BREAKING NEWS: Chretien (well, his Press Office) is “clarifying” his remarks. Seems he wasn’t actually criticizing America after all. Not everyone’s persuaded

UPDATE: More mail:

I’d like to add my voice to the (hopefully) large chorus of e-mails you’ve received from Canadians distancing themselves from the antics of our PM. The man is an embarrassment to our country.

I had stumbled across the article in the Post just before you linked to it. Up until then I had been planning on commenting on the Judd/High Noon post you had linked to in order to defend Canada (he had lumped us in with Germany and France). After I read this I just didn’t have the heart. How could a non-Canadian possibly think any other way when this is our public face?

Yesterday around town most businesses had their flags at half mast and a large number were flying American flags alongside our own. I like to think that this is far more representative of how the Canadian people feel. Despite occassional differences, America is our closest friend and ally and we are fortunate to have you as our neighbour. Chretien’s comments were disgraceful.

Sean Engemoen

Saskatoon, Canada

Thanks Sean. We know most Canadians don’t feel this way. We just have trouble understanding why so many Canadians who do feel this way wind up in high office. And yes, my inbox runneth over — and nearly all the email is from Canadians.