Bill O'Reilly
Eh, tu, Canada?
A recent poll says 40% of Canadian teens believe the United States is "evil." Among French-Canadian teens, it's 64%. This, of course, must be laid on the doorstep of the often viciously anti-American Canadian press, as well as irresponsible Canadian teachers.
America is getting slaughtered in the arena of public opinion. So what can we expect from children? When government-funded press agencies like the BBC and Canadian Broadcasting Corp. portray America as the world's chief villain, there's little anyone can do to balance the picture. Fox News Channel, for example, isn't even allowed in Canada.
So for the benefit of Canadian kids and, indeed, all children, I am going to set the record straight. Let's start with an undeniable fact: The United States has set more people free than any country in history. We know about World War II, but here's what's happened recently:
* In Eastern Europe, Ronald Reagan's policies led to the freeing of 122 million from Soviet domination.
* More than 48 million South Koreans remain free because of American protection.
* Nearly 23 million Taiwanese remain free because of American protection.
* The state of Israel and 5.5 million Jews would be crushed by its enemies if not for American aid.
* By removing brutal regimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, America and Britain have given almost 50 million people a shot at self-determination. Also, the American-driven campaign against the Balkans butcher Slobodan Milosevic saved hundreds of thousands, most of them Muslims.
* America sends $3 billion a year to Africa to combat AIDS. Canada sends $270 million; France, $60 million.
And those countries have the nerve to portray America as a villain? How many human beings has France, or Canada, freed over the past 60 years? Those nations have helped the U.S. on occasion, but are drifting from reality now.
It's not only Canadians and the French who are misguided; there's a fifth column in America. "Anarchists" hope to disrupt the Republican National Convention in New York City next month. Police believe they will use violence to do so. And the verbal violence spewed daily by partisan fanatics grows more despicable. Michael Moore and his acolytes hide behind the "dissent" label, but they're not dissenters, they're destroyers. Moore has been quoted as saying capitalism is "diabolical," even as he trucks his millions to the bank. Did you know that associates of Hezbollah want to help distribute Moore's movie in the Mideast? What does that tell you?
America is a great country striving to protect itself in an ungrateful and dangerous world. We, the people, have sacrificed blood and money so others could have a chance. Canada's powers-that-be should be ashamed of their young people's ignorance, but I know they are not. Ignorance is most often a contagious disease.
Originally published on July 19, 2004
