This is in reply to the "Canadian journalist's" tribute highlighted by Brad
and Ginny.

When I was growing up in Canada, I had heard that a well-known radio
journalist, Gordon Sinclair, now deceased, had done such a tribute.  In
fact, he was somewhat famous for it.  He had great bluster, so this is in
his character.  That is the way he talked.

I did not ever hear or read it, but I wonder whether this tribute is not
his from that day.  I note that the journalist is not identified and the
piece is not dated.  Obviously, if it is "already" published in the
Congressional Record, it does not relate to Tuesday's events.

His reference to only America building airplanes seems to pre-date the
Airbus and other embedded references suggest the '60s to me.  My guess is
that it is Gordon Sinclair's tribute from the 60s.  Now I am intrigued to
know what event it was that triggered it.  The Vietnam War?  The
anti-government/anti-establishment movement?  If I was too young to even
hear it then, I was probably too young to identify with the cause that
inspired it.  (And I don't get to claim being "too young" about much
anymore).

I recall the Canadian pride I felt when, while in law school in Toronto
(1980?), we heard of Kenneth Taylor rescuing and harbouring those American
embassy personnel in Iran.  We are sharing your grief.

I am not in Canada at the moment but the e-mails I've received from there
tell me that this whole thing is as shocking and injurious to Canadians as
it is to Americans.  Flags in Canada are at half mast, schools and
businesses were closed and in Alberta, the legislature declared one minute
of silence out of respect.  The same can probably be said for sentiments in
most of the western world.

I am naturally saddened that much of this goodwill may be lost as details
trickle out that one or more of the persons responsible may have entered
the country from the Canadian side of the border.  That would be a shame to
our relationship and may cause the cherished border to tighten up
considerably.  The only good that could come of this, would be that the
Canadian government becomes itself far more vigilant.

Finally, and perhaps ironically, I am working this year as the Judicial
Fellow at the US Supreme Court.  I was observing the annual Judicial
Conference when our building was evacuated.  When we heard that the
Pentagon was struck, we were in obvious disbelief that it could hit so
close.  We beat it out of the building and the spectre of all the top
federal judges in the country stranded on Maryland Ave. gave new,
unintended meaning to "security".

If any of you are coming to DC this year and want a special behind the
scenes tour of the Supreme Court, and a seat to oral argument, let me know
and I'll  see that you are taken care of.  The tour part I can do, but some
notice for oral argument helps me negotiate with the Marshal.

Peter Bowal
University of Calgary