Explaining Canadians to America

[dizzy]

No...it was more remarkable how we painted big-ass "United States" and "USA" logos all over the goddamn thing just to rub it in. Then we planted a flag in the dust just like some asshole from Europe would do in the New World. Then we pooped in a crater shaped like Ontario!

All this "we" talk. BC, I had no idea you were involved in the space program. I thought you were navy...

[jefferiah]

The U.S. is really a diverse nation, and the northern U.S. is, as a whole, more liberal than the conservative, more religious South. I would go so far as to say the North is actually more like Canada than like the South; there are more similarities politically. My family has always lived in liberal states, so where one lives in the U.S. makes a difference. I'm sure it's the same in Canada.

Yeah, I suppose it exists. I am a conservative Canadian who agrees with a conservative Americans on many issues, not all. But I would still prefer to be Canadian. And I think most American liberals I know would still rather be American when you get down to it. Home is home, right.

It's funny though. I find some of those comparisons are limited. It's true that perhaps politically Northern Americans are more like Canada. I live in the Maritimes, which are quite Liberal politically. Yet in some ways I think people here and our attitudes gel well with Southerners.

Edited February 28, 2010 by jefferiah

[bush_cheney2004]

All this "we" talk. BC, I had no idea you were involved in the space program. I thought you were navy...

See "boost phase" for Polaris, Poseidon, and Trident Fleet Ballistic Missiles (SLBM).

Much later I worked on subsystems for the Space Shuttle and first Mars rover..."we" still called it the "space program".

...and as for a direct "navy" role in Apollo 11:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lF2F_QW6VM&feature=related

[dizzy]

See "boost phase" for Polaris, Poseidon, and Trident Fleet Ballistic Missiles (SLBM).

Much later I worked on subsystems for the Space Shuttle and first Mars rover..."we" still called it the "space program".

...and as for a direct "navy" role in Apollo 11:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lF2F_QW6VM&feature=related

Wow, BC, Bravo Zulu! And here I thought that your warrior ability was limited just to keyboarding.

[Guest American Woman]

Yeah, I suppose it exists. I am a conservative Canadian who agrees with a conservative Americans on many issues, not all. But I would still prefer to be Canadian. And I think most American liberals I know would still rather be American when you get down to it. Home is home, right.

That's true, home is home. I can't think of any other country I'd want to live in outside the U.S. other than Canada, though.

It's funny though. I find some of those comparisons are limited. It's true that perhaps politically Northern Americans are more like Canada. I live in the Maritimes, which are quite Liberal politically. Yet in some ways I think people here and our attitudes gel well with Southerners.

I find it really interesting that you think people and attitudes where you live gel well with Southerners; I never would have guessed that. Could you elaborate on that a bit? If the Maritimes are quite liberal, how do you identify with the southern U.S.?

[Oleg Bach]

All this "we" talk. BC, I had no idea you were involved in the space program. I thought you were navy...

BC - seems self and formally educated in a lot of fields.

[Michael Hardner]

I find it really interesting that you think people and attitudes where you live gel well with Southerners; I never would have guessed that. Could you elaborate on that a bit? If the Maritimes are quite liberal, how do you identify with the southern U.S.?

There's more to a human personality than politics. In fact, politics are hardly ever mentioned in many friendships. My parents retired in Florida and their social group is exclusively folks from the Northern States - no politics. Similarly, my US friends (mostly Californians) and I don't discuss politics. I don't know what they are, but we get along great - same sense of humour, same neuroses. They own guns, though... I know that.

[Oleg Bach]

There's more to a human personality than politics. In fact, politics are hardly ever mentioned in many friendships. My parents retired in Florida and their social group is exclusively folks from the Northern States - no politics. Similarly, my US friends (mostly Californians) and I don't discuss politics. I don't know what they are, but we get along great - same sense of humour, same neuroses. They own guns, though... I know that.

Politics is a hobby for bored rich people and those of low self esteem.

[Bonam]

Correct...it was much more than just impressive...it was an in-your-face-we-can-do-it-and-you-can't kind of impressive. So much so, that Canadian engineers packed up their slide rules and left your half-assed, underfunded programs (e.g. Avro Arrow) for the US of A. And they are still doing it.

Yup, we indeed are still doing it. There are definitely way more opportunities here in the US than in Canada when it comes to aerospace, hence why I moved. Especially in my field of plasma propulsion, there is basically no activity at all in Canada whereas in the US there are many companies and laboratories doing R&D.

[bloodyminded]

That's true, home is home. I can't think of any other country I'd want to live in outside the U.S. other than Canada, though.

I find it really interesting that you think people and attitudes where you live gel well with Southerners; I never would have guessed that. Could you elaborate on that a bit? If the Maritimes are quite liberal, how do you identify with the southern U.S.?

I have heard this as well about us Maritimers. I don't know if it's true, but I too have heard this pointed out.

Anyway, to say that the Maritimes are quite liberal is actually a pretty complicated question. For example, New Brunswick was the last province to accept same sex marriage; and we also have by far the poorest access to abortions. And I believe the last execution took place here too, though perhaps that proves approximately nothing.

But in some ways it seems we are very liberal, too. I dunno.

[Guest American Woman]

I have heard this as well about us Maritimers. I don't know if it's true, but I too have heard this pointed out.

You've heard that you're similar politically to the South?

Anyway, to say that the Maritimes are quite liberal is actually a pretty complicated question. For example, New Brunswick was the last province to accept same sex marriage; and we also have by far the poorest access to abortions. And I believe the last execution took place here too, though perhaps that proves approximately nothing.

But in some ways it seems we are very liberal, too. I dunno.

So in what ways are you liberal? From what you're saying, you do sound similar to the South.

[bloodyminded]

You've heard that you're similar politically to the South?

So in what ways are you liberal? From what you're saying, you do sound similar to the South.

You know, I'm honestly finding your question difficult to answer. (Which means it's a good question.)

I'll think on it.

By the way, which is your home state?

[PIK]

I know that many Americans get ticked off when they hear (usually for the first time) that Canadians can be anti-US.

And who can blame them ? I do love this land, and the people but our history is dull, for the most part, when compared with that of our neighbour. The saddest thing is when I hear Canadians say that the key difference between our country and the US is healthcare. An insurance plan.

I do see the usefulness of having nations, but identifying yourself with your nation is an increasingly stupid position, in my opinion. I'm currently reading "Jackson's Way". The Americans of the mid-1700s are unrecognizable today, as are the Canadians of that era. We are left only with the philosophy that they fought for.

This is the perfect example of the great education system in canada,''Our history is dull'' Our history is far from dull, we just were not allowed to learn it in school and kids today are still not being taught our history, time for some to pick up a book and find out what really went on.

[Smallc]

Where did you go to school? There's lots of Canadian History in many provinces now. Only two don't have it as compulsory.

[Guest American Woman]

You know, I'm honestly finding your question difficult to answer. (Which means it's a good question.)

I'll think on it.

By the way, which is your home state?

Michigan.

[Michael Hardner]

This is the perfect example of the great education system in canada,''Our history is dull'' Our history is far from dull, we just were not allowed to learn it in school and kids today are still not being taught our history, time for some to pick up a book and find out what really went on.

Give me some examples, then. I'm going to be looking for something to read on when I'm done the Jackson book.