The myth of Canadian terrorists

Why is it that myths have a longer lifespan than truth? Another myth has raised its ugly head again, and again Canada will no doubt suffer the consequences.

The CBC’s Neil Macdonald was interviewing U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, and he asked her to clarify comments she had made previously that the Canadian and Mexican borders must be given the same treatment. Her response:

"Yes, Canada is not Mexico. It doesn't have a drug war going on; it didn't have 6,000 homicides that were drug-related last year," Napolitano said.

"Nonetheless, to the extent that terrorists have come into our country or suspected or known terrorists have entered our country across a border, it's been across the Canadian border. There are real issues there."

Macdonald asked if she was referring to the 9/11 attackers. She stated: "Not just those but others as well."

Now according to the 2004 report of the 9/11 commission all of the terrorists flew into major U.S. airports from outside North America, carrying documents issued by the U.S. government. None came from Canada. Yet this story has persisted since the time of the bombing, and shows no signs of going away any time soon – especially if it is being repeated by the head of Homeland Security (am I the only one who thinks that “Homeland” has a Nazi sound to it?)

Why does it matter? After all, it’s just a silly story. Except that people in power in the U.S are using this lie as an excuse to further lock down the border between the countries, making trade and travel ever more difficult.

A few generations ago, there really was an open border between Canada and the U.S. I have relatives in Michigan, because a great-uncle (or maybe two “greats”) went across the bridge at Sarnia to work, and settled there.

I don’t expect that today. The world has changed a lot. But there is no need for the fanatical policing of the borders that the U.S. has started recently, with both physical and virtual fences, and unmanned drones watching from the air.

Canada is not the enemy. The guns that come north across the border are more dangerous than the imaginary terrorists that go south. Please, see someone about the paranoia. And stop telling lies.