THOMSON: It's not Trump Derangement Syndrome, Canadians just aren't very big on self esteem

“Show me on this map where the mean orange man hurt you, Canada.”That is what our country's top clinical psychiatrists should be asking Canadians, based on their reactions to President-elect Trump’s posts on social media. You have to wonder, why is Canada’s ego so fragile? It’s a question sociologists will have to study in the years following Donald Trump’s second presidency, because never in our history has the election of a foreign head of state so immediately, completely and inexorably, thrown our country into such a fluster of existential hysteria.While it might be convenient to ascribe the cause to Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS), which is no new phenomenon in Canada, I think this is something different.This identity crisis came about in the days following Prime Minister Trudeau’s visit to meet with President-elect Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in late November. At that meeting, Trudeau pointed out the fact that if the US levied 25 per cent tariffs against Canada it would kill our economy. Trump’s retort was that Canada should become the 51st state if it wanted to avoid them.That statement got Canadians pretty angsty and had pundits and political observers nervously scoffing at the comment. But a few days later Trump posted an AI generated image of himself standing by a Canada flag while gazing at distant mountain range. Those rocky peaks were supposed to symbolize Canada, but I think they more accurately portrayed the ‘cliffs of insanity’ — because Canadians lost their minds over it.I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if Trump’s picture didn’t actually cause the old rotary phones in the Diefenbunker to start ringing, despite being disconnected. That’s how strong a reaction those two words and one image elicited.Of course it was a jest. Trump has a well-known mischievous streak and will stir the pot simply for his own amusement. To be frank, I’d be far more concerned if he hadn’t made the joke. I’d much rather see a relationship where there is good natured banter between our countries' two leaders, even if it did come with an undertone of admonition in it. Better that, then being shut out of talks altogether or on the receiving end of an irate and embarrassing tirade.But rational thought was never going to be enough to stop the imagination and speculation about the hypothetical situation in which Canada becomes the 51st state. On the social media site ‘X’, there was a lot of conjecture about how this would play out.One popular theory was that if America wanted to, it could simply use its military might to march north of the 49th and annex Canada in its entirety. Another was that the parts of Canada, specifically the swath of land between the 120th and 100th meridian, would gladly secede to the join the United States if asked.Both are utterly preposterous propositions, but amidst the online conversation, which ranged from good natured banter to full on patriotic treatises, one post stood out to me.It was published by an account called ‘The Pleb Reporter’ (@truckdriverpleb). It asked, “If America invades Canada”, then offered respondents three choices: “I will fight back” (28%). “I will help them” (44%). “I will do nothing” (28%). The poll amassed 18,507 votes in the short period that it was live.While the sample size is appreciably large, there is unfortunately no way to look at the demographics data to dissect what the poll is really showing. But regardless, even from a macro perspective, those numbers should be some cause for concern and introspection as a country.Why is our ego, which is our ‘sense of self-esteem or self-importance’, so fragile that the gentlest ribbing from Donald Trump was sufficient to cause a great deal of Canadians to admit to ostensibly traitorous desires in the (hypothetical) take-over of our country.Is our identity and national pride so injured after 9 years of the Trudeau government that people can’t look past his tempestuous tenure and see the greatness our country and all its potential for the future? Or is it that many Canadians are waking up to the fact that our security and place in the world isn’t as comfortable as we once thought. Afterall, not even the most absent minded Canadian can ignore the ominous beating of the not-so-distant drums of war.With ever passing day, that beat has been increasing to an impending crescendo of unimaginable violence. And amidst the clamour, our moral certitude and petulant proselytizing offers nothing in the way of protection. Perhaps it’s in this regard, that some people would act as willing collaborators.It’s not necessarily out of ill will towards Canada, but a response to a state of vulnerability and desire to feel safe in an increasingly chaotic world. They’re simply seeking succour from our powerful neighbour to the south.But whatever the reason ultimately is, it’s a damning indictment of our government, and our own collective convictions as nation.So yes, we are suffering TDS, but it’s not Trump Derangement Syndrome as I alluded to earlier, it’s ‘Trans-Canada Defeatism Syndrome’ (TCDS.)The good news is that while TCDS is a serious condition, potentially fatal if left untreated, there is a cure. All it requires is an infusion of patriotism and leadership from Ottawa, but in order to get that prescription and start our treatment we need an election. Let's go.

THOMSON: It's not Trump Derangement Syndrome, Canadians just aren't very big on self esteem

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