[FlamesAddiction]

I think McKenna has a good point but is also out to lunch a little.

On one hand, I agree that Canadians dealing with Americans should not act "smug". It's just common courtesy. Besides, a great deal of Americans are not exactly happy about the way things have gone lately, so it is not good to make generalizations. Many Americans I have talked to (albeit, via the internet) see themselves the same way many Canadians do, and they don't like it.

I also agree with McKenna that Americans, because of 9/11, understandably want to do more to protect themselves. That is fine with me, and as for their domestic policies, I don't really care what they do. To each their own, and as long as they don't try to project it on others, I couldn't care less. The problem I have is with their foreign policies which are everyone's business. If someone is a citizen of this planet, then they have a right to protest, be vocal, smug, and express themselves in a peaceful manner on such issues. September the 11th does not give the U.S.A. the right to do whatever they want when it will negatively affect people who had nothing to do with it.

McKenna also seems to think Americans have an excuse for their attitudes because they are "protecting" their interests, but he isn't allowing Canada the same luxury. What he sees as "Canadian smugness" is what I would see as many Canadians vocalizing their disagreement with a country whose policies have a huge affect on this country. That is also protectionism.