There has been much navel-gazing north of your border tonight. We in Canada were surprised that our nation was not mentioned at all during the speech, even though Canada was in fact the very first nation to react, opening our air space and airports to flights generating from overseas that were to land in the U.S.. This also, obviously opened us to the threat of possible terrorism from one of those flights. As well, we were hosts for days to the tens of thousands of Americans and members of other nations that were on those flights. Canadians have travelled to New York to volunteer, Canadian mining companies have donated equipment to help in the rescue (now, sadly, recovery) efforts, and ordinary Canadians by the thousands flocked to blood banks to donate for what was initially thought was going to be a demand for blood supplies. We are raising money and supplying goods by the tonne to the relief effort. There are dozens, perhaps thousands of other supportive efforts going on of which I'm not even aware .

> So I look now at our current crisis, and I see our allies immedietly rallying to our side, and it makes me glad to see that at least some of us have learned the lessons that World War II taught us

> I have often been derisive and condescending towards many "furiners" here on the forum, but I hope most people realize that I do not seriously think that the US is always good and always right and that other countries and their citizens are stupid and weak

Of course we realize that. And, being Canadian, we like to think that it's *because* we are the United State's best friend that we were not mentioned. When you're listing your friends, it's not necessary to mention the one that's always hanging around. The attitude has been that when you offer help freely, you don't expect to be thanked - you just do it because it's the right thing to do.

I haven't posted to this forum on this topic because I've found that the words I write down are weak echoes of the emotions I feel. I think, though, in my role as a citizen of Canada, I can say unequivocally that we all mourn with you. We all feel the horror. We all want to help. And we don't need to be thanked.

te (we stand on guard for thee, too) ach