Notes from North of the Border

People of Canada. Stop. The path you are heading down leads to trouble. When I got upset I used to go to the Canada in my mind: a place of quiet and politeness. But they are growing less polite. But at least they notice and care. The paper is running a column for people to share stories of politeness in hopes of encouraging more polite behavior.

Canada style combines the comfortable frump of U.S. with the fashion flare of Europe.

The New World is caste-less though not classless.

I have maple leaf flag envy. As I took off, I was sad to think that where I was heading back to the buildings would not be topped with the maple leaf flag.

Chatwin and Jesus

“Luxury hampers mobility.” Ah, Chatwin’s efficiency. He’s talking of course about his favorite subject: nomadic tribes versus citified people. He argues eloquently for the human urge to travel. It is a holy urge and one tied to holiness through the pilgrimages. In this light, I was seeing his simple three-word line parallel another famous philosopher’s words and shining a new light on them: “Give up all you have and follow me,” said Jesus. Perhaps he was urging less about poverty and more about traveling.