Prime Minister Trudeau in Washington (MSN)
Concerns: the Environment
After posting my article about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to Washington, I started feeling uneasy. Had I intimated that I supported President Trump? No, I fear Mr Trump and Canadians feared the first meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Trump. Would Mr Trudeau sell the country? No, but Canada is a signatory of the Paris Agreement. Yet, Trudeau and members of his government agreed to re-open the Keystone XL Pipeline. That worried me. Would our prime minister agree to another arrangement that could cause an environmental accident? The pipeline is in need of repairs. Will this be done? With respect to climate change, experts have determined that we are about two minutes before midnight. (See Doomsday Clock, Wikipedia.)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/what-canada-agreed-to-in-paris/article27742735/
Washington: a Successful Meeting
Prime Minister Trudeau managed his first meeting with President Trump successfully. He achieved this victory by stating that he had not travelled to Washington to “lecture” President Trump on how to govern. He also stated that Canada and the United States had lived in harmony on their respective side of a border that stretches from sea to sea. Canada’s motto is A Mari usque ad Mare (see the Canadian Encyclopedia). Moreover, Americans and Canadians had fought together and died together on various battlefields. D-Day is the foremost example of a combined effort. In short, we have respected one another so Canadians have earned the right to welcome refugees while fighting terrorism.
“One swallow does not a summer make”
No, I have not turned into a supporter of Mr Trump. I fear Mr Trump and reject his belief that all Muslims are terrorists.
However, until President Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met, I believed that solidarity and résistance were the United States’ and the world’s only way of surviving the Trump era. One swallow does not a summer make, but last Monday I saw a relaxed and happy Mr Trump. He was not the man who had been issuing no end of executive orders, as though he did not have an administration and the United States had lost its government. But there had been a dialogue and an acceptance of differences. In other words, Canada could continue to welcome refugees.
Many refugees have now entered Canada illegally and to my knowledge, none have been returned. Two men were outside in the bitter cold when finally a trucker stopped and picked them up. The trucker called 9-1-1. The men were frost-bitten and no one can enter Canada illegally.
To my knowledge, however, refugees have not been returned, but Canada has to amend its immigration legislation to accommodate circumstances it did not expect. President Trump’s Islamophobia and xenophobia are driving people out of the United States.
At the moment, refugees to Canada are applying for refugee status after entering Canada. The Canadian government has yet to amend its immigration laws, so applying after entering is a temporary policy. Authorities are also making arrangements so frost-bitten refugees can be hospitalized at no cost.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/13/americas/refugees-flee-united-states-for-canada/index.html
Conclusion
No, I have not become a Trump supporter, but it would be my opinion that Justin Trudeau shaped events skillfully. There are times when humans are powerless and times when humans can configure reality. At the moment, Canadians are probably configuring reality.
However will President Trump stop building a wall to keep Mexicans out of the United States ? Will he stop thinking that all Muslims are terrorists and attempt to prevent them from entering the United States, in defiance of the American Constitution and the decision of courts. I don’t know and we don’t know.
On Wednesday, President Trump asked Prime Minister Netanyahu to “hold back” on settlements and told him that it was for the Israeli and the Palestinians to decide whether they would be one state or two states.
“I’m looking at two-state and one-state and I like the one that both parties like. I’m very happy with the one that both parties like,” he said.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/israeli-settlements-trump-presidency-1.3983943
Love to everyone ♥
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©Micheline Walker
17 February 2017
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But still, I do have mixed feelings. I’ve never heard of s.o. with Zelig Syndrome to heal after a dialogue, albeit moderate and intelligent… (sometimes it is better to give the impression they want you to be)… and then act like your mind pushes you to do. And that it’s scary… :-)c
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Claudine, you are right. Monday was an exception. I had to publish another post. Justin Trudeau needed to reassure investors looking at Wall Street and he had to make sure Canada and the United States continued to be good trading partners. But Donald Trump will not change. He will continue issuing executive orders, leaving everyone out, and he is still building a wall between the United States and Mexico. Mr Trump is a very sick man and Trudeau knew. It is possible to shape reality and leave a good impression, but it doesn’t last. Mr Trump has now sent three different messages to Israel. All of us are on a collision course with Donald Trump. Canada is now accepting people fleeing the United States at a risk to their life. Last weekend, they were exposed to Arctic cold. I had to walk back my optimism. I agree with you. 🙂
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I apologize for not being more active on your site as of late, but I have been trying to stay out of the political discussions going on around our Blogsville. I find that no one is really going to sway one side to another and frankly nothing will get done until we all work together. So I hope you understand.
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Stay out. You have been on battlefields. Continue to tell us your story and be happy. Take care, Micheline
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Micheline, I have concerns about our government “selling” out to the US and Trump. We have somehow negotiated our way through increased globalism and retained certain amount of cultural uniqueness in Canada. I think Canadian should remain wary and vigilant of what is going on south of the border and resist attempts north of the border to follow suit and sell out.
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Yvon, I share your concerns. The Keystone Pipeline has been re-opened. If it was not safe under President Obama, it isn’t safe under President Trump. But it has been re-opened, which is a precedent. I’ve inserted a “no, but,” after “selling our country.” Best regards, Micheline
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You support President Trump? Hardly!!
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Derrick, I think it is quite clear that I do not support President Trump. But I did say that the meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Trudeau had been cordial. That could be misinterpreted. The meeting had to take place and Justin Trudeau is always polite and positive. That’s how he was in Washington and President Trump was happy. I’ll keep watching him. Best, Micheline
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