Along with the many donations we received for the Canadian Charter Challenge Fund, people sent comments, notes and letters. The sender of the letter in this post specifically requested that it be posted on Brock. Since most of us consider Maple Sandbox our sister site, I will also post it there to make sure no one is missed as I am certain this is in keeping with the intention of the sender.
When I read this letter, it brought tears to my eyes because it reminds me exactly why we are doing all this. This blog, other blogs by Brockers, commenting on articles, submitting articles, endless letters and emails to MPs, organizing meetings, the protests, We Are Not a Myth, the Challenge Fund, Facebook pages and groups, Twitterers, etc. So much has grown and developed since Brock was started in December 2011. Its one thing to feel one must fight back; the government(s), the negativity of the Homelanders, the lawyers and accountants who gauge innocent folks. It is quite another to be in touch with those affected by this hideous assault. I personally, have no idea how many people read the blog and who might reflect the same feelings. One of the reasons I try to attend as many of the information meetings as I can, is to meet people directly, some of whom I have communicated with via email and feel I already know. What binds us together is the fact that we are experiencing a human tragedy; we are a community. Whatever type of contact we have gives a powerful motivation to keep moving forward, with direct action to fight this miserable situation. It can be rather depressing at times and feel hopeless, regardless of where each of us stands in this process or effort. I think I can speak for all of those who are upfront, we appreciate such letters more than you can ever know. It helps us to renew our energy to continue. And thank you so much, whoever you are, that sent this letter. You took the time to sit down and put these thoughts out so that we could read them.
*******
Dear Dr. Kish,
Enclosed please find our xxxxx donation for the Canadian Charter Challenge Fund. While we know …..(the rest of this paragraph must be redacted as it contains possibly identifying information).
On behalf of my family and those friends and colleagues that we have referred to The Isaac Brock Society website, I would like to say thank you to all of the “Brockers” who have braved exposure to help those of us without that courage. We have been faithful readers since our OMG moment back in 2009. As is the case with so many others, our first exposure to this nightmare came when we heard a story on CBC Radio. Our first reaction to the story was that there was no way this could be true. Panic set in and as for me, I spent weeks without sleep and lost more weight than I could afford to lose in such a short period of time. We are middle-aged, law-abiding people that were uninformed. We were typical Canadians, living a typical Canadian life not realizing that our birth place made us indentured servants to the US government for all the days of our lives.
Since our OMG moment/month (at least), we have frequented The Isaac Brock Society website, weekly if not daily. Like so many others out there in the shadows, those that contribute to this site have become family to us. We speak to each other about what Em or Blaze posted today or what Petros or Calgary411 had to say. You have all become household names, at least in this household. We know your stories and have followed each of your progress to enlightenment, whatever that end was for each of you. We have watched every linked video and have praised each of you that sat in front of a camera to be interviewed. We have become educated, in great part because of all of you. While I can’t say that with each new development (eg. Canada’s IGA signing, etc.) I don’t feel some new wave of fear and anxiety; I do know that we have become stronger in our conviction to refuse to surrender our futures to a “bad law”. We have also come to understand that both of us have completed an act of relinquishment, though we have not pursued a CLN to support it. To do so is a risk we are not sure we are ready to take. Statistically, I know that we are not only the norm, but the majority – eager to move beyond all of this mess, but not knowing how or being brave enough to do anything to risk exposure – deer in the headlights.
So, on behalf of those of us who sit in the shadows and look to the brave “Brockers” and others to carry the torch for us and to work towards change, I thank you but also, I apologize. If only we were all able to stand together to fight can you only imagine what power and strength we would have if a million plus “US persons” in Canada and 6 million plus worldwide stood together as one voice against citizenship based taxation. Your letters and emails being sent out to educate our MPs and those who may be able to make a difference represent the position of so many of us who sit in fear of repercussion.
Therefore, please accept this donation as our support for your efforts. We will be proud to contribute for any and all future steps as well. As everyone is saying, just post the need for more to get this legal opinion paid for and we will answer the call.
Finally, please pass the sentiments conveyed in this letter to all “Brockers” as you see fit. Though it would require effort to re-type, we would be thrilled to have this letter posted to The Isaac Brock Society website to express the depth of the feelings of those of us that remain in the shadows and in your debt.
“When the people fear the government there is tyranny, when the government fear the people there is liberty.” Thomas Jefferson
Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts.
Oh my … me too Tricia … sniffle. It is so good to know that there are people out there who are mostly silently watching from the shadows but in their own way providing the wind to the wings of our Brock angels — too many to name. (You are one, Tricia.) Thank you anonymous letter writer and generous donator. You made this day a good one for Brockers and Sand Boxers.
For us here, we are not giving up on this fight. This fight, has caused so much damage already in my family, the emotional scars may never heal. When all people are asking for is a “reasonable” approach to their human rights, We want to see those rights protected. Our first “OMG” moment was when a friend of mine who knew my wife was born in the USA told us about it. Two days later, I called Jim Flaherty’s office and the call was cut short. My wife heard who I was talking to from the other room and ran in and ripped the wire out of the wall. The terrified look in her eye was enough for me. Since then, the fight was on. I have never needed an MP for much in the past. I cannot believe the way they are not answering questions and hiding their intentions. This is disgraceful. Canada was not built on those principles. My Canada reflects the protection and rights of it’s people NO MATTER WHERE THEY CAME FROM. This has now turned into the most important things I have ever fought for in my life. when my daughter is old enough, I’ll show her how it started and how it ended. To the author of the letter, I just want to say that we are here 24/7 and will continue until your rights are protected. Thanks for thinking of us. Mike.
Thank you Em!
What a wonderful letter you have posted, Tricia.
Thank you so much for your heartfelt support, dear writers / donors. It means so much to me and the very many who contribute here, each as they can in their own way. To know there are others behind the scenes supporting our efforts is important as there is always an ebb and flow: we get weary and then regain our strength to carry on. You’ve just given us a whole lot of strength!
You and others so afraid to come forward in this fight are the reason we are here most days — as that in itself is a big part of this whole FATCA, enabled by US citizenship-based taxation, story. Although you don’t think so, you are very much in this fight with us. One day we’ll hope to meet you here at Brock or Sandbox. Until then, we appreciate your silent presence and letting us know you are there.
My sincere thanks once again!
America’s reply to a French attempt to extort tribute in return for free trade in shipping:
“Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute.”
It still seems to mean something in Canada.
Thank you sender of this beautiful letter. I know of others who are afraid to come forward. I thank you for supporting the charter challenge. We are all on the Brock bus. I am thankful you are on it too. Together we will help each other fight this bad law.
Thank you so much to the person who wrote this letter. For me you are the reason to speak out. I got to a point where sitting in silence was more onerous than saying something. Enough damage has been done and we know so many are too afraid to speak up.
I think in the future, especially with July closing in on us that more people will lose their fear and make a stand and if they cannot then supporting the Charter Challenge is the best way to try and have some voice in this!
This is such a beautiful and heart felt letter. We’ve been there, we are where you are now. Out spoken or silent we’re in this together and we can do things to fight back against such an injustice.
To show we are not a myth, wouldn’t it be fabulous if a million ‘US Person’ march could be organised in Washington, DC. Yes it’s putting the cart before the horse at the moment, but if ex-pats could afford to bring the show directly to Washington and show its anger at the front door of Congress and the IRS headquaters that would be quite of an event indeed!
The Myth becomes Reality.
When my wife wonders why I keep reading, or posting comments, or tweeting my response is, “You never know who you might be helping”. There is something about the unknown impacts that accrue from the effort, give you motivation to continue, especially when you read a letter like this.. Thanks for sharing it, and letting the many Brockers who regularly blog here know, their efforts are a BIG benefit to many unknown readers.
wow who would have thought that a sleep small town newspaper could have garnered such a storm over one letter to the editor.
http://www.squamishchief.com/article/20140320/SQUAMISH0303/303209976/-1/squamish0303/the-fatca-of-the-matter
this is one of the few times since the chief went online have i ever seen 29 comments for anything they have put up on the internet.
Sorry, but why do I suddenly feel like cannon fodder?
In the future, it would be really helpful for us who are not in Canada/not Canadians, if there was a way to make donations/contributions to the legal fund using a non Candian credit card or perhaps PayPal. The Canadian fight against FATCA is key as we know. Most of the countries we/US Persons are living in are just rolling over to the Empire’s demands.
@Steve Klaus,
@GwEvil set up the fund website in a way that donations could be provided by PayPal and this will also likely be case when, as we assume, we begin seeking donations for the expensive Step 2 of the Canadian Charter Challenge. Monies came in by cash, personal cheque, bank draft, postal money order, wire transfer, PayPal, and internet transfer. It was not easy for me, like Tricia, to read those letters, stories, and wishes that accompanied the donations.
The Canadian fight is just one fight against FATCA. I have asked elsewhere on this site that legal FATCA IGA challenges in other countries that are as you say “rolling over to the Empire” be seriously considered. Over the past week I have spoken to a few in other countries about the practical logistics of taking that first step, and I find enthusiastic people just like us.
–This might all fail, but my hope is that you will be donating to the legal fund of your own country to kill this FATCA.
I don’t know if this would be a use, especially IDing people, but selfies have raise £2M for a charity. It would be interesting if some variant campaign could be used for IBS?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26683817
It is so good to know that one is not alone.
@Steve Klaus,
In addition to IRSCF’s comment, we are not set up to accept any credit cards, Canadian or otherwise.
@mettleman & bubblebustin
I can’t see any comments nor where I can sign in with Disqus, etc.
Tricia/Noble…..I did have the same problem. My anti-virus was blocking “social networks.” I just checked the box to permit them, and off you go! When blocked, you see nothing. Good Luck!
PS, I’m using Avast Free.
@bubblebustin
Cannon fodder…hell no, I think we are on a roll here. I just love it when yahoos like Mr. Hunter show up. It gets my blood boiling again, folks like him are a stage to play on to get the word out little by little. It is the only fun I have in this freaking mess I find myself in. There is absolutely no way to change anyone’s mind when they are this entrenched in their beliefs but what about all the other folks that might read these comments. If we can inform them one at a time….ah, a good days work. I just love it when the really smart Brockers go after someone…better than TV. (Might that US taint we find ourselves tarnished with have some remnants of the Boston Tea Party’s folks DNA lurking about? Don’t count on us to just roll over in dismay, maybe we haven’t assimilated enough yet to be the assumed “polite Canadians” they are counting on.)
Thank you sharing such a heartfelt letter. It reflects the same emotional roller coaster that we have been on since my OMG moment a year ago, but having the unconditional support and trust from so many dedicated brocksters is what is keeping us going. I look forward to all new posts and find comfort in knowing that there is a strong, vibrant, caring community out there. Like others, I left the US during the height of the vietnam war. My first protest March was with my folks to hear Martin Luther King, then countless other protests against the war. I think the idea of a million person March needs to happen, but I suggest we start on Parliament Hill initially, then move onto Washington. I feel a raging granny moment swelling in my chest.
@TangoGirl
I will do Parliament Hill. Not DC because I have no intention to ever set foot in the USA again.
Attention Brockers….
Just a reminder of that report to Congress from a few years ago which specifically states that a CLN is NOT REQUIRED for a relinquishment.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-CPRT-JCS-2-03/pdf/GPO-CPRT-JCS-2-03-7-2.pdf
That document may be useful in a Post FATCA world for those that decide not to get a CLN.
Also could someone send the link to the attorney working on the Charter challenge? It may be useful in showing how one arm of the US government does not know what the other is doing. Basically, it helps show a large credibility gap that could be useful in a Canadian Court.
@Tricia/nobledreamer,
Thank you so much for sharing that letter. And for all your work and the work of those who set up and are administering this effort.
And to the writer, thank you so much for allowing it to be posted. It reflects many of my own heartfelt sentiments about IBS and those who made/make it possible. Just as the letter author said; “….We speak to each other about what Em or Blaze posted today or what Petros or Calgary411 had to say. You have all become household names, at least in this household….”. At a time when there was no-one I knew who was either interested, or who though affected understood the scope and complexity of this issue I looked for the icons of those who became familiar over time. Even in the middle of a sleepless night, the icons and contributions were there. IBS provided support, crucial information and discussion – a space and meeting place that was available nowhere else.
It seems astonishing that this amount of effort continues to be necessary in order for justice and ethics to prevail, or that the Harper government chose to side with a foreign government instead of the Canadian citizens and Permanent residents inside Canada that it is sworn to serve and protect.
I am very grateful to all those remarkable individuals who have come together – and who continue to toil in order to make where we are today possible – on behalf of many that they will never know or meet. That includes those participating and sharing from outside Canada as well. I’ve learned a lot by hearing how this has affected those in a range of situations and countries.
@charl
As great as it is that people are willing to donate their money and thank people for their efforts, there’s no substitute for the gains made through personal risk. I would not leave my liberty in the hands so others, and as a result have paid a great personal price in doing so, and may eventually pay an even greater price as I have been very outspoken against the current situation with both the Canadian and US governments.
One individual left silent will always leave us one individual short of the number of voices we need to win this battle.
@bubblebustin
I hear ya. I worry a LOT about my big mouth and some of the horrid things I have written/commented and moaned about to everyone in the universe from Mr O. and Mr H. and on down the food chain. Raging grannies are not pretty. Worst of all orange is NOT my colour. But in the words of good old Janice J…..Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose. We have already lost our freedom, are living in a nightmare and what the Hell…might as well go for broke. (Literally and figuratively). I still can’t get out of my OMG moment, it is stuck in replay.
(Sorry I missed the point on my last note to you..I can be a bit thick).