9/11 was a pretty emotional one so I don't blame you for just dipping out entirely. There were definitely people who thought there was only one right way to respond to that and if you didn't, you were a threat. I remember in particular people being mad at some posters for taking comfort when Bill Clinton spoke publicly for the first time after it -- like what on earth did that cost anyone?
I remember a few years later I was told I needed to be ashamed that Canada didn't go into Iraq because it embarrassed America.
Not Americans. America. I can't imagine a worse reason to send your nation to war than "you're embarrassing your neighbour." I didn't know that poster well and I think they're long gone, but that was one decision I think the country did not come to regret. It was certainly controversial at the time but these days no one thinks Chrétien did the wrong thing.
I've also been told -- though not recently -- that Canadians shouldn't discuss American politics here at all. Very wild take, but one I heard several times. I particularly remember someone telling me that they didn't discuss Canadian politics because they felt it wasn't their place and saying "if you actually know about Canadian politics, please join right in."
Didn't happen. We were always fine, back when there were enough of us here to have a political conversation, with Americans joining. One poster in particular really did know her stuff, too.
