To accept realities nowadays is tough, since being in denial is in high fashion, I'd say. But you are correct, better to accept what's true than to deceive the self.

You and the Canadians have indeed more in common than what makes you different from one another, since language is the one and foremost thing to share. There should not be hostility between the folks only because the leaders are at each others throats.

We, unfortunately, are in the very same situation and since we are on a very long leash to our big brother across the ocean, he will drag us down when he falls. Why do I still hope that he doesn't?

I feel so sorry about how messed up vast parts of US America became, the phentanol zombie areas, the abandoned cities, the neglected neighborhoods, the crime ... when you look at German cities, you see it here as well, if you open your eyes. But I do care for the rest of you, for the wonderful people I met in real life as well as online. I never had more interesting conversations. I know no one in my circle of Germans with whom I had the same quality of exchange ... but maybe, it is because of English and many things just sound better in a foreign language. LoL