Setting record straight: Not all snowbirds think alike

Canadians appreciate wintering here

Re Frank Yator letter Jan. 6 on snowbirds:

I first want to thank Mr. Yator for pointing out that Canadian snowbirds like myself are entitled complainers. I always falsely believed that most of the Canadians who visit the Grand Strand are exactly the opposite. All of the people that I see each winter being loud, acting rude and obnoxious, and who don't obey or respect traffic laws are just Canadians who talk funny.

I happen to disagree with both Mr. Yator and Mr. Sutherland, a Canadian who decided to move back home. Both of you are entitled to your opinions no matter how wrong you both are. As someone who has benefited personally from Canada's health care system, I'll be the first to admit that our system is far from perfect. That said, it is accessible to all citizens. We pay substantially higher taxes for our health system but at least our system is not designed largely to service the rich and privileged.

As a long-time visitor to the Grand Strand, I have drawn some conclusions about your election processes, foreign policies, mass media, gun ownership and civility but I will keep those opinions to myself. All Canadians that I know appreciate the privilege of coming here and being able to enjoy your pleasant climate and great tourist services. We willingly pay for that privilege each winter.

Now that I know that Canadian visitors are viewed as entitled complainers, I will give serious thought to spending my tourist dollars elsewhere. I can always go to places where my spending is appreciated.

This story was originally published January 9, 2016 at 7:45 PM with the headline "Setting record straight: Not all snowbirds think alike."