It’s hard not to feel a little wistful when watching foreign leaders who look strong, resolved, compassionate, and steady in their beliefs. I don’t mean to be too melancholy, but it’s almost like a boy who sees their friend’s dad taking their own son fishing — we sometimes want to ask, can we come too? We haven’t been fishing since, well, January of 2017.
That’s how the news of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s press release today hit me as I was getting ready for another full day of writing about the Trump administration. Canada is celebrating National Peacekeepers’ Day, now in its tenth year, which is sort of the Canadian equivalent of our Veterans’ Day. Maybe you remember what Donald Trump sounds like around Veterans’ Day:
Happy Veterans Day to ALL, in particular to the haters and losers who have no idea how lucky they are!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 11, 2013
We wish, in fact, that Trump sounded any better than that on ANY national moment of remembrance. Even his Memorial Day tweet, which is intended for those who actually died for the country, he found a way to somehow make all about himself:
Happy Memorial Day! Those who died for our great country would be very happy and proud at how well our country is doing today. Best economy in decades, lowest unemployment numbers for Blacks and Hispanics EVER (& women in 18years), rebuilding our Military and so much more. Nice!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2018
It’s so bad that even on our most patriotic holiday, Americans just are not feeling this President, and we’re bummed about it:
This may be the first #July4th where I’m too depressed to swallow 50 hot dogs whole.
— Matt Nedostup (@nedostup) July 3, 2018
Look at Trudeau, though. Smiling. Proud. Loved by his citizens. It’s because he knows how to treat people with honor and respect, something that just isn’t in Donald Trump’s wheelhouse.
The message the Canadian PM sent out today was both solemn and celebratory:
Today, on the 10th National Peacekeepers’ Day, we come together to honour Canadian peacekeepers, past and present, who have put their lives on the line to advance stability and peace around the world.
For over six decades, Canadian peacekeepers have helped protect human rights, advance democracy and the rule of law, and offer aid to those most in need. They have helped people and societies recover after the violence of war, and made sure the voices of the most vulnerable are represented and heard in peace processes.
Today, I call on all Canadians to recognize our country’s peacekeepers – past and present, military, police, and civilian – who have helped build peace and bring hope to those most vulnerable. They represent the very best of what it means to be Canadian.”
You can read the entire press release here, but promise me you won’t move to Canada. We need you here. We could have this again.
Featured image via screen capture
