Canada doesn't need U.S.

I am extremely negative about the state of the world.

Not enough has been said about the climate change emergency and too much attention has been focused on (U.S. President Donald) Trump. Five of the world's richest men have bent their knees to the newly elected U.S. president. What chance do working people stand to support peace and protect the earth now? Little, in my opinion.

However, Canada has one strong advantage over the U.S. We still have a democratic government. Canada is not broken.

So, I would like to reminisce about Canada's relationship with the U.S. in the past, when we were friends and good neighbours. I spent many happy vacations in the US., feeling much at home. That feeling has been damaged in Canada. Even my pet food store has highlighted Canadian-made foods.

I disagree in particular with Trump's pronouncement that Canada counts on the U.S. military for its defence. Canada does not need U.S. military protection. On the whole, Canada has treated foreign countries with respect. The attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 did not happen in Canada, because we have not inspired hatred like the U.S. has. Canada does not meddle in the affairs of foreign countries.

Any influence Canada exerts is through its ambassadors. That may now be a naive opinion, based on a world that no longer exists, not after Russian President Vladimir

Putin's attacks on Ukraine in 2014 and 2022 revealed how easy it is to win territory from a peaceful country.

I don't understand what business it is of Trump's to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine. The "peace" Putin wants is the 25% of Ukraine Russia has already stolen through its unjust war.

I also don't understand why Trump wants to redevelop Gaza into a “riviera” for the wealthy.

Rather than expecting military help from the U.S., my worry has long been that if the U.S. is attacked by an unfriendly power, Canada may suffer collateral damage through misfired missiles.

Helen Schiele, Kelowna