an open letter to my american friends

to todd, eryck, kaia and all the other progressive minds in the united states of america: do not despair. i know you will spend the next days drowned in the gloating of political pundits and the smirks of conservative co-workers or neighbours but do not despair.

we, who are living outside your country, witness the uphill battle you face now. the young voters did not bother to vote, right-wing christians turned out even more massively for the republicans than they did in 2000 and families who face the daily burden of economic injustices have voted against their class interest.

i want to tell you that you are not alone. even here, in canada, and elsewhere across the world, we are facing the same economic model, the same fanatism, the same war on openmindness and freedom of choice. your battle is the most important battle because of the might of your national army but at the same time, your battle is one of the least important because you have eaten today, your neighbourhood will not be bombed and you can still voice your opposition to what is happening.

please excuse this little admonishment, i just want to make sure you will not stop fighting - even if you will need a small rest after this 9 month long campain.

but, right now, as a friend living in canada, there are two important issues in which i can make a difference and those two issues are the reason why i write this open letter.

firstly, i seriously fear you will be drafted. during the vietnam war, american deserters automatically obtained asylum in canada. that was changed very recently when canada adopted its own clone of the patriot act. currently, two american soldiers who refused to serve in irak and fled to canada are facing administrative courts in toronto. i pledge to you that, even against the laws of my country, i will help you and your friends avoid a draft. we will welcome you with open arms if you wish to escape that terrible fate. you do not have to die for an injust war.

secondly, with supreme court justice rehnquist already ill and others waiting to step down, we know for sure that abortion will be again outlawed and that gays will suffer an increased persecution. these social issues are dealt with very differently here in canada. very soon, gay marriages will be fully legal here. the same pledge i made for deserters applies to young women who will face an unwanted pregnancy: we have good, safe and very affordable clinics here and we will do everything we can to help you live a life freed from bigotry and hate.

i am not encouraging you to abandon your country to its fanatic nightmare. you have plenty of resources and opportunitues to fight back and help your fellow citizens live a more fulfilling life. but when you will face difficult individual choices and you will feel despaired, remember that your are not alone and that we are here to help you survive.

with all my friendship and compassion,
a_dontigny, montreal, canada