Correction: This letter was not written by a Judge, rather by Bruce Linder, a resident of Portland, Oregon in 2018. Credit Lance who posted the correction in the comments. I believe the letter still expresses sentiment most Americans feel, probably more so today.
In times of political chaos and global uncertainty, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters, like the friends who’ve stood by you through thick and thin. That’s why the growing trade tensions between the United States and Canada feel so deeply unsettling. Most Americans never wanted this rift, as this heartfelt open letter from Florida Circuit Court Judge Robert Meadows shows (below), most of our southern neighbors are appalled by the reckless policies of the Trump Administration and the damage they’ve caused to our friendship.
Judge Meadows’ words is a reminder that Canada has been more than just a neighbor to the United States, they’ve been a loyal ally, a trusted trading partner, and a true friend. While we worry about the spread of MAGA philosophy and the erosion of democracy in the U.S., it’s also inspiring to see how these unfair tariffs have strengthened Canadian unity. I’m hoping that resilience will fortify us from any toxic political bleed-over – a thought that has been bothering since the start. Still, I can’t help but see this as part of a broader shift, perhaps even the end of U.S. dominance and dolefully, it’s democracy.
We share this letter in full because it speaks for the millions of Americans who value friendship over fear, cooperation over chaos, and respect over reckless posturing. We hope it serves as a reminder that, while leaders come and go, true neighborly bonds run much deeper.
Judge’s Robert Meadow’s letter:
An Open Letter by Robert Meadows (Circuit Court Judge, Florida)
Have you ever stopped to consider how lucky we Americans are to have the neighbors we have? Look around the globe at who some folks have been stuck sharing a border with over the past half century:
North Korea / South Korea
Greece / Turkey
Iran / Iraq
Israel / Palestine
India / Pakistan
China / RussiaWe’ve got Canada! Canada. About as inoffensive a neighbor as you could ever hope for. In spite of all our boasts of ‘American exceptionalism’ and chants of ‘America first,’ they just smile, do their thing and go about their business. They are on average more educated, have a higher standard of living, free health care, and almost no gun problems. They treat immigrants respectfully and already took in over 35,000 Syrians in the last two years.
They’re with us in NATO, they fought alongside us in World War I, World War II, Korea, the Gulf War, the Bosnian War, Afghanistan, the Kosovo War and came to our defense after 9/11. There was that one time when Canada took a pass on one of our wars: Vietnam. Turned out to be a good call.
They’ve been steady consumers of American imports, reliable exporters of metals and petroleum products (they are the biggest importer of U.S. products from 37 states), and partnered with NASA in our space missions.
During 9/11 many aircraft were diverted to Newfoundland, an island province off Canada’s east coast where Americans were housed in people’s homes for two weeks and treated like royalty. In return for their hospitality, this administration slapped a 20% tariff on the products of Newfoundland’s only paper mill, thereby threatening its survival.
And what do Canadians expect of us in return? To be respected for who and what they are: Canadians. That’s what I call a good neighbor.
But the King of Chaos couldn’t leave well enough alone. Based on his delusions of perpetual victimhood, out of the clear blue, he’s declared economic war on Canada. On CANADA! And he did it based on Canada being a national security risk to the US! For no good reason, other than the voices in his head that told him it was a war he could win. So why not do it, then?
Again, we’re talking about Canada. Our closest ally, friend, and neighbor.
On behalf of an embarrassed nation, people of Canada, I apologize for this idiotic and wholly unnecessary attack. Please leave the back channels open. We the People of progressive persuasion stand with you.
God bless Canada and God help and bless the US. Trump and his maga group hide behind a so called christian movement. Christ teaches us to love our neighbors as thy self. The maga movement is far from christian belief.
This essay does offer “one American’s take” on the relationship between the United States and Canada, but that American is a resident of Portland, Oregon, and not a Florida judge.
This text was first posted online by Facebook user Bruce Lindner on 7 June 2018, shortly after President Trump announced that he would be imposing steel and aluminum tariffs on imports from Canada. It opened by imploring readers to “consider how lucky we Americans are to have the neighbors we have”:
Don’t be fooled…I lived there and have first-hand knowledge (from close relatives) of how life has been since. Canadians are just the same as anyone else on this continent, but they are not benign. Have you ever watched Parliament? They are crazy, rude and posturing. There are nice people, giving people wherever you go, but there are problems in Canada that we would never want because of their insane leaders.
Their socialized medicine is demeaning to those who are sick and they, themselves, admit that 20,000 doctors, in Canada alone, are out of work because they don’t have the money to pay them. People can’t see a doctor when they need help and they die prematurely…not just a few. Lost an uncle that way…that’s why I was so against Obama Care. Saw it happen here then, too.
Housing is sky high (yes, higher than New York, Seattle and LA) because the bureaucrats make construction companies jump through so many hoops, nothing gets built. Their population has grown, but housing doesn’t match the growth.
Plenty of room to build, but no building.
The French are always mad at the English speakers and continue to threaten to leave and form their own country…
I could go on, but I hope you get the point. They are not benign people who simply want to be left alone as they enjoy their tidy little lives. They can be antagonists with their own tariffs against us. They have not been fair with us and it’s time they know we understand that.
Well I’m Canadian and yes things are far from perfect out here. About the healthcare it’s not true that doctors are sitting there doing nothing because the system doesn’t want to pay them. The truth is that some doctors leave because they want to go elsewhere in the private sector to make more money instead of sticking to the public health care system that financed their studies. Also the population is aging, so there are not enough doctors and we will suffer for a few more decades but measures are being taken to help on this; fixing this is on the agenda but not an easy task. So the system isn’t perfect but free for anyone who needs it. Tough to get in sometimes but once you’re in you get well treated and it’s free so the most vulnerable are covered. I make a very descent salary (so I pay a lot of taxes… it’s well known that us Canadians pay a lot more taxes than in the US) but I proud to help those who didn’t have the family background that I had, the education and the chance that I had in life. As for politicians arguing and fighting… name one country that doesn’t. But at the moment, all political parties ( from left to right) are aligned and solidary to fight the tariff war against our historical best partner and neighbor that is slowly more and more becoming an enemy… at least a neighbour that we cannot trust.
Thank you for this sincere and heartening letter of solidarity. It goes to show that decency and good sense are not dead south of our Canadian border. Maverick leaders may come and go but the core of good neighborly relations remains intact. May the petty shenanigans of certain leaders with delusions of grandeur come to naught and may the long term mutual interests of the American and Canadian people prevail!
This was an inspiring honest letter that called out Trump. It should be seen by every American and Canadian to get a sense of the divisiveness that Trump is fostering not only in the US but all over the globe
Heartwarming!
Canadian fire fighters always answering present to beat desatrous fires alongside they’re U.S fellows.
The “judge” who apparently wrote this letter failed to be re-elected in 2016. So he is no longer a judge. Maybe he did write this. When?
Sadly, this was not written by the judge. And it’s seven years old. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/thank-you-canada/
Thank you for finding this! The letter was written by Bruce Linder, a resident of Portland, Oregon. Though the author may not be correct, the message still expresses sentiment I believe most Americans feel, more so today than back in 2018.
«in Canada that we would never want because of their insane leaders.»
Speaking of insane leaders, the leader in chief south of the border from here is pretty damned gifted in term of insanity.