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 / Russia

We’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.

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