Borderlands: Canada & U.S. Fear

"Homeland Security is a monster that will never die." ~ Derek Lundy

One of the more interesting discoveries I've encountered on my return to Canada (apart from tar sands and the disturbing ubiquity of 80s radio), has been the fact that a significant percent of Americans still believe the 9/11 hijackers entered the U.S. through Canada. It's a complete lie, but it's gained credence within FOX Nation. The truth is just too much to bear, so when in doubt...Blame Canada!



Derek Lundy's recent book, Borderlands: Riding the Edge of America, is a wake-up call. He warns Canadians that change is coming and if we don't take action to define the debate on our terms we'll be subjected to the same militarization seen on the U.S./Mexico border. Lundy is a Canadian who was born in Northern Ireland so he knows a bit about what he's talking about. Terrorism tends to promote the same ugly fears and obsessions with security wherever it surfaces. For this book, Lundy drove a Kawasaki KLR 650 along the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada to investigate what's been happening in the decade since 9/11.

Lundy confirms that 9/11 changed everything for the U.S. Before, economics trumped security, now it's the other way around and everyone is a suspect. The billions poured into Homeland Security has materialized along both borders as huge slabs of cement walls and Predator drones. Lundy suggests the U.S. is now committed to this reality and if Canada doesn't do something to match it we'll be doomed to bleak days ahead.