An Open Verse To America Poem by Francie Lynch

I am Canadian. We are considered average and polite.
I will remain so here.
We are a socialist democracy.
You, a capitalist democracy.
Our Prime Minister makes mistakes.
He's comparatively young. He takes good council.
He speaks of what he knows,
And knows when not to speak.
He can be mean (depending) , but never cruel.
He has great wealth, but neither flaunts nor hides it.
When he equivocates or lies, he knows it.

We have all the amenities of a capitalistic society,
With the security and comfirt of our social pluralism.
Our youth receive a very good education.
We have no rich or poor school districts.
The students are the richness.
We have no security guards or metal detectors in our schools.

We are not a super power. We are average.
We do not influence worldly affairs with a sneeze.

Our Senate is powerless.
Power is in the multi-party system; each chooses its leader.
We don't vote for the Prime Minister,
But every four years, we can vote one out.
A coup d'état is almost impossible,
Unless you invade us.
You'd win... Easily!
Our Forces aren't big, but when called upon, they are very good.
But we don't start wars. We try to end them.
Our former P.M. won a Nobel for coming up with the idea of a U.N. Peacekeeping Force. That's a real one.

We have serious problems like you. At times, people get hurt, and that's never good. And believe me, we support most of your political initiatives, domestic and foreign, and your peaceful demonstrations. We know pain too.

I know you love your country. And you have damn good reasons.
Most Canadians love you too, and we are very worried about our southern neighbours who treat us so well when we visit west of the St. Clair River.
We've helped you when you were in need; when your country was under attack by foreign powers. We are your good neighbours with good fences. We will always be there for you and whatever Democracy you choose.
Please, choose wisely for all of us.

Bless America