Once again, a friend to the North

Americans with a strong affection and respect for our neighbo(u)r to the North have been saddened to see its relationship with our nation governed more and more these past twelve years by the understandable- if inappropriate- insecurities generated by living in the shadow of the most powerful political, economic and military power on Earth, instead of by the confident pride of one of the world's truly great nations in its own right, working in tandem with a friend with whom it shared many of its traditions and values.

It's been sad to see the willingness of recent Liberal governments to sacrifice Canada's own interests in order to tweak Uncle Sam's nose, and to lead an ill-advised lurch in recent years into social radicalism the same way their Leftist counterparts in the States have been so fond of doing it: by the undemocratic tyrany of brute, judicial fiat rather than by building the kind of political consensus which strengthens a democracy, rather than weakening it.

But the self-confident, assertive (rather than hostile) friend even whose criticisms were once all the more credible because they were offered in obvious good will was reborn yesterday, and we Americans who have mourned her passing can only rejoice.

Even though he'll be forced to lead a minority government, a man who wants to heal the broken relationship between our two nations and who upholds the ancient values of Anglo-Saxon civilization, Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper, is about to become Canada's new Prime Minister.

Congratulations, friends! And welcome back.