Detroit Hangs Thank-You Banner for Windsor on Thanksgiving, Windsor Residents Unsure Whether to Respond or Apologise for Making It Awkward
Detroit marked Canadian Thanksgiving by putting up a banner thanking Windsor, which Windsor residents can see clearly across the river. Locals confirmed it is the first time in recent memory that Detroit has said anything to them that wasn't about casino traffic or the bridge.
The reaction in Windsor followed the standard national procedure for receiving a compliment. Step one: deny it. Step two: point out that the other party did most of the work. Step three: spend the rest of the long weekend wondering whether a thank-you card is now owed in return, and whether that card would need its own thank-you.
"It's lovely, honestly," said one Riverside Drive resident while studying the banner through binoculars he normally uses for watching freighters. "But they spelled everything correctly, so now I'm worried we have to put something up. Do you know what signage costs in this economy? There's a permit process."
City councillors were reportedly asked to form a subcommittee on reciprocal gratitude. The subcommittee will report back in the spring with three options: a matching banner, a strongly worded letter of appreciation, or doing nothing and hoping Detroit takes it as Canadian modesty.
Windsor residents also noted that the banner faces north, the only direction from which Detroit looks like a postcard. Detroiters, for their part, pointed out that Windsor's best view is also of Detroit.
After a full day of community debate, the most popular proposal was a banner reading "No, thank YOU," which locals agreed captures the Canadian spirit perfectly. It is technically a reply and an argument at the same time.