I make it a point not to respond to online political posts or solicitations — not for lack of interest or from fear of commitment, but because it is so difficult to distinguish the genuine article from the fake. However, this does not mean that I shy away from political commentary. On the contrary, I freely exercise my First Amendment rights at every opportunity.

In that spirit, let me say that I consider Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to be a true leader — one whose first priority is the welfare of his country and its people.

Donald Trump’s monstrous, often unhinged behavior, on the other hand, has proven him to be a fraud, an autocrat, as tacky as the golden gewgaws with which he surrounds himself, and as crooked as San Francisco’s famous Lombard Street.

The recent spate of memes following Trump’s idiotic attempt to rename Lake Ontario has been the one bright spot in an otherwise horrendous week. We lost Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and King Harald V of Norway, along with far too many victims of the war in Ukraine, floods in Nepal, and measles outbreaks in the U.S. But we didn’t lose our sense of humor.

Thank you, Canada, for the pictures of newly- coiffed Canada geese, the map of the U.S. relabelled “Southern Canada,” and all the other choice bits of ridicule aimed at you-know-who. We Americans — the ones with brains and hearts — know you don’t equate the majority of us with one raving lunatic. And we also know who started this idiotic (not to mention, costly) trade war . . . and it wasn’t you.

We are truly sorry for any discomfort and inconvenience you may experience over the next couple of years. If it’s any consolation, we’re feeling the pinch much worse down here below the border. Just contemplating the increased price of toilet paper is giving me major heartburn!

But let’s take heart from the fact that all of this is only temporary, and that our historic friendship will survive the insanity . . . and perhaps be all the stronger for it in the end.

Meanwhile, keep those memes coming. We love them, and we love our Canadian neighbors and friends.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
8/31/26