Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" - I Am SO, SO Sorry

I've been writing about the amazing things Canada is doing to preserve nature in their beautiful country, and will be writing more about it tomorrow, but today I feel like I need to apologize to Canada once again. The insane amount of disrespect directed at our incredible neighbors, friends, and family in Canada from the massively corrupt toddler in chief here in the white house is shameful, despicable, and embarrassing. Canada absolutely does NOT deserve the words and actions coming from trump - please know so many of us here in the US are appalled and furious about these things - and we are SO sorry.

So, today I'm sharing posts/memes I've found online which share the truth about Canada and also express how sorry this "Lost Canadian" and so many of us here in the US are for what trump is doing.

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Protecting Nature in Canada

Yesterday I wrote how as a person who was born in and who has lived in the US all my life, and who has enjoyed our country's National Parks, it has been painful to watch the last two years as the current corrupt administration destroys our National Parks and reduces protections for nature in the US. So, as a "Lost Canadian", I am SO happy to see Canada is taking a different perspective when it comes to protecting their National Parks and protecting nature in Canada with their strategy to protect nature. Canada has a three part plan to protect Nature in Canada, so today I'm writing about the first part of this plan - Protecting Nature in Canada: By protecting and conserving more lands and waters and connecting habitats so species can move more safely.

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Canada's Strategy to Protect Nature

As a person who was born in and who has lived in the US all my life, and who has enjoyed our country's National Parks, it has been painful to watch the last two years as the current corrupt administration destroys our National Parks and reduces protections for nature in the US. So, as a "Lost Canadian", I am SO happy to see Canada is taking a different perspective when it comes to protecting their National Parks and protecting nature in Canada. I am happy today to share with you some of what I'm learning from Canada.ca about Canada's strategy to protect nature!

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Diversity in Canada

For the past two days I've been learning about where the first peoples who arrived in Canada came from. Many came from Siberia through the land bridge which long ago connected Siberia and North America known as, Beringia. These peoples became the First Nations Peoples and they spread throughout what we know today as Canada, as well as the US, Mexico, Central, and South America. People also came, many thousands of years later, from Europe to the East Coast of Canada and eventually spread throughout all of Canada.

So, Siberia and Europe are where people first came from who made Canada their home. What does it look like in Canada today? Is it a diverse country? I looked online and learned the following . . .

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Canadian History - the First Nations Peoples & the Arrival of Europeans

Yesterday I wrote while I know some things about Canada, there are many things I do not yet know, and since I'm a "Lost Canadian" I've decided to learn, really learn about Canada. I started at the beginning (as we all know this is a very good place to start!) and learned about the First Nations Peoples who migrated to Canada from Beringia and I am very happy to share with you the things I am learning about what happened when the first people arrived in North America from Europe. 

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Canadian History - the First Nations Peoples

I've written a few times how I learned this past April I am a "Lost Canadian", and it matters to me to learn about Canada. (I have fifteen ancestors born in Canada since 1800 - from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia and according to Canada's new law Bill C-3, this makes me a Canadian!) Growing up in Michigan, I knew about Canada - they are our dear neighbors, friends, and now they are my family as well, so learning about them matters to me.

While I know some things about Canada, there are many things I do not know, this is why I've decided to learn, really learn about Canada. I'm going to start at the beginning (as we all know this is a very good place to start!) and learn about the First Nations Peoples who migrated to Canada - most scientists believe this happened possibly as long as 16,000 years or so ago (and some believe this happened possibly as many as 25,000 years ago) - there is much for me to learn and I am very happy to share with you the things I am learning about Canada!

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About the Actual Truth

Even thought I grew up and lived most of my life in Michigan, there are many things I do not know about our close neighbor, Canada. Now I know I'm a "Lost Canadian" it has been important to me to learn about Canada. In light of the venom and outright lies about Canada spewing from the massively corrupt CONVICTED felon/sexual abuser, likely pedophile who currently occupies the white house, I think it is even more important for all of us, whether we are a "Lost Canadian" or not, to learn the truth about Canada. I found this very informative art online about how Canada has stood with and for the US as our Ally and an informative article from CNN which clearly states facts - the truth about the economies of the US and Canada and want to share them with you -

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About the Thunderhead Monument

I grew up in what used to be (but happily is no longer so) the very "conservative" (legalistic, hurtful, and judgmental are better, more accurate words) area on the West side of Michigan where there is a church on nearly every corner, several major Christian publishing companies, and colleges. I was taught it was a sinful choice to be 2SLGBTQI+ and while we should love the "sinner", we should hate the sin - which actually really came out to be hating both.

I now know how wrong, hurtful, and damaging this thinking was. Jesus never treated 2SLGBTQI+ in a hurtful or hateful way - in fact, He told us to love ALL others. So many people have been hurt by the hateful thinking I grew up with, not only in West Michigan, but around the world. Here in the US we currently have people "leading" this country who continue to spread this type of hate, but I am so relieved, and impressed to see how Canada is making a different choice - one which brings healing and makes Canada so much stronger.

Thoughts From a "Lost Canadian" About Loving Canada & Being Loved by Canada

The past week and a half has been very difficult for this "Lost Canadian" and life-long Michigander to watch as the massively corrupt convicted felon/sexual abuser, likely pedophile, clearly inept current occupant of the white house disrespects and tries to bully our dear neighbors, friends, and family in Canada. 

For the past week and a half each day I wake up and hope things will improve, but then see and hear even more disrespect and arrogance directed towards Canada and their amazing people from the shameful resident of the white house. Every day I feel like this country owes Canada another apology.