White Supremacist Proud Boys
Amazon Pulled this Down 9/30/20
“Proud Boys, stand back and stand by, but I’ll tell you what, someone’s got to do something about Antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem. This is a left-wing problem.
Donald Trump at 9/29 Presidential Debate
It doesn’t take a genius to see divisiveness at work. Use the right buzzwords (or dog whistles). “Antifa” as if there were such an organized group, which even the FBI says does not exist. “Fine people on both sides.” “America First” (hint: “America” is not everybody in the United States). “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.” “Make America Great Again.” To a rally crowd of virtually all white Trump supporters: “You have good genes, you know that, right?”
But until the September 29th presidential debate, when moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump if he would ask his extremist followers to remain peaceful during the election process, that Trump replied with what appears to be the above potential call to arms. Given his increasing rhetoric about not necessarily accepting an election result that would reward his opponent, this was the first time that Trump seemed to sanction a possible armed insurrection by a clear body of white supremacists that support him. “Stand by.” Proud Boys.
Sadly, as the nation seems to move farther and farther apart. As people in open-carry states are now routinely bringing guns to political protests and counter-protests. Protestors are getting killed by pedal-to-the-metal raging cars, guns or being brutalized with all manner of instruments and weapons. For those who simply want peace, equal justice, rationality, governmental responsibility towards all Americans and some form of positive, compromising, national unity, it just might not be possible under a Trump presidency. Even if Joe Biden prevails, Trump’s supporters do not seem to be comfortable in the role of the loyal opposition, and they will still be here. Without mutual respect, middle ground and good old-fashioned horse-trading, the America Democracy just does not work.
So, for an increasing number of Americans, the notion of emigrating is moving up the list of appropriate alternatives. For many of that persuasion, Canada represents a common language (not much of an accent in the English-speaking parts), common British heritage and legal system and not much in the way of cultural differences. Hey, I was born in the United States, but I have to admit, ice hockey is my favorite spectator sport! “Our Canadians can beat your Canadians!” OK, throw in a few US-born and European players in today’s game. Note that among all the US states and provinces, Texas has the largest number of hockey teams, from the NHL to smaller professional and non-professional venues! Go figure!
While it is a bit more temperate in British Columbia on the Pacific Coast, Canada is generally a whole lot colder than anywhere in the contiguous 48. The Atlantic Coast Maritime Provinces have watched population declines and are really looking at ways to attract new residents. There’re even throwing some financial incentives out there. Brrrrrrr. Most emigration-oriented Americans tend to look at the major urban areas, particularly Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal and their surrounding environs. No issues over healthcare; it’s universal and automatic. Taxes are definitely higher, and those bigger cities are no bargain. Zlati Meyer, writing for the September 29th FastCompany.com, examines this phenomenon: “[Conveniently, there are] professionals on the front lines of the relocation, like real estate agents and immigration lawyers, say they’re fielding more calls from Americans.
“Daniel Dagenais of Sotheby’s International Realty in Quebec, for example, has had a 50% increase in queries from Americans, while Wayne Ellis, president of the Prince Edward Island Real Estate Association, reports a 300% jump. (In the smallest Canadian province, best known for Anne of Green Gables, that means going from one call a week to three or four.) People in California, New York, and Florida have been contacting Brenda Westbrook of the Sutton Group Admiral Realty in Toronto, looking for executive homes or cottages.
“‘People are afraid on both ends, both Democrats and Republicans,’ she says. ‘You can buy as a foreign investor and come just to have a foot in the door. They usually rent them until they need them . . . They think it’s unbearable. It’s crazy.’
“Traffic from American IP addresses to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website was up this summer over the same period in 2019, according to the government agency, which reports an estimated 135,000 additional visits in July and 180,000 more in August. However, traffic from the U.S. was down in the winter and spring, compared to 2019, and the IRCC website features information about not only permanent immigration to Canada, but also temporary visits and work, international study, and COVID-related border restrictions.
“Attorneys are contending with a similar spike. Evan Green, who’s practiced law in Toronto for 30 years, says he used to file one or two immigration applications for people in the U.S. per month, but now, he’s doing one or two per day. His clients are primarily what he calls ‘wayward Canadians,’ citizens of his country who moved to America years ago, built lives in the States, and now want to go home; Americans in commuter marriages with Canadians; and Americans who simply want out.
“They are ‘people who are somewhat disillusioned by the United States in its current form,’ Green explains. ‘These are people who while certainly worried about results of the elections, are also worried about other things which they see as issues in the United States, like violence and divisions within society they feel are much stronger.’
“The naïveté Americans once had about Canada has disappeared. The COVID-19 pandemic shut down the historically porous—and even post-9/11, relatively easy to pass through—borders between the countries that have been friends since the end of the War of 1812. (The White House played a role in that, too. In 1814, troops from Britain, which at the time claimed parts of Canada as colonies, burned down the presidential home, then inhabited by James Madison and his wife, Dolley.)”
But don’t assume that you can just move to Canada and start over. They actually have to want you and let you in. A visit is one thing, but living there, well, it’s not automatic. “If you’re planning to make the move now, be prepared to wait. No paperwork will be ready by November 3. For that, you can blame Canada—in this case bureaucracy, and not enough people in the department and not enough case processing centers. Also, causing the slowdown are the delays caused by COVID-19, according to Véronique Malka, a Canadian attorney licensed to operate in the U.S., whose inquiries from Americans are up 30%.
“People whose paperwork is expedited tend to be refugees (not applicable here), individuals running startups, and self-employed extraordinarily accomplished people, like musicians, she explains. Other shortcuts may be available for people who can qualify for citizenship, which in 2019 was limited to the children of ex-pats; students; the dozens of professions set aside under NAFTA, such as accountants, dentists, certain types of scientists, social workers, and urban planners; and individuals willing to live in rural or far-northern communities…
“‘We have problems absolutely but nothing like yours,’ says [one Maritime Province recruiter] ‘I love America and I love going to the United States. We would love for Americans to stay where they are and vote for someone other than Donald Trump. I’d much rather that. Canada and U.S., I thought we were best friends and now, we’re not.’” Meyer I remember the draft evaders of the 1960s; they’re fully Canadian now, and their kids all play ice hockey. If the United States weren’t “right there,” they might otherwise be amused.
I’m Peter Dekom, and if you are staying here with the rest on us, which America will you choose to live in… and live with?
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