In the turbulent world we live in, we have a strange relationship with our neighbors to the south. The closer people live to the border the more evident it becomes.

There is some heightened emotions when differences arise, trade deals, insults, verbal slaps and insults. We can be at the depth of our displeasure one moment and all is forgotten and forgiven in the next.

Taking a walk down histories page we have fought each other, burned down each others capital buildings, mind you we were governed differently then. Things have also been good, when the Quebec Ice Storm hit some years back the Americans lent a hand restoring power and aiding with other assistance.

With 9/11 when the air space was closed we took in passengers stranded in Newfoundland. We helped with Hurricane Katrina,

They assisted us in 1917 when Halifax Harbor exploded. The most successful was the Iran Embassy Rescue. Now the Hollywood version varies from the truth but it was a great fete our Canadian Ambassador was the real hero there.

We have competed with them with intensity in sports but then we gave them hockey in terms of real talent. A Canadian gave them the game of basketball. The Canadian Football League is actually older than the NFL and so on.

Then there is the cooperative things like science and technology we share. Our relationship that allows for an undefended border stretching for thousands of miles.

What got me thinking about this was something I saw in the Oliver Daily News. We saw American and Canadian Legion Members celebrating and Marching together.

It struck me how even with our differences and at times suspicions of each other. We are forever linked by history.

I agree the border is there for a reason and scratch below the surface we are different in so many ways. Canada has some advantages we have a different social outlook than our friends down south. I think our outlook on the world is more of a world view and in America they look inward. in the final analysis it comes down to the fact we are friends many are relatives and we are fierce competitors. When we sometimes question our identity it comes down to knowing one thing. We know we are not Americans.

The border will always be there we will always have minor disagreements and sometimes major ones. But there is one remaining truth. When trouble comes calling both nations will be there for each other in times of crisis. All in all that is not a bad relationship to have is it.

Fred Steele