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Now it might be objected that those ancestors, like other immigrants to Canada, may claim at least some credit for the wit and energy that brought them here. And so they may. But there is also an element of good fortune in having those talents, and living long enough to use them. And a far greater element of good fortune in there being a Canada for them to come to.

Years ago sharp-tongued Texas Democrat Ann Richards said George Bush Sr. was born on third base and thought he’d hit a triple. Well, I was born in Toronto and raised in part on Georgian Bay and am increasingly aware that it was a lot like being born six feet from home plate (on the third base line, obviously). And I’m not alone here.

I’m not saying I have no problems or you don’t. I’m just saying we sure have a lot going for us that we can’t really claim credit for. And if we could remember this point it might raise the intellectual and moral tone of our public debate.

The volume level is fine. Complain loudly and proudly about things that are wrong, and argue about what’s wrong and how to fix it, because another extraordinary blessing of Canadian life is freedom from fear in public debate, of mob violence or the secret police bringing an ominous literalness to the expression “in the dead of night.”

Indeed, the more we do understand how lucky we are in our history, environment, culture and strategic situation, the more indignant we should be at ideas and habits we think endanger them. Imagine inheriting this vast good fortune and squandering it.