I’ve often wondered what it would be like to be an ambassador.

1. [n] a diplomat of the highest rank; accredited as representative from one country to another
2. [n] an informal representative; “an ambassador of good will”

Technically speaking all of us fall into the second definition, to our neighbour, the next province, whatever country we travel in. The first definition is a different ball game. I suspect some ambassadors live in a bubble and allow their staff to run the show.

Frank McKenna was appointed Canada’s ambassador to the US in January.
He’s been busy.
In April he sent a strong letter to Newt Gingrich, a former speaker of the House of Representatives who kept making erronous remarks about terrorists entering the US from Canada.

Now McKenna is speaking firmly to Canadians. And good for him.

– stop being smug and take the chip off your shoulders.

Americans are offended when Canadians attack them and endlessly moralize about what they should be doing differently, McKenna told The Canadian Press annual dinner last night.

“In short, (it’s) a self-righteousness that isn’t very flattering,” McKenna said.

“As Canadians, we intellectually acknowledge this reality, but we do not comprehend the full depth of the emotional scarring caused by that extraordinary event.

“It has changed America. Americans are consumed with the need to protect their physical security and economic security.”