June 14, 2005

Think of yourself as a North American, citizen

Isn't it going to be great when the U.S., Canada, and Mexico give up their old-fashioned ideas of national sovereignty and join hands and forces as the North American Community? I can hardly wait. If you too are ready to think of yourself as a North American rather than just an American, then you'll really enjoy this exciting testimony that was given by American University professor Robert Pastor before a hearing of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Bear in mind, that isn't just a dream, that is actual Senate testimony. I have no idea how many of those fine Senators agree with this plan, but I doubt whether any of them strongly disagree. Some of them might even be working towards making this professor's dream a reality. Our own president Bush - who many think is as American as apple pie - appears to be quite the North American.

A snippet of the testimony:

...This trilateral approach should be institutionalized in a new North American Advisory Council. Unlike the sprawling and intrusive European Commission, the Commission or Council should be lean, independent, and advisory, composed of 15 distinguished individuals, 5 from each nation. Its principal purpose should be to prepare a North American agenda for leaders to consider at biannual summits and to monitor the implementation of the resulting agreements. It should be an advisor to the three leaders but also a public voice and symbol of North America...

...North American governments can learn from the EU's efforts to establish EU Educational and Research Centers in the United States. Centers for North American Studies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico would help people in all three countries to understand the problems and the potential of an integrated North America--and to think of themselves as North Americans. Scholarships should encourage North American students to study in each other's country. Until a new consciousness of North America's promise takes root, many of these proposals will remain impractical...

What a wonderful plan. By the way, here's a copy of The Constitution of the United States of America in case you want to see if there's anything in there about an "integrated North America."

Posted to NAU at June 14, 2005 07:42 AM

Comments

Actually, I think that's a pretty splendid idea. Borders aren't real anyways, they're just human constructs. So I'm not sure what your objection is-- borders change and always do. Who are you more worried about being a fellow citizen, Canadians or Mexicans?

Also, have you ever heard of something called the European Union?

Posted by: zoe at June 14, 2005 11:23 AM

No need to answer any of those questions, the fact that you linked to a crazy wingnut freeper site speaks volumes about your lack of sanity.

Have an angry, hate-filled day!

Posted by: bob at June 14, 2005 11:26 AM

"zoe" and "bob" might not be the same person, but they share an IP address.

It also bears pointing out that while the link is to Freerepublic, what's there is just a reprint of an article that appears on the CFR site, and that article was given as Senate testimony.

And, if "zoe"/"bob" like the EU, they should move there. Anyone want to chip in on air fare?

Posted by: The Lonewacko Blog at June 14, 2005 02:10 PM

Apparently some people have failed to notice that the EU is losing a lot of popularity among its subjects. The EU Constitution was defeated very recently by the people of France and the Netherlands voting in referenda.

Posted by: mr civil rights at June 14, 2005 02:35 PM

Posted by: mr civil rights at June 14, 2005 03:03 PM