North American Breakfast

The other morning, as My Beloved and I were lazing in bed and Cora had not yet begun lobbying to go out, we hatched the idea of having breakfast burritos. Now, I'm not much of a breakfast person, whereas My Beloved has to eat more or less immediately upon arising. But, he likes the way I cook, so sometimes he's willing to have a yogurt while he waits for my stomach to catch up with his. Such was the case this week.

When I got rolling, I decided to honor my country as well as our excellent North American neighbors at breakfast.  What could be more "American" than ham and eggs?  Except that the ham was Canadian bacon, regular bacon's healthier, leaner cousin. And I was serving it on a whole wheat tortilla laced with "Mexican" cheese, cilantro, and hot sauce. Roll that up and you've got an international feast.

Seriously, we owe so much to our neighbors - and not just culinarily. Oh, we hear about how Canada wants to send us their filthy tar sands oil and how Mexico wants to encourage our drug addiction, but most of the things about our neighbors are positive and should be celebrated. And, let's face it, they are only feeding us the stuff we want and are willing to pay high prices for. Sadly, that, too, is the American way.

Canada has always been a staunch ally, and has sent us such talents as Rich Little, Anne Murray, The Stampeders, Paul Anka, Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic and, of course, Chris Hadfield, to name just a very few. They are also showing us that socialized medicine can work, and that it's a good thing to be polite and law-abiding. According to GunPolicy.org, in 2009 there were 173 Canadian deaths by gun violence. In the same year in the US, 11,493 people were killed by guns.  We could take a few lessons from our gentler neighbors to the north.

Mexico has some of the most glamorous getaway places on earth and a rich art and food culture that we benefit from. Think Frida Kahlo and enchiladas.  Think Diego Rivera and tortilla soup. And, if we imagine that we can harvest our crops or run our restaurants without our "guest workers" from the south, we should think again.  And so very much more! It's time our worthless Congress got busy and figured out a way to welcome them, and never, ever to separate a family again.

Sheesh, pretty heavy stuff for breakfast!  International politics is enough to spoil one's appetite.  So, instead, let's thank our neighbors for their many contributions to our own culture. We are blessed by their diversity.