Dave Van Note: Apologies to the Canadians

As an American, I feel a gnawing sense of responsibility to publicly apologize. I am deeply embarrassed by the inept, aggressive, incompetent, unethical, oppressive bullying by President Donald Trump and his administration. His belligerent and hostile assault on our good and trusted neighbors to the north, the Canadians, and on so many more people around the world is appalling and is neither wanted nor supported by the majority of Americans. On behalf of all my friends, Republicans, independents, Democrats — Americans all — please accept my most sincere apology.

That America is an exceptional country in the history of the world is certainly beyond dispute. But that American exceptionalism is not simply the product of our military or economic might, but also of our internationally known and admired sense of morality, decency, compassion, respect for the rule of law, support for our friends and allies and honest desire to be good citizens of the world community.