This letter is associated with the following article:
Letters
Thursday, May 3, 2007 12:00 AM

Northern exposure

American soldiers are fleeing the Iraq war for Canada -- and U.S. officials may be on their trail. North of the border is no longer the safe haven it was during the Vietnam era.

Read other letters about this article

  • Wednesday, May 2, 2007 09:55 PM

    A little lack of history

    Canada (or at least Ontario) was effectively created by people fleeing the US. The United Empire Loyalists were driven out of the States after the American Revolution.

    Also, from Wikipedia:

    Pemberton Ridge, situated 3 miles north of Forest City on a hill overlooking East Grand Lake and Spednic Lake, in southwestern New Brunswick, Canada.

    In the early 1860s it was called "Skedaddle Ridge" because of settlers who fled there to avoid draft into the US Civil War. Some of the settlers include Leeman and MacKenney, of which descendants are still living there. In its heyday, Pemberton Ridge probably had a population of 15–20 families; around 75–100 people.

    Then the original Underground Railway.

    Canada has always been where Americans come to avoid repression.

Most Active Letters Threads

674

Obama's exceedingly familiar justifications for escalation

The "new" approach to Afghanistan touted by White House officials seems quite old
543

The crazy, irrational beliefs of Muslims

Tom Friedman explains the real problem: stupid Muslims think the U.S. is about war and aggression.
439

The face of rotted Washington

Evan Bayh demands more debt-financed war - fought by others - while boasting that he's a stern "deficit hawk."
212

Yes, it's Obama's war now

An uninspiring speech sells a dubious policy, but progressives who feel betrayed have only themselves to blame
209

Bigotry wins in Switzerland

By voting to ban the construction of minarets, Switzerland apes the most extreme intolerance in the Muslim world

View all »

Letters Help

Currently in Salon