Amid election woes, Canadians are telling America it's great
An online Canadian campaign is trying to make Americans feel a bit better about the current state of political affairs by reminding them why we like their country in the first place.
The hashtag #TellAmericaItsGreat, created by Toronto ad agency The Garden, is being used on Twitter to remind our American neighbours about their best qualities as they go through an election season that is more rancorous and divisive by the day.
“As their closest friends and neighbours, we thought it was important for us to do something to cut through the negativity and help remind them that no matter how bad things might seem, there are a lot of reasons to believe that America is still pretty great,” the agency writes in a blog post announcing the hashtag.
The informal campaign seems to have struck a chord with people on both sides of the world’s longest international border, leading the hashtag to trend on Twitter on Monday.
Canadians, including politicians, used the hashtag to share their thoughts on the best attributes of their southern neighbours.
Canadians have a lot to learn & much to admire about US creativity & innovation. #TellAmericaItsGreat
— Stephanie Carvin (@StephanieCarvin) October 15, 2016
#TellAmericaItsGreat I’ve travelled the US. Amazing people, ambitious dreamers, fearless innovators, beautiful land. Be good. Go high. https://t.co/JAe2Y4sXyp
— Chad Sakac (@sakacc)
Amazing US leadership on climate action. #ParisAgreement 2 #HFCphasedown. Proud to be working together! Just wanted to #TellAmericaItsGreat. pic.twitter.com/RPwrAnloa2
— Catherine McKenna (@cathmckenna)
Some Americans shared their appreciation for the cheering Canadian effort.
Canada is that best friend who comes over on the worst day of your life to remind you why life’s still worth living. #TellAmericaItsGreat pic.twitter.com/cM75rppYRB
— April Del Rario (@AprilDelRario)
You Canadians are just so freaking NICE. :) Thank you! It’s been a little rough down here. #TellAmericaItsGreat
— Paul Zelizer (@PaulZelizer)
#TellAmericaItsGreat Thanks, #Canada, we needed that! 💘 We’ve got 99 problems for sure, but you’re not one of them. 🇺🇸 🇨🇦
— Darci Monet 🎶 🎭 (@DarciMonet)
And a few people worked a bit of humour into their compliments.
I’m a Brit not Canadian, but you lot are the best cousins we could ask for.
Awful bacon, but great films and teeth.#TellAmericaItsGreat— Marquis de Lard (@MarquisDeLard)
And it didn’t escape notice that the hashtag itself might actually be an example of what is great–or at least stereotypical–about this country.
Canada Just Wants To #TellAmericaItsGreat https://t.co/hXUAds0JZZ This might be the most Canadian thing I have ever seen.
— Liam Stack (@liamstack)