The recent Winter Olympics brought out the true spirit of Canada in us all. Never has the nation seen such mass displays of patriotism as we came together to support our athletes. This is the true spirit of Canada, often hidden behind a blank facade, invisible to the world. As Canadians work silently to support the world, we remember that the greater good is also good for us. Canada's strong foreign aid policy is just one example of how we truly are a good neighbor. Since the days of the Colombo Plan, Canada has always provided foreign aid to developing countries. Spending billions of dollars each year (Canadian International Development Agency) through the Canadian International Development Agency, the country acts quickly when needed. For example, in early February, more than $200 million was provided to Haitian relief efforts through the Matching Donation Campaign and by direct donation to aid agencies (Canadian International Development Agency). Although a popular topic among armchair politicians, the "war in Afghanistan" actually saw Canada commit $111 million over three years to provide food, basic necessities and health services to the most vulnerable Afghans (Government of Canada). Canada has also worked on key infrastructure projects, such as water and education systems. By enabling these long-suffering people to grow and prosper, we build their economy and, in turn, they help build our economy. The globalized nature of today's society means that we cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand and live in our own little bubble. . For the global economy and trade to succeed and prosper, the entire world must succeed and prosper. By creating jobs and giving them the tools...... middle of paper ......employment in Afghanistan. March 1, 2010. Marx, Karl and Friedrich Engels. “The Communist Manifesto”. 1888. March 1, 2010. “The billionaires of the world.” May 3, 2008. Forbes.com. Ed. Luisa Kroll. March 1, 2010. United States Census Bureau. "Top Ten Countries With Which the United States Trades, for December 2009." December 2009. United States Census Bureau. March 1, 2010. US-China Business Council, Inc. “US-China Trade Statistics and China World Trade Statistics.” US-China Business Council. March 1 2010 .