I've always heard that one should avoid talking politics and religion in social settings, but I'm Canadian, and French Canadian at that, so political discourse is in my blood.
Now, I usually do know when to hold my tongue, so it was a surprise when on a recent holiday across the border to the "the land of the free" I experienced for the first time the danger in discussing politics.
I spent four days camping and rock climbing in a desert in the middle of Washington State, and since it was the U.S. Memorial Day weekend, my friends and I had a lot of company. I tend to shed my usual Canadian reserve across the border - "when in Rome" and all that - so I felt free to openly and respectfully chat about all things Canadian and American. Now Washington is a so-called Blue State, and I was surrounded by like-minded earth-lovers so I felt completely at ease asking questions related to politics. And even though I avoided poking at any of the sores - the big W, Iraq, Michael Moore - I nonetheless quickly realized that even a whiff of political jargon is not only intolerable to many Americans, it's downright threatening.
I should clarify that at no point did I feel threatened; I didn't even catch someone scowling my way - Americans tend to give Canadians a lot of slack. But I was warned that everyone just wanted to "chill" so give it a rest.
My immediate reaction was absolute embarrassment. I'm still Canadian and a social faux-pas runs deep. But soon, one new American friend and another and yet another approached me in private to discuss - you guessed it - politics.
My own shame turned to pity for these compassionate and frightened U.S. citizens. One free-thinking young artist told me in hushed tones that he's ashamed of being American - and anyone who's been there knows that this is a mighty strong statement.
Another burly jock-type confided to me that people overheard dissing W can be hauled off as suspected terrorists. He said that U.S. fear-mongering has alienated him from his own country and his overwhelming emotion is sadness. And just think of how much pressure is on the U.S. media to toe the line - imagining myself in those shoes, I feel a little frightened just writing these words. But then I look at the award conferred to The Chief last week for its "provocative" and "pull-no punches" editorial content and I know I'm on safe territory. I don't want to fall into the same trap Americans did by claiming to live in "the land of the free." I know that the freedom Canadians possess is relative, but after my experience in the U.S. I have a newfound gratitude and respect for organizations that continue to battle for freedom of expression.
