign policy of U.S. government, etc."
Separately, Senator Celine Hervieux-Payette advised, "Look in your own backyard and start correcting things that are more horrific than the seal hunting in Canada."
Now I should note that other Canadian politicians are distancing themselves from Senator Celine Hervieux-Payette, so it's not like she speaks for all Canadians. We're talking about one politician with a very critical message.
Personally, I'm not a fan of war or hunting and I don't really see why protesting the seal hunt has to be connected with US foreign policy. Actually, I think a more rational person would connect this issue with environmental policy in the US (which is also fairly easy to criticize).
Posted by James Trotta at March 20, 2006 12:10 AM
The Canadian senator's response to the American family's letter would be laughable if not for the fact that many Canadians (and Americans for that matter) are just as hopelessly misinformed and express their rabid hatred about America. Frankly, I agree that the seal hunt is an environmental and aminal rights concern and not an obvious link for comparison to American foreign policy or 2nd ammendment rights etc. Clearly this woman wants a forum for her opinions. Perhaps she needs to participate in a blog which is all about trading opinions along with information instead of using her position to harass an American family. The professional and appropriate response would have been a generic "sorry you feel this way but..." type of letter. Anyway, as you say, she doesn't speak for all Canadians and if you've ever been to the eastern US as well as the northern border states, you'd see PLENTY of Canadians stomach our culture with no problem. For the record though, clubbing to death baby seals for their beautiful fur is nothing a nation should be proud of.
Posted by: MaggieShaak at March 20, 2006 7:53 AMNot every American is for the war, and we cannot control every action of our government. The statements made toward the Mclellans were complete BS. I am a vegetarian and do not beleive in killing. Plenty of people think I'm crazy, and I don't care. Canada is it's own country with it's own laws. The Senator should not even have responded if she couldn't do it a diplomatic way. Not all Canadians go out killing seals, right? Are seals still being killed with clubs? What a horrible thing if so! There is nothing wrong with feeling compasion for animals. Animals don't strap bombs to themselves, walk into a supermarket and blow everyone to peices, humans do. The Mclellans should not be made to feel bad because they appose this brutal practice.
Sincerely,
Tim Edison
The Canadian and Mexican governments are continually bitching about the way Unitd States does or does not do things. If either of these countries was ever attacked by another country who do you think they would expect to help them? My guess is the good old U.S.A., where we do everything wrong.
Posted by: Emerson Place at March 21, 2006 1:29 PMthe USA is [in any rational persons mind] the most powerful nation in the world.that hasnt always been so,and mite not be so in the future,but for now its a fact.i feel proud and fortunate to be a born in the USA American and I WILL NOT APPOLOGIZE TO ANYONE for being who we are.that said,you have to control what you can and let the rest go or you will drive yourself crazzzzy.the McLellans cancelled a trip to Canada,which they had a rite to do and can control.they can vote for all elected officials,which i hope they do.they can not recall the troops from Iraq.they can not control the gun sales in the USA.they can not control who is executed in the USA.....Simple,Simple Simple!!!!Canadian senator CHP seems to have one on her shoulder.Frankly I have been to Canada many times and love the place,especially the Falls and the surrounding carnival atmosphere which i call flash and trash [sorry Bette] and i find the people delightful.if the McLellan's really wanted to get back at canada,they would have gone on their trip.we use to drive them crazy with the money exchange rate,$60.00 hotel rooms canadian were $30.00 when we got our visa bill.not as good now but i still dont thinks its unfavorable to us???
Posted by: marshall at April 17, 2006 4:03 PM