I am not American...

[August1991]

This anti-Americanism in Canada has to stop. It is small, cette petitesse. It is counter-productive and wrong-headed.

The American ideal is freedom for the individual to do, say or or even attempt to achieve what is possible in this life. How can one argue with that? The remarkable thing is that in 1776, when Americans declared this, it was considered revolutionary. In too many places in the world today, it is still considered revolutionary.

Much is made of this war Bush apparently started. Countries founded on ideals such as America don't start wars. Who started the Cold War? Who started the Vietnam War? Who started this Iraq war? America is not an Empire, it is not an Imperial Regime. It is not the New Rome. Bush is not going to colonise Iraq. Ordinary Americans want to come home and live in peace, just like what other ordinary people elsewhere want. Governments colonise, ordinary people don't.

Live in peace? I think some Canadians should have a better appreciation of what this entails. Let me be direct: Ordinary American families are standing up to tyranny on our behalf. (To be true, ordinary Canadian families once did the same for Americans.)

Canada is a remarkable, fascinating country. Its nature is literary - perhaps the best novels written by Dickens (Tale of Two Cities) and Dumas (Comte de Monte Cristo) are essentially Canadian. Canada has the second largest French-speaking city in the world, and one of the few cities in the world (Jerusalem?) that is genuinely bicultural. How many countries englobe unilingual people who live complete and sophisticated lives in two different languages?

I think Canada has survived and managed this cosmopolitan existence because we sit aside a democracy such as America - a country where ordinary people have 'power'.

Sadly, we have just gone through a federal election in which political schemers used crude anti-American TV ads because they thought the ads would get votes. Apparently, the ads may have worked on the anglophones in Canada's largest cities - hardly reflecting well on them. Elsewhere in Canada I hope, people have a larger sense of generosity, and neighbourhood.

Americans have no desire to take us over. Instead, let us get on with our own life and appreciate the wonderful neighbours to our south. Wonderful? American ideals are not a wonder, they are obvious. Let's support them, and remind Americans of them.

[Yaro]

This anti-Americanism in Canada has to stop. It is small, cette petitesse. It is counter-productive and wrong-headed.

There opinion is no more or less valid then yours, it is not counter productive if there goal is not to have a cooperative relationship with the US.

The American ideal is freedom for the individual to do, say or or even attempt to achieve what is possible in this life. How can one argue with that? The remarkable thing is that in 1776, when Americans declared this, it was considered revolutionary. In too many places in the world today, it is still considered revolutionary.

The US has one of the lowest social motilities in the world, they have the most extensive domestic surveillance program that has ever existed and the US hardly has a history or promoting democracy.

Much is made of this war Bush apparently started. Countries founded on ideals such as America don't start wars. Who started the Cold War? Who started the Vietnam War? Who started this Iraq war? America is not an Empire, it is not an Imperial Regime. It is not the New Rome. Bush is not going to colonise Iraq. Ordinary Americans want to come home and live in peace, just like what other ordinary people elsewhere want. Governments colonise, ordinary people don't.

The US started the Cold War, the US started the Vietnam War, and The US started the Iraq War. The US is as described in there own words in the bush doctrine the New Rome. They have as a major central ideal that they should remain the preeminent military and economic power in the world and they should undermine and if necessary destroy the ability of anyone to challenge them on either front. The US is currently building 14 military bases in Iraq and they established the rules under which Iraq can setup its government that is colonization in every meaningful way. What Americans what at this point is irrelevant, although I suspect that at least half of the informed American population supports this agenda.

Live in peace? I think some Canadians should have a better appreciation of what this entails. Let me be direct: Ordinary American families are standing up to tyranny on our behalf. (To be true, ordinary Canadian families once did the same for Americans.)

Exactly what Tyranny is that again? The US has a long history of military intervention but they have NEVER in there entire history even once installed a democratic government.

I think Canada has survived and managed this cosmopolitan existence because we sit aside a democracy such as America - a country where ordinary people have 'power'.

Your delusion about the state of democracy in Canada is most evident when you suggest that the US is "more democratic". The US has not been this anti democratic in almost 100 years. If any "democratic" population on the planet feels as disenfranchised as a group I would be surprised.

Sadly, we have just gone through a federal election in which political schemers used crude anti-American TV ads because they thought the ads would get votes. Apparently, the ads may have worked on the anglophones in Canada's largest cities - hardly reflecting well on them. Elsewhere in Canada I hope, people have a larger sense of generosity, and neighbourhood.

Once again I would ask you to point out a single thing the US has ever done for Canada, because the list of transgressions against us is a long one. The US is a country like any other, they are not our friends and we should not treat them as our friends, we should use what leverage we have to do what is in our best interest just as they have always done and will continue to do.

Americans have no desire to take us over. Instead, let us get on with our own life and appreciate the wonderful neighbors to our south. Wonderful? American ideals are not a wonder, they are obvious. Let's support them, and remind Americans of them.

The desires of normal Americans are irrelevant, the US is the only country in the world that has seen fit to challenge the sovereignty of Canadian soil I hardly call that the act of a wonderful neighbor..

All of this of course is patently ridiculous, if you want Canada to be more like the US then have the guts to say it don't be a pussy and argue around it because you know that most Canadians don't agree with you.

[newbie]

Americans have no desire to take us over.

Well, maybe not right away. Seems to me they want our water, our electricity, our lumber, our airspace and oil. 60 Minutes presented the latter's significance to the USA. Did you know that Western Oil Sands owns 20% of the Athabasca Oil Sands Project, and that the EXO and VP represent American firms Chevon/Texaco, and BHP. Yaro is correct when he implies that the American administration (particularly the Republican ones) is motivated to action when it can be of benefit to itself.

[tml12]

This anti-Americanism in Canada has to stop. It is small, cette petitesse. It is counter-productive and wrong-headed.

The American ideal is freedom for the individual to do, say or or even attempt to achieve what is possible in this life. How can one argue with that? The remarkable thing is that in 1776, when Americans declared this, it was considered revolutionary. In too many places in the world today, it is still considered revolutionary.

Much is made of this war Bush apparently started. Countries founded on ideals such as America don't start wars. Who started the Cold War? Who started the Vietnam War? Who started this Iraq war? America is not an Empire, it is not an Imperial Regime. It is not the New Rome. Bush is not going to colonise Iraq. Ordinary Americans want to come home and live in peace, just like what other ordinary people elsewhere want. Governments colonise, ordinary people don't.

Live in peace? I think some Canadians should have a better appreciation of what this entails. Let me be direct: Ordinary American families are standing up to tyranny on our behalf. (To be true, ordinary Canadian families once did the same for Americans.)

Canada is a remarkable, fascinating country. Its nature is literary - perhaps the best novels written by Dickens (Tale of Two Cities) and Dumas (Comte de Monte Cristo) are essentially Canadian. Canada has the second largest French-speaking city in the world, and one of the few cities in the world (Jerusalem?) that is genuinely bicultural. How many countries englobe unilingual people who live complete and sophisticated lives in two different languages?

I think Canada has survived and managed this cosmopolitan existence because we sit aside a democracy such as America - a country where ordinary people have 'power'.

Sadly, we have just gone through a federal election in which political schemers used crude anti-American TV ads because they thought the ads would get votes. Apparently, the ads may have worked on the anglophones in Canada's largest cities - hardly reflecting well on them. Elsewhere in Canada I hope, people have a larger sense of generosity, and neighbourhood.

Americans have no desire to take us over. Instead, let us get on with our own life and appreciate the wonderful neighbours to our south. Wonderful? American ideals are not a wonder, they are obvious. Let's support them, and remind Americans of them.

August1991,

A very respectable post indeed. I am with you!!!

[tml12]

Yaro,

"There opinion is no more or less valid then yours, it is not counter productive if there goal is not to have a cooperative relationship with the US."

But it is counter-productive for Canadians to not want to have a good working relationship with the U.S. Can you imagine of the Americans closed the border to all things Canadian tomorrow? This country would be finished.

"The US has one of the lowest social motilities in the world, they have the most extensive domestic surveillance program that has ever existed and the US hardly has a history or promoting democracy."

Sometimes Yaro I think you just like typing random things on your computer. The U.S. has a huge history of promoting democracy: most recently in Iraq (I'll give you oil was probably also a motivation), preventing the spead of Communism through containment, saving Europeans from totalitarian and Nazi rule (Hitler would have won without the Americans), spreading democracy in Asia and Japan, and trying to keep Cuba a democracy. The spy program is a sad, although necessary, program to monitor terrorism.

"The US started the Cold War, the US started the Vietnam War, and The US started the Iraq War. The US is as described in there own words in the bush doctrine the New Rome. They have as a major central ideal that they should remain the preeminent military and economic power in the world and they should undermine and if necessary destroy the ability of anyone to challenge them on either front. The US is currently building 14 military bases in Iraq and they established the rules under which Iraq can setup its government that is colonization in every meaningful way. What Americans what at this point is irrelevant, although I suspect that at least half of the informed American population supports this agenda."

Yaro: your one-sided anti-American view of history is appalling. The Russians started the Cold War, the U.S. helped France out in the Vietnam War, and Iraq started the Iraqi War by invading Kuwait, while the Americans went in this time and finished the job. And yes I would not mind if the U.S. was the most dominant economic power in the world. They are our friends and our largest trading partners. Maybe you would prefer to live in a cave and read the Communist Manifesto but I, for one, embrace the spread of human rights in the world championed by the U.S.

"Exactly what Tyranny is that again? The US has a long history of military intervention but they have NEVER in there entire history even once installed a democratic government."

The U.S. has installed many democratic governments...most recently in Haiti.

"Your delusion about the state of democracy in Canada is most evident when you suggest that the US is "more democratic". The US has not been this anti democratic in almost 100 years. If any "democratic" population on the planet feels as disenfranchised as a group I would be surprised."

If the U.S., at this point, is anti-democratic, then you must surely not be able to sleep at night with what is going on in this country. I should add: ordinary Americans do have power...they vote for their leaders right on down to their riding/county excutive. We vote for a kind every 4-5 years, our local establishment/provincial king's assistant every 4-5 years, and if you live in an urban area, a tyrannical mayor every 4-5 years.

"Once again I would ask you to point out a single thing the US has ever done for Canada, because the list of transgressions against us is a long one. The US is a country like any other, they are not our friends and we should not treat them as our friends, we should use what leverage we have to do what is in our best interest just as they have always done and will continue to do."

Canada and the U.S. have a very good working relationship. We are friends...we have shared values...we have similar concerns. It is clear that you hate Americans and that your bias prevents you from thinking positively about anything American.

"The desires of normal Americans are irrelevant, the US is the only country in the world that has seen fit to challenge the sovereignty of Canadian soil I hardly call that the act of a wonderful neighbor..."

The desires of normal Americans are irrelavent? Maybe to you but not to the Canadian government or those of us in Canada who do business with and/or have friends or relatives, etc. in the States. 1812 was a long time ago...

"All of this of course is patently ridiculous, if you want Canada to be more like the US then have the guts to say it don't be a pussy and argue around it because you know that most Canadians don't agree with you."

When did August say he wanted Canada to be more like the US. He, as I took it, is only looking for civility from this side of the border. And myself and just about all other Canadians I know want a better relationship with the U.S.

Bottom line Yaro: grow up, get a life, and keep your anti-Americanism to yourself.

[Drea]

Yaro,

"There opinion is no more or less valid then yours, it is not counter productive if there goal is not to have a cooperative relationship with the US."

But it is counter-productive for Canadians to not want to have a good working relationship with the U.S. Can you imagine of the Americans closed the border to all things Canadian tomorrow? This country would be finished.

(More Coming...)

What many fail to realize is the relationship between the US and Canada is a two way street. Yes, we need them to buy our resources, and yes, they need us to supply the resources. Thy won't close the border to trade. They don't purchase our resources out of charity. They purchase them because they need them.

Just because we have a trade relationship doesn't mean we have to follow the same political, economic or social doctrines. We're trading goods -- not ideals. Although the US would love to export it's ideals -- and has in many ways already. LOL The "hedonisticness", wonder where that comes from? India? Nope, guess again. Violence and gun culture, wonder where that comes from? Sweden? Nope, guess again. Technology, wonder where that comes from? Japan? Nope, guess again. (LOL had to throw ONE good thing in there from the states).

I am not anti American. I don't like their foreign policies, I don't like that they consider us "hedonistic" and lable us as "commies" becasue of our social policies. I don't like that they want to remake every other country on earth "in their image". That if you're not Americanized you're missing something.

I Pity the poor American liberal who is now considered worse than a leper in the 1800's. In 2006 in America a person is no longer allowed to call himself a "liberal".

Used to be Canadians and Amercians would cross each other's borders, shop, play, get jobs, etc. This is no longer the case. Why? Because George W. Bush said this one thing that divided us all "Either you're with us or against us".

Now we are in two camps -- Canadians and American liberals (the few that are still brave enough to admit they're American liberals) on one side and American non-liberals (and the few Canadian right wingers) on the other. What a shame.

[YankAbroad]

the US is the only country in the world that has seen fit to challenge the sovereignty of Canadian soil

Ummm. . . last time I checked, it was the Danes and Russians who were busy planting their flags on Canadian islands.

Used to be Canadians and Amercians would cross each other's borders, shop, play, get jobs, etc. This is no longer the case.

Utter nonsense. Cross border commerce, trade, and overall net crossings hit a record high this year and will hit a record high again next year.

Now we are in two camps -- Canadians and American liberals (the few that are still brave enough to admit they're American liberals) on one side and American non-liberals (and the few Canadian right wingers) on the other.

You wish. There are many of us, Americans and Canadians alike, who are libertarians and find the nationalist chest thumping of the Bible-thumping US neoconservatives and racist unilingual English Canadian nationalists alike to be boring, tedious and counterproductive.

You guys are actually each other's best friends -- because without the sheeple being convinced they "need" you to "protect" them from the guys on the other side of the border, you'd be out of work.

Well, we libertarians are working to help that process of understanding leading to joblessness for demogogues along.

[Slavik44]

August every Canadian truly admires and appreciates the magnificient American Revolutionary spirit, and the marvellous documents of that time period that were concise, inspirational and idealistic. It would be nothing but foolishness to accuse Canadians of being against such a spirit. Let us not be confused by the spirit of the American constitution and revolution, with the America that has come out of the closet.

Unfortunately such spirit such idealism is found to be lacking on capital hill, today there remains such a fundemental hipocrisy concerning the spirit of the Former America in terms of the action of the America of today, where the constitution is nothing more than a piece of paper in both their words and actions.

Today, now and and then, past and present we have seen these rights, these principles found in the spirit of the constitution trampled upon like a door mat in the name of its protection. It seems as though the only right respected and cared for is the second amendment right to keep and bear arms, people will fight and scream if you touch or take away their guns, but what is to be said for the people that touch, alter, and take away the spirit of the constitution? Why is it that the ones that raise hell about that are labelled as anti-American.

If we are to talk about the spirit of America, lets talk about the revolutionary spirit that procliamed when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.

Many people want to compare George Bush and America to Adolf Hitler and Germany, I am far more content to compare the America of today to the Great Britain it was fighting yesterday. I am sure if we got two constitutional lawyers and locked them in a room they could argue for hours about what every coma and semi colon in the United States Constitution means, but if we are to talk about the spirit of the revolution there can be no debating that the President of the United States of America has violated the Spirit of the Constitution. You know the spirit that proclaimed Americans would not be subjected to unreasonable search and seizure, and that no warrant would be issued unless their was probable cause supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be siezed. The spirit of such a wise proclamation has undoubtedly been trampled on, I think the President might have used the bill of rights to wipe his ass last week.

In your post you have invoked the image of America as seen in many of its revolutionary documents I am sorry to tell you, it is dead, it has been killed, such an America no longer exists, it is sad but true. For years many people have justified such and such a violation with an article and this or that action with a bill, or such a decision with a law. But in the name of protecting the constitution it has been killed. I do not know when the deathblow was given or how many blows were recieved but in this day and age, the constitution is something we all pay homage to, like a dead ancestor at a grave yard. Do not envoke the image of the constitution, you killed it. You cannot praise the greatness, benevolence, and beauty of America based on the spirit of the constitution no more than Scott Peterson can make such claims about Lacy. You can tell me that the murder was justified, and I wont waste my time arguing against such a point, but do not then turn around and give such an eloquent summary of the spirit, do not open your mouth to sing praise for your victim. Canadians and the international world loves the consitutional spirit, they hate the fact that such a spirit has been replaced by Bennedict Arnold. The anti-American crowd is in fact not anti-American, they are not yelling insults at America, they are sitting with flowers at the grave of a still born babe, weeping for the loss of the world and shouting in anger at that man who stole his I.D.

[YankAbroad]

Lovely and romantic, but fiction.

The revolution did not exist and was never televised.

[tml12]

"Used to be Canadians and Amercians would cross each other's borders, shop, play, get jobs, etc. This is no longer the case. Why? Because George W. Bush said this one thing that divided us all "Either you're with us or against us"."

I worked in a used book store in Montreal and met U.S. tourists all the time.

Furthermore, I go shopping in Plattsburgh every now and then because they have more selection down there.

Would you care to explain what gave you the urge to make a fallacious and ridiculous comment?

[moderateamericain]

Dont ask questions of him, even with faced with a mountain of facts he just tells you your ignorant.

[Concerned]

Yaro,

"The US started the Cold War, the US started the Vietnam War, and The US started the Iraq War. The US is as described in there own words in the bush doctrine the New Rome. They have as a major central ideal that they should remain the preeminent military and economic power in the world and they should undermine and if necessary destroy the ability of anyone to challenge them on either front. The US is currently building 14 military bases in Iraq and they established the rules under which Iraq can setup its government that is colonization in every meaningful way. What Americans what at this point is irrelevant, although I suspect that at least half of the informed American population supports this agenda."

Yaro: your one-sided anti-American view of history is appalling. The Russians started the Cold War, the U.S. helped France out in the Vietnam War, and Iraq started the Iraqi War by invading Kuwait, while the Americans went in this time and finished the job. And yes I would not mind if the U.S. was the most dominant economic power in the world. They are our friends and our largest trading partners. Maybe you would prefer to live in a cave and read the Communist Manifesto but I, for one, embrace the spread of human rights in the world championed by the U.S.

tml12 : It appears that your knowledge of the history of who started what war is derived from the American Media, or perhaps from your American friends who are largely influenced by it. In the words of my communications professor: "there is no free lunch", the American Media reports biasedly in favour of consumerism: never bite the hand that feeds you baby. Not to mention "fear sells". The US government, and in particularly the Bush Administration play on this and gets away with (mass) murder because of it.

You need to go back a little further to understand who was really responsible for starting things. Try reading Naom Chomski for more in depth history that the American Media did not address.

I too have American friends, and when they come to Canada they watch our news reports about American policy in awe and disbelief. Nothing against the American population, its the regime and the system that we criticize.

[Concerned]

Americans have no desire to take us over.

Well, maybe not right away. Seems to me they want our water, our electricity, our lumber, our airspace and oil. 60 Minutes presented the latter's significance to the USA. Did you know that Western Oil Sands owns 20% of the Athabasca Oil Sands Project, and that the EXO and VP represent American firms Chevon/Texaco, and BHP. Yaro is correct when he implies that the American administration (particularly the Republican ones) is motivated to action when it can be of benefit to itself.

"We could have taken them (Canada) over so easily... (But) all I want is the western portion, the ski areas, the cowboys, and the right-wingers."

- Conservative pundit Ann Coulter on the November 30 2004 edition of FOX News' Hannity & Colmes

"They [Canada] better hope the United States doesn't roll over one night and crush them. They are lucky we allow them to exist on the same continent."

- Conservative pundit Ann Coulter on the November 30 2004 edition of FOX News' Hannity & Colmes

[Concerned]

Yaro,

"The desires of normal Americans are irrelevant, the US is the only country in the world that has seen fit to challenge the sovereignty of Canadian soil I hardly call that the act of a wonderful neighbor..."

The desires of normal Americans are irrelavent? Maybe to you but not to the Canadian government or those of us in Canada who do business with and/or have friends or relatives, etc. in the States. 1812 was a long time ago...

Would you consider this comment democratic ? Democracy demands freedom of speech. But in America if you speakout against American policy, you better watch it !! If America is democratic, and we are its democratic neighbours, we should be free to discuss, argue, agree with or disagree with their policies, just as they are free to discuss ours, without threat.

...."Canadians should understand that storm clouds are gathering to the south. Humiliating American kids in a hockey rink is simply not acceptable. Thumbing your nose at 127 dead Americans in Iraq by making defiant statements about where Saddam should be extradited is not a wise policy... One more cheap shot, one more unnecessary taunt, one more insult directed at the USA by you or your minions, and I'll give you a very accurate long-range forecast. It's gonna get mighty cold mighty fast west of the St. Lawrence."

- Fox News host Bill O'Reilly threatens Canada because of the nation's stance against the Iraq War, April 19, 2003.

[Concerned]

In your post you have invoked the image of America as seen in many of its revolutionary documents I am sorry to tell you, it is dead, it has been killed, such an America no longer exists, it is sad but true. For years many people have justified such and such a violation with an article and this or that action with a bill, or such a decision with a law. But in the name of protecting the constitution it has been killed. I do not know when the deathblow was given or how many blows were recieved but in this day and age, the constitution is something we all pay homage to, like a dead ancestor at a grave yard. Do not envoke the image of the constitution, you killed it. You cannot praise the greatness, benevolence, and beauty of America based on the spirit of the constitution no more than Scott Peterson can make such claims about Lacy. You can tell me that the murder was justified, and I wont waste my time arguing against such a point, but do not then turn around and give such an eloquent summary of the spirit, do not open your mouth to sing praise for your victim. Canadians and the international world loves the consitutional spirit, they hate the fact that such a spirit has been replaced by Bennedict Arnold. The anti-American crowd is in fact not anti-American, THEY are not yelling insults at America, they are sitting with flowers at the grave of a still born babe, weeping for the loss of the world and shouting in anger at that man who stole his I.D.

Thank you, very well said: "THEY" agree.

[moderateamericain]

In your post you have invoked the image of America as seen in many of its revolutionary documents I am sorry to tell you, it is dead, it has been killed, such an America no longer exists, it is sad but true. For years many people have justified such and such a violation with an article and this or that action with a bill, or such a decision with a law. But in the name of protecting the constitution it has been killed. I do not know when the deathblow was given or how many blows were recieved but in this day and age, the constitution is something we all pay homage to, like a dead ancestor at a grave yard. Do not envoke the image of the constitution, you killed it. You cannot praise the greatness, benevolence, and beauty of America based on the spirit of the constitution no more than Scott Peterson can make such claims about Lacy. You can tell me that the murder was justified, and I wont waste my time arguing against such a point, but do not then turn around and give such an eloquent summary of the spirit, do not open your mouth to sing praise for your victim. Canadians and the international world loves the consitutional spirit, they hate the fact that such a spirit has been replaced by Bennedict Arnold. The anti-American crowd is in fact not anti-American, THEY are not yelling insults at America, they are sitting with flowers at the grave of a still born babe, weeping for the loss of the world and shouting in anger at that man who stole his I.D.

Thank you, very well said: "THEY" agree.

Bullshit. If anything killed the American spirit, which i do not believe is dead; simply dormant, it was "You cant sing christmas caroles in school, its discrimitory." The same people who piss and moan about what America is are the same ones for years that have been destroying is values. The United states of America wasnt founded by Islamics, or hindus, or buddhist, it was founded by Christans who set it up as a country UNDER GOD, which provided religious freedom to anyone who came here, i seriously doubt the founding founders thought "well lets take christianity out of are schools and replace it with morale decay. That is why more and more American parents are taking there kids out of public schools and placing them into private which in turn lowers funding for public schools, which in turn means low income families, who cannot afford to send kids to private schools, are getting less and less quality education. All because little muhammeds momma didnt think that the 98 percent christian school was violating her little boys rights. All the while daddy Muhammed who took the job of the guy he shot back in the ass in the first gulf war, because he will work for peanuts educates his kids then moves back to iraq. You want to know whats killing America, letting immigrants run it.

[tml12]

Concerned (Part I),

"tml12 : It appears that your knowledge of the history of who started what war is derived from the American Media, or perhaps from your American friends who are largely influenced by it."

Actually it is derived from reading history books from leading U.S. and E.U. authors. I don't ever watch American media with the exception of CNN, which is actually quite critical of U.S. policy. Then again, to the Canadian left there isn't much difference between Sean Hannity's views and Anderson Cooper's views, now is there?

"In the words of my communications professor: "there is no free lunch", the American Media reports biasedly in favour of consumerism: never bite the hand that feeds you baby."

"TINSTAFL," the acronym for "There Is No Such Thing As A Free Lunch" is a basic economic policy that does deal with consumerism, however your average Canadian is no less "consumeristic" than your average American. Furthermore, I have only heard the U.S. media encouraging Americans to buy from U.S. companies which is, of course, only appropriate. Many Canadians only buy from the clothing company "Roots." Would you consider this an evil form of American consumerism?

"Not to mention "fear sells". The US government, and in particularly the Bush Administration play on this and gets away with (mass) murder because of it."

Not sure what you mean here other than to dish us up more urban myths and quasi-leftist intellectual dishonesty.

"You need to go back a little further to understand who was really responsible for starting things. Try reading Naom Chomski for more in depth history that the American Media did not address."

I am sure that to someone as far left as you, Noam Chomsky is completely unbiased. But to me, and your average moderate, Noam Chomsky is a far left, anti-Semitic, anti-American, anti-military individual who should stick to linguistic study, not foreign policy. BTW, you are accusing me of being "brainwashed" by a supposedly far right U.S. media and suggest I read a book by a far left author. I find this hypocritical.

"I too have American friends, and when they come to Canada they watch our news reports about American policy in awe and disbelief. Nothing against the American population, its the regime and the system that we criticize."

I too watch CBC with awe and disbelief, what with their anti-American leftist agenda who wouldn't???

[tml12]

Americans have no desire to take us over.

Well, maybe not right away. Seems to me they want our water, our electricity, our lumber, our airspace and oil. 60 Minutes presented the latter's significance to the USA. Did you know that Western Oil Sands owns 20% of the Athabasca Oil Sands Project, and that the EXO and VP represent American firms Chevon/Texaco, and BHP. Yaro is correct when he implies that the American administration (particularly the Republican ones) is motivated to action when it can be of benefit to itself.

"We could have taken them (Canada) over so easily... (But) all I want is the western portion, the ski areas, the cowboys, and the right-wingers."

- Conservative pundit Ann Coulter on the November 30 2004 edition of FOX News' Hannity & Colmes

"They [Canada] better hope the United States doesn't roll over one night and crush them. They are lucky we allow them to exist on the same continent."

- Conservative pundit Ann Coulter on the November 30 2004 edition of FOX News' Hannity & Colmes

Concerned (Part II),

Yes of course. And we all know that Ann Coulter speaks for a *clear* majority of Americans on that one, right???

[tml12]

Concerned (Part III),

It appears at this point you are either downright delusional or you know very little about the American people.

I regularly go down to Plattsburgh and we criticize Bush's policy and I don't see the CIA trying to take your average American liberal out. I think you must have a sordid obsession with the ACLU. There are no threats in the U.S. if you speak out against Bush...

BTW O'Reilly's comment was based on an American hockey team that came here to Quebec to play hockey and were disgraced by extreme left-wing Canadian nationalists...

Maybe this refresh your memory: http://www.runaked.com/forums/political-so...ey-peewees.html

Since it is okay by your morally bankrupt standards for left-wing Canadian social fascists to hurl insults at 11-year old Americans but I, for one, find it odious, repulsive, and sordid... :angry:

[tml12]

ModerateAmericain,

"Bullshit. If anything killed the American spirit, which i do not believe is dead; simply dormant, it was "You cant sing christmas caroles in school, its discrimitory." The same people who piss and moan about what America is are the same ones for years that have been destroying is values. The United states of America wasnt founded by Islamics, or hindus, or buddhist, it was founded by Christans who set it up as a country UNDER GOD, which provided religious freedom to anyone who came here, i seriously doubt the founding founders thought "well lets take christianity out of are schools and replace it with morale decay. That is why more and more American parents are taking there kids out of public schools and placing them into private which in turn lowers funding for public schools, which in turn means low income families, who cannot afford to send kids to private schools, are getting less and less quality education. All because little muhammeds momma didnt think that the 98 percent christian school was violating her little boys rights. All the while daddy Muhammed who took the job of the guy he shot back in the ass in the first gulf war, because he will work for peanuts educates his kids then moves back to iraq. You want to know whats killing America, letting immigrants run it."

EXTREMELY well-said moderateamericain. My respect for you increases each post from you that I read because you are a straight up, honest, and truly moderate American who understands that the majority of Canadians (including myself) and Americans (including yourself) respect the Canadian-American partnership and the majority of kind and good people who live in each country.

You, I hope, understand that "Concerned" represents the element in Canadian society that most Canadians are not proud of. We respect Americans, we opened the door to hundreds of thousands of American citizens in the Maritimes after 9/11, and we would do it again in a heartbeat. I have regularly met U.S. soldiers who vacation in Montreal and thanked them for defending the freedom and ideals that we cherish on this continent.

"A friend is a gift you give yourself."

-Robert Louis Stevenson

[tml12]

Apparently the above link doesn't work, so here is what is from the above link with that being the original source.

MONTREAL -- A peewee hockey tournament in Montreal became a trip into hostile territory for a busload of Americans who say they encountered such fierce anti-Americanism that they will think twice before returning.

During a four-day visit, boys travelling with their Massachusetts hockey team witnessed the burning of the Stars and Stripes and the booing of the U.S. national anthem. When travelling in their bus emblazoned with a red-white-and-blue "Coach USA" logo, they saw people on the street who extended their middle fingers or made other angry gestures.

On the ice, the Canadian players told their visiting counterparts that "the U.S. sucks" and dispensed other anti-American insults, the Americans said.

"It was a shock to go to a tournament and have kids saying this to us. These are our friends that are doing this," Brockton Boxers coach Ernest Nadeau said.

"We didn't expect Canadian players -- especially young boys -- would take things to that extreme," he said in an interview.

The 11- and 12-year-old boys from Brockton, 30 kilometres south of Boston, had been looking forward to the hockey tournament in Montreal. But parents who accompanied them said they were unprepared for the depth of anti-American sentiment over the U.S.-led war against Iraq.

One parent, Bill Carpenter, was so upset he cancelled his family's vacation to Quebec this summer.

"We were very offended by the whole thing," said Mr. Carpenter, who accompanied two sons on the trip.

"I understand the opposition to the war. But we were made to feel unwelcome just about anywhere we went.

"Montreal is a 5½-hour drive for us. It's not like we were travelling to Syria or France or Germany," he said. "As Americans, we felt in the past that Canada was our closest ally and friend. No one told us we were heading into unfriendly territory."

The trip soured soon after the Americans rolled into Montreal on March 20.

Their bus entered downtown Montreal just as hundreds of college and university students were marching through the streets in an antiwar demonstration. Police cruisers spotted the U.S. bus and escorted it to its hotel on Sherbrooke Street as a safety precaution. A police officer urged the visitors to remain in the bus until the protest passed.

The children watched as several demonstrators made obscene gestures toward the bus. A U.S. flag was dragged through the street.

"We felt horrible," Mr. Nadeau said. "How would you feel if the Canadian flag was dragged down the streets in the U.S.A.? This is a country that's supposed to be our ally."

That night, about a dozen families went to the Montreal Canadiens-New York Islanders game at the Montreal Bell Centre, a much-anticipated visit planned months in advance. In a gesture later condemned, the U.S. national anthem was widely booed by the crowd, leaving the visiting American children perplexed.

"The kids were just questioning, 'Why are they doing this?' " said David Cruise, who was there with his 12-year-old son. "It's hard for them to realize we weren't in America any more; we were in a different country.

"I said, 'They're booing our national anthem because they don't like us.' "

Mr. Cruise felt so uncomfortable that he left with his son after the first period. "Whether you're for or against the war, we have guys over there dying," Mr. Cruise said. "The next time, we'll stay in the States. I'm not going back there again."

The visitors say anti-American comments continued when the young players faced off against the Beverly Bandits, a team from Beverly, Ont. U.S. players say the Canadians hurled insults during face-offs and at other times.

"They told us we sucked, gave us the finger and said 'Down with the U.S.A.' or 'The U.S.A. sucks," Mr. Nadeau said. At one point, a Canadian player made a disparaging remark about the United States "and the referee turned around and said, 'I agree with you.' "What stunned us was that the referee, who is supposed to be unbiased, is agreeing with the boys on the ice."

His players "wanted to retaliate" against the Canadians, but Mr. Nadeau said he urged them "not to do anything foolish."

Denis Desrochers, president of the minor hockey team in Beverly, west of Hamilton, said in an interview that he had heard nothing about the anti-American slurs.

"It boggles my mind that the kids would say that. They don't even talk about it," he said. "I wouldn't tolerate it. Whether you're American or Canadian, you're not allowed to swear at any kids." On Saturday, Mr. Carpenter went for a walk downtown with his two children as another antiwar demonstration unfolded in Montreal -- one of several that drew huge crowds in a province staunchly opposed to the war.

Mr. Carpenter came across a knot of demonstrators surrounding a protester who, with an Iraqi flag and a U.S. flag, had climbed atop a traffic light.

The crowd cheered when the man waved the Iraqi flag, and booed the U.S. flag, Mr. Carpenter said. Then the protester doused the U.S. flag in kerosene.

"It went up in a puff of smoke and flames, and the crowd went wild. They were all cheering," said Mr. Carpenter, whose 24-year-old son, a U.S. Marine, was sent to retrieve bodies of Americans killed in the 2001 terrorist bombing of USS Cole in Yemen.

Mr. Carpenter tried to explain the anti-American displays to his children. "I said to my kids, 'These folks disagree with our government, not you personally.' "

As they crossed the border into the United States, cheers went up in the bus. "We were very, very happy to get back home," Mr. Nadeau said.

[flashman]

This anti-Americanism in Canada has to stop. It is small, cette petitesse. It is counter-productive and wrong-headed.

"anti-Americanism" has to be put in context.

America's supreme expertise is promotion which includes hype, mis-representation and sheer fantasy. Anyone who tries to inject any reality is immediately labelled as Anti-American when all that they are displaying is healthy scepticism rather than blind Groupthink.

[tml12]

This anti-Americanism in Canada has to stop. It is small, cette petitesse. It is counter-productive and wrong-headed.

"anti-Americanism" has to be put in context.

America's supreme expertise is promotion which includes hype, mis-representation and sheer fantasy. Anyone who tries to inject any reality is immediately labelled as Anti-American when all that they are displaying is healthy scepticism rather than blind Groupthink.

You then must put the criticism in context. When I drive down to Plattsburgh and I am in some bar or diner and I criticize Bush policy, the most likely response I'll get from an American liberal is agreement and from an American conservative is a political debate.

Not once has anyone in the States ever called me "anti-American" or denied my right or some American liberal's right to criticize Bush policy.

I think most Canadians, especially on the left, are reported exaggerated events in the states by a heavily left-leading MSM.

[Leafless]

August1991

You wrote- " Instead, let us get on with our own life and appreciate the wonderful neighbours to the South."

I don't know how long you have lived in Canada or are old enough to experience the times which was since confederation up to 1982 in which we had a wonderful relation with the U.S.

It was a dual friendly partnership which both countries enjoyed.

That is up to the time Canada introduced Liberal official multiculturalism and veered a heavy left and used the U.S. as a scapegoat to support and fuel the basic concept of multicuturalism concerning the idea of Canada being a fully soverign country.

Part of this idea was downplaying The U.S foreign policy in order to save it's own hide concerning a dyfunctional military and to support it's home grown minorities and foreign minorties some of who hate or dislike the U.S.

As a Canadian I am embarrassed by this chain of events and sincerely hope things will return to a normal political state where the U.S. and Canada are the best of friends and sincere political allies.

[BubberMiley]

I don't know how long you have lived in Canada or are old enough to experience the times which was since confederation up to 1982 in which we had a wonderful relation with the U.S.

It was a dual friendly partnership which both countries enjoyed.

Actually, Trudeau and Nixon hated each other's guts. Before that, Pearson and Johnson hated each other's guts. Eisenhauer and Diefenbaker got along but were wary of each other. King and FDR were by no means close (King resented U.S. reluctance to enter the war and then their subsequent taking credit for winning it).

Before that, the two countries were largely isolated from each other by trade, and their relations were strained by this concept called Manifest Destiny, all the way back to the war of 1812, where they had a bit of a disagreement.