There’s too much money at stake for separatism to gain any real traction. Most of the red states would be poor if cut off from US government largesse. But we need them strategically because they supply natural resources and human bodies for defense and development purposes. Same would have been true if Quebec had separated.
If the Separatists had won the 1995 referendum (I remember it, even though I wasn't living in Canada yet) I doubt the transition would be as bloody as it will be if it happens again in the U.S. It famously took a war to resolve the last one, and honestly, I don't expect it to go well for liberals if it comes to that. I understand they're 'gunning up' more now but I honestly don't think they have the balls or labia to defend themselves and their families if it actually came to armed insurrection, coup d'etat, or whatever. Conservatives have a whole longstanding culture built around gun ownership, honour (or whatever passes for it anymore in the US) and strategic violence. Liberals will find there's more to defending your family than picking up a gun (although I expect untrained conservative Rambo wannabes won't fare very well either).
I worry about my family, who will be moving to a red state eventually to retire, not because they share their politics. They seem to think it will be okay. I don't know which of us is blind: Me, because I no longer live there and haven't for many years, or my fam, who may not see the danger because they live with it every day.
It’s a very frightening thought that America could go all 1861 again. My husband and I have been watching Ken Burns’ monumental 1990 documentary The Civil War. Having watched 6 of the 9 episodes, I am just astonished at the level of violence and bloodshed America put itself through to stop the Confederate states from seceding. It was truly a ritualistic bloodbath that could not end without the utter defeat of the other side. Being Canadian and having never studied the Civil War formally, I just can’t get over the violent, bloody spectacle of American history. Canada’s history is not innocent of violence and bloodshed, but wow. Just wow. I have never seen more corpses piled up in any film.
That said, I hope I am wrong in my estimation of the plausibility of Garland’s vision. Maybe, as you say, liberals are too squeamish to engage in actual combat. I hope everyone is, now that we are well into the 21st century and know what military destruction means from two centuries of graphic images.
As for your family, I hope they are making the right decision. My worry about moving to any red state would be a fear of violence and a fear of destruction caused by climate change. Both together would be a truly lethal combination.
I'm not sure what Civil War Part Deux would look like but I suspect it might be on an individual level rather than a secessionist thing. That's what bothers me...not north against south, but people against...people. Lib & cons. I hope I'm wrong but the left is re-embracing violence as political expression. Whoever wins in November...it ain't gonna be pretty in January. I'm really, really, really surprised nobody pulled any shit on Biden's inauguration day.
We are a violent people. I don't know why we're so much more nuts than Canadians. I *do* wonder if the American Revolution was a warning to the British - as well as the French Revolution which was like 13 years later. I'm afraid a second civil war would like like George Floyd x 10,000 ;(
I read about the 1970 FLQ stuff. They kidnapped Jasper Cross, the British Trade Minister to Quebec, and held him hostage. When the kidnappers realized they were not going to overthrow the government, they settled for being flown to Algeria to avoid trial.
Apparently Cross endured a lengthy captivity with icy calm, calling it "a case of six kids trying to make a revolution."
There’s too much money at stake for separatism to gain any real traction. Most of the red states would be poor if cut off from US government largesse. But we need them strategically because they supply natural resources and human bodies for defense and development purposes. Same would have been true if Quebec had separated.
This is exactly the point I will be making in Part II of this article. Stay tuned!
Thanks for responding.
If the Separatists had won the 1995 referendum (I remember it, even though I wasn't living in Canada yet) I doubt the transition would be as bloody as it will be if it happens again in the U.S. It famously took a war to resolve the last one, and honestly, I don't expect it to go well for liberals if it comes to that. I understand they're 'gunning up' more now but I honestly don't think they have the balls or labia to defend themselves and their families if it actually came to armed insurrection, coup d'etat, or whatever. Conservatives have a whole longstanding culture built around gun ownership, honour (or whatever passes for it anymore in the US) and strategic violence. Liberals will find there's more to defending your family than picking up a gun (although I expect untrained conservative Rambo wannabes won't fare very well either).
I worry about my family, who will be moving to a red state eventually to retire, not because they share their politics. They seem to think it will be okay. I don't know which of us is blind: Me, because I no longer live there and haven't for many years, or my fam, who may not see the danger because they live with it every day.
It’s a very frightening thought that America could go all 1861 again. My husband and I have been watching Ken Burns’ monumental 1990 documentary The Civil War. Having watched 6 of the 9 episodes, I am just astonished at the level of violence and bloodshed America put itself through to stop the Confederate states from seceding. It was truly a ritualistic bloodbath that could not end without the utter defeat of the other side. Being Canadian and having never studied the Civil War formally, I just can’t get over the violent, bloody spectacle of American history. Canada’s history is not innocent of violence and bloodshed, but wow. Just wow. I have never seen more corpses piled up in any film.
That said, I hope I am wrong in my estimation of the plausibility of Garland’s vision. Maybe, as you say, liberals are too squeamish to engage in actual combat. I hope everyone is, now that we are well into the 21st century and know what military destruction means from two centuries of graphic images.
As for your family, I hope they are making the right decision. My worry about moving to any red state would be a fear of violence and a fear of destruction caused by climate change. Both together would be a truly lethal combination.
And thank you for recommending my article!
I'm not sure what Civil War Part Deux would look like but I suspect it might be on an individual level rather than a secessionist thing. That's what bothers me...not north against south, but people against...people. Lib & cons. I hope I'm wrong but the left is re-embracing violence as political expression. Whoever wins in November...it ain't gonna be pretty in January. I'm really, really, really surprised nobody pulled any shit on Biden's inauguration day.
We are a violent people. I don't know why we're so much more nuts than Canadians. I *do* wonder if the American Revolution was a warning to the British - as well as the French Revolution which was like 13 years later. I'm afraid a second civil war would like like George Floyd x 10,000 ;(
Sobering thoughts. I’m trying to hope for the best.
I read about the 1970 FLQ stuff. They kidnapped Jasper Cross, the British Trade Minister to Quebec, and held him hostage. When the kidnappers realized they were not going to overthrow the government, they settled for being flown to Algeria to avoid trial.
Apparently Cross endured a lengthy captivity with icy calm, calling it "a case of six kids trying to make a revolution."
Thank you! I actually didn’t know this. FYI, the man kidnapped was James Cross.
Thank you for the new information and for commenting.
Yes, his name was James. His buddies called him "Jasper."
Again, good to know!