海角大神

The news from Caracas runs from violent street protests to this week鈥檚 still-mysterious grenade attack, by helicopter, on parliament. Now, Mexico鈥檚 internal politics are motivating that country to help where others have failed. Does it matter if the motivation isn鈥檛 entirely altruistic?

Some may debate whether the term 鈥渁ctivist鈥� applies to Justice Neil Gorsuch, who handled a question about political bias during his confirmation by saying: 鈥淲e just have judges.鈥� But there鈥檚 no denying that he has been active. Will his energy translate to sway?

On the occasion of Canada鈥檚 150th, Dylan Robertson digs below the widely covered Trudeau effect to look at how a nation long known as a quiet consensus-builder is becoming a much bolder world player 鈥� by doubling down on its long-held values.聽

The scourge of opioid abuse 鈥� made worse by fentanyl 鈥� becomes more than just a talking point about federal funding when you look unflinchingly into an epicenter. Simon Montlake reports from Manchester, N.H.

This piece by Jessica Mendoza explores intentions and effects: California banned its employees from doing business in states it sees as infringing on LGBT rights. Will that bring progress on rights 鈥� or is it well-meaning symbolism that poses practical problems?

One can鈥檛 imagine Canadians getting too worked up about the 150th anniversary of their nation鈥檚 founding. That occurred July 1, 1867, when three provinces merged to form a 鈥渃onfederation,鈥� the basis of modern Canada.

On the Fourth of July Americans might be moved to dance to 鈥淭he Stars and Stripes Forever鈥� as fireworks erupt overhead. On Canada Day on July 1 Canadians might just lean back on the chesterfield (that鈥檚 the sofa to Americans) and nod in agreement 鈥減retty good, eh?鈥�

Actually America鈥檚 northern neighbor is spending roughly a half-billion dollars (Canadian) this year on special events from coast to coast to mark the 150th. Its famed national parks are free to visitors. Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are making a royal visit, a reminder of the close ties that remain with Britain.

While the American Colonies tore themselves from British control in the late 18th century, a violent and sudden separation, Canada quietly eased away in stages over many decades. Complete independence only came in 1982 with the passage of its Constitution Act.

Today Canada鈥檚 story is a multiethnic one; it鈥檚 a country that prides itself as a home to immigrants from around the world. Europe and the United States wrangle over setting limits on immigration. In Canada, taking in immigrants is widely seen as a good thing.

The country鈥檚 young, charismatic prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has called Canada 鈥渢he first post-national state鈥� 鈥� tied together not by a common ethnicity or race but by 鈥渟hared values 鈥� openness, respect, compassion, willingness to work to be there for each other, to search for equality and justice.鈥�

Not that the 150th celebrations have been without controversy. Canada鈥檚 indigenous peoples, the First Nation and Inuit, don鈥檛 see much to celebrate. They view the country鈥檚 history as much older 鈥� long before 1867 or the arrival of European settlers. They hope the anniversary will include a revised history lesson, one that reveals the abuses suffered by indigenous peoples at the hands of the Europeans.

鈥淎sking me to celebrate Canada as being 150 years old is asking me to deny 14,000 years of indigenous history on this continent,鈥� Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, an Inuit filmmaker, is quoted as saying in Britain鈥檚 The Guardian.

As much as Canadians are teased about being polite or saying 鈥渆h?鈥� they don鈥檛 seem to agree on what defines them. Asked in a recent poll for a word to describe their country, the most popular answer was 鈥渇reedom鈥� or 鈥渓iberty.鈥� In part it could reflect the views of immigrants on what their new home offers them compared with what they left behind. (A third of Canadians even said they can鈥檛 stand ice hockey, the country鈥檚 national sport.)

Some Americans may see their neighbors as pretty much like them 鈥� except without as many guns and with government-provided health care. But Canadians are much more: They鈥檙e known for sending peacekeeping forces abroad, for being good stewards of a land of vast natural beauty, and for being a good friend and ally to the US.

Whatever flaws they鈥檙e still ironing out, Canadians still have plenty to celebrate this year.