One or two of us beg to differ. Boaden, having used our license fee money to hire lawyers, keeping this important information out of the public domain will now soak up more of the same as her lawyers sue us, the license fee payers.

It always amuses me how Americans see that as a skewer rather than proof of the success of two hundred years of Canadian diplomacy. George, can you name any other great power that has ever been oblivious to its largest neighbour? Pretty crafty, eh? We aren’t so stupid as to trash you up front (you are much too excitable), we simply send some scholars in mufti to become Harvard professors who write doomsday bestsellers and let the New York Times do the rest.

Martin Jacques’s article is odd. Measured by something like rates of income tax collection, the US is way out in front of most of the developed world in “legitimacy”. Nor do I understand at all what he means about China’s understanding of state as civilization. Weren’t the revolutions that began a century ago all about breaking with the past, especially during the Mao years? What definition of civilization do the billions of the PRC agree on?

Peter, I hate to say it, but with the NHL lockout, it’s likely to be late summer in 2013 before we below the 49th parallel again remember that there is a Canada. Insult away, but don’t be disappointed or shocked if we look blank, or attempt a lame comeback involving Pierre Trudeau. Still, I am grateful for the paint roller, even if I’m not very handy with one.

Poppies: the equivalent over here is I suppose the American flag lapel pin, which is a year-round accessory, and which apparently no politician wishes to do without.

What will they make of it in a couple of generations?

Why can’t we all just brew a nice cup of tea and try to get along?