The World According to Glissando

Tag: canada

  • Battle of Alberta

    It’s the Battle of Alberta, and not in sports vernacular. So, you want out of Canada, eh, Alberta? You know what? If that’s what you want, I will not stand in your way. You’ve had the good fortune of being a rich province because of your petroleum resources, but this is apparently not enough. You want even more. You are hard done by because you have been blessed with sources of revenue “lesser” provinces do not have.

    I could give you a lot of reasons why you should not leave Canada, but, l won’t. I am tired of the endless selfishness of the relentlessly growing number of special interests saying “me me me” and “more more more”.

    I will simply say this, the vast money printing machine you currently have is because of petroleum. As per usual human behaviour, not much thought is given to anything past the near future. The good times will always remain. Right? Truth is, everything is very temporal. The oil train may be your pipeline to wealth now, but it is going to come to an end.

    The end of the good times will come one of two ways. First, humanity continues using petroleum products and suffers the consequences of this ill-advised behaviour which is the decimation of the planet resulting in the eradication of the human species. The second way the Alberta gas tank could be financially drained is if humanity changes its ways and decides to stop using petroleum and adopts whole heartedly non-destructive forms of energy that does not destroy the planet. I am not a seer, so I don’t know which way this will go. Rest assured though, future generations will know.

    Either way, Alberta’s riches will come to an end. It is temporal. You just don’t see it now or you don’t want to see it, but this is the reality of life. When one of these two events occurs, where will all the big money for Alberta come from, assuming humanity moves away from petroleum? It’s a moot point if the other possibility happens.

    You may be rich and feel very important and hard done by right now, but this situation can and will change. History offers ample examples. What then, Alberta? What will you do?

    So, there it is Alberta. If you want to leave I will even do what any courteous quintessential Canadian would do, I will open the door for you. The choice is yours. I am tired of all the threatening and bullying be it from a province, a country, business and industry, a dishonest financial system, a special interest or a big tech billionaire. Enough is enough. I’m tired of being a peaceful pacifist. The pen is my sword.        

  • O

    O my. O Canada. Canada’s sovereignty is under threat from the United States, whose North American expansionism desires are coming to the forefront under the Trump administration. Trump has repeatedly, and seriously, stated that he wants to make Canada the fifty-first state. He and his cabal are also eyeing Mexico, as well as Greenland and non-North American country Panama. Control the Panama Canal and you control a major component of shipping.

    Canada and the United States have had a long, very friendly and mutually respectful relationship. Unfortunately for Canada, a change in this relationship was not totally unforeseeable, given past world history and the nature of humankind. Coveting something another person or country possesses has provoked invasiveness since the beginning of time, and Canada has much to covet.

    In light of these developments, I have written brand new lyrics, with a sympathetic leaning toward Canada, for their national anthem, O Canada. The lyrics are written in conjunction with the melody of the anthem. Indeed, O Canada.

    O Canada

    Now the fifty-first state

    This cannot be right

    It must be a mistake

    With saddened hearts we see thee fall

    The true north no longer free 

    From far and wide O Canada

    Subjugated from sea to sea

    God why did you let us become Yankees

    O Canada we’ve been unlawfully seized

    O Canada we’ve been unlawfully seized

    Copyright Glenn Hansen 2025

  • Canada

    O Canada. “The true north strong and free!” is one of the lines in their national anthem. It is no secret that Donald Trump, and indeed, a number of influential (rich) Americans would like to see Canada as the fifty-first state. Canadians have strongly rejected these overtures, but, here are some unsettling considerations for Canadians.

    Canada is coveted for its abundant supply of fresh water. Some suggest the figure is around twenty percent of the world’s surface fresh water. Remember, fresh water is imperative to the continued existence of humanity and many other forms of life on earth. Next, there’s Canada’s broad spectrum wealth of vital natural resources including oil, gas, and minerals, some of which are considered rare. Land suitable for sustainable agriculture and renewable hydro electricity abounds

    With this in mind, you have to remember that many a war was started by one group wanting what another group possesses. Such is the human condition. Canada has much to offer a potential invading country. But, could an invasion really happen? I believe it could, especially given humanity’s track record. For Canada, their problem is really obvious…it has a huge land mass with a small population relative to size, served by an inadequate armed forces. This is not a knock on the good, world-class people in the military, but rather, it acknowledges the lack of a large armed forces that are often ill-equipped.

    Number one on the potential list of invaders is the United States. They need what Canada has and they are Canada’s next door neighbour. Initially, the “invasion” may come via political channels, but, if push comes to shove, I think there could be a literal invasion. In light of America’s massive military might, Canada should surrender before the opening salvo is fired and Canadian lives are unnecessarily lost. Other potential invading countries include China and Russia. Too far away? Remember, access can be via the North Pole.

    I do hope this does not come to pass. Canada is a sovereign, democratically principled nation, with the right to exist freely. However, world affairs continue to careen everywhere. History is filled with countries that support another country and then reverse that support. Iran and the United States is one example. Russia and the World War II Allies is another. This has happened again and again through all of history. I would suggest Canadians consider that invasion by another country is plausible and make their plans accordingly in the hopes of preserving their great country. And, if it were to happen, there might be strong condemnation from around the world, but, don’t count on receiving help from any nation.