August1991 Posted January 30 Report Posted January 30 We Canadians have all the benefits of being American without any of the cost. As a Canadian, I travel freely abroad. People trust me. I am a rich Westerner. But I am not American. 1 Quote
August1991 Posted January 30 Author Report Posted January 30 As a Canadian abroad, I have never borne the weight of being American. 1 Quote
paxamericana Posted January 30 Report Posted January 30 6 hours ago, August1991 said: We Canadians have all the benefits of being American without any of the cost. Mmmmhmm. Until you get into real trouble. The truth is, when you travel with a blue passport, there’s not a whole lot of security concerns. The might of the US empire will bear on any transgressors who tries. It’s not the same. Canada relies on the goodwill of others, America expects it. Quote
John Stone Posted February 1 Report Posted February 1 On 1/30/2026 at 2:09 AM, August1991 said: We Canadians have all the benefits of being American without any of the cost. As a Canadian, I travel freely abroad. People trust me. I am a rich Westerner. But I am not American. In Turkey (example) they would think u were a U.S. citizen............... arguably Turks aren't too sure what a Canadian is. North Americans (notwithstanding Mexicans) in Europe are distinctive in size, deportment, swag, dress, diet, ignorance, talk. Quote
eyeball Posted February 1 Report Posted February 1 On 1/29/2026 at 10:09 PM, August1991 said: We Canadians have all the benefits of being American without any of the cost. On 1/29/2026 at 10:15 PM, August1991 said: As a Canadian abroad, I have never borne the weight of being American. It must be the Maple Leaf you sewed on your luggage. Is it a patch-over, the Fleur-de-lis just didn't do the job? 1 Quote I said now watch what you say they'll be calling you a radical, a liberal, oh fanatical criminal
August1991 Posted February 2 Author Report Posted February 2 On 1/30/2026 at 7:47 AM, paxamericana said: Mmmmhmm. Until you get into real trouble. The truth is, when you travel with a blue passport, there’s not a whole lot of security concerns. The might of the US empire will bear on any transgressors who tries. It’s not the same. Canada relies on the goodwill of others, America expects it. Mmmm. Disagree. For Official Americans, you may be correct. But for ordinary Americans, I'd pretend to be Canadian. Quote
John Stone Posted February 2 Report Posted February 2 On 1/30/2026 at 8:47 AM, paxamericana said: Mmmmhmm. Until you get into real trouble. The truth is, when you travel with a blue passport, there’s not a whole lot of security concerns. The might of the US empire will bear on any transgressors who tries. It’s not the same. Canada relies on the goodwill of others, America expects it. Indeed. A great example is the so called, 'Two Michael's' debacle with China If not for U.S. leverage they'd likely still be languishing in an 8x10 Chinese cell. That said I'd give Trump full marks for punking Justin - and by extension having both M's detained with prejudice in China Quote
John Stone Posted February 6 Report Posted February 6 ................... is Toronto's Sankofa Square (aka Dundas Square) reverting back to the namesake anytime soon? How about Sir John A Macdonald ............... ....................... Canada is rife with Woke and Cancel Culture. Judging the past thru the lens of today is soooooooooo Trudeau. Quote
August1991 Posted February 8 Author Report Posted February 8 On 2/2/2026 at 11:33 AM, John Stone said: Indeed. A great example is the so called, 'Two Michael's' debacle with China If not for U.S. leverage they'd likely still be languishing in an 8x10 Chinese cell. ..... John Stone, you miss the point. In China nowadays, these guys were Westerners. Once upon a time, they were Canadians. Quote
August1991 Posted February 8 Author Report Posted February 8 French Canadians view English Canadians the same way English Canadians view Americans. 1 Quote
August1991 Posted February 8 Author Report Posted February 8 (edited) Pop Tarts https://www.tetesaclaques.tv/halloween_vid31 Edited February 8 by August1991 Quote
John Stone Posted February 8 Report Posted February 8 5 hours ago, August1991 said: John Stone, you miss the point. In China nowadays, these guys were Westerners. Once upon a time, they were Canadians. I'm assuming you know the background to the so called, 'Case of the Two Michaels'. Really had nothing to do with Nationality tho - and everything to do with China's (Xi's) new, 'Wolf Warrior' diplomacy. To paraphrase, don't tug on Superman's cape? The detention was sending a message - don't fk with us! (any country, US / Russia notwithstanding) Trump played it perfectly - the objective was to drive a wedge between Canada / Chinese relations - Canada was seriously considering implementing Huawei hardware into the '5 Eyes' intelligence gathering alliance. The Alliance were concerned that it might compromise intel integrity??????? (ya think) A Biden administration expedited their release - Huawei's CFO was released the same day - China denied any connection. Likely this event, more than any other defined Canada as a 'middle power' - Trudeau was waaaaaay over his skis in terms of diplomacy finesse and his idea of Canada's clout on the international stage. Quote
herbie Posted February 9 Report Posted February 9 The most unsettllng part of that debacle was the implication that US/Cdn techs were too stupid to detect and disable/defeat any such spyware. So they promoted some clearly second rate tech instead. In the business I was in at that time, their equipment was an order of magnitude better than the stuff we wanted to replace, and at the same price. Quote
August1991 Posted February 10 Author Report Posted February 10 On 2/8/2026 at 7:38 AM, John Stone said: .... The detention was sending a message - don't fk with us! (any country, US / Russia notwithstanding) Trump played it perfectly - the objective was to drive a wedge between Canada / Chinese relations - Canada was seriously considering implementing Huawei hardware into the '5 Eyes' intelligence gathering alliance. ...... Since 2008 or so, we live in a different world - a multipolar world. Like after 1815, we have the potential to live for a century in peace, get along - and create so much. Quote
John Stone Posted February 10 Report Posted February 10 8 hours ago, August1991 said: Since 2008 or so, we live in a different world - a multipolar world. Like after 1815, we have the potential to live for a century in peace, get along - and create so much. I applaud ur optimism. Ironic that the World was most rational / predictable during the Cold War. Equal and opposite in terms of offense kept the adults in their lane. Similar to faith - Islam vs. Christianity ............now the kids have the (or will have) crowd pleasers ............. standby. Quote
paxamericana Posted February 10 Report Posted February 10 (edited) 14 hours ago, August1991 said: get along Stop saying that like it’s true. Countries have interests, sometimes those interests don’t align. Edited February 10 by paxamericana Quote
August1991 Posted February 12 Author Report Posted February 12 On 2/10/2026 at 2:32 PM, paxamericana said: Stop saying that like it’s true. Countries have interests, sometimes those interests don’t align. Countries? I reckon this "get along" idea is about to collapse. Quote
August1991 Posted February 14 Author Report Posted February 14 On 2/10/2026 at 2:32 PM, paxamericana said: Stop saying that like it’s true. Countries have interests, sometimes those interests don’t align. In Canada, we get along. In Europe, in the 1800s, they got along - until 1914. Quote
John Stone Posted February 15 Report Posted February 15 On 2/13/2026 at 10:55 PM, August1991 said: In Canada, we get along. In Europe, in the 1800s, they got along - until 1914. World War I was a global conflict ............. a new experience - total war - technological war. Quote
August1991 Posted February 16 Author Report Posted February 16 8 hours ago, John Stone said: World War I was a global conflict ............. a new experience - total war - technological war. WorId War I? Disagree. I walk by a memorial to the "Great War". It was not a Canadian war. It was a European civil war. ===== The period between 1914-1945 was another European civil war. Just like 1789-1815. Or 1618-1648. Every generation or so, Europeans fight each other. Quote
August1991 Posted February 16 Author Report Posted February 16 Since the 1600s, we Canadians get along. Quote
John Stone Posted February 16 Report Posted February 16 8 hours ago, August1991 said: WorId War I? Disagree. I walk by a memorial to the "Great War". It was not a Canadian war. It was a European civil war. ===== The period between 1914-1945 was another European civil war. Just like 1789-1815. Or 1618-1648. Every generation or so, Europeans fight each other. ............ dude, it became World War II when the Nazi bombed Pearl Harbor. Geesh! Quote
August1991 Posted March 29 Author Report Posted March 29 On 2/16/2026 at 6:50 AM, John Stone said: ............ dude, it became World War II when the Nazi bombed Pearl Harbor. Geesh! Strongly disagree. Do you know anything about the "Thirty Years War"? How about the "Napoleonic Wars"? At the time, even several decades later, people would have noted that there was no single war. ===== The period between 1914-1945 was a disaster for all humans on this planet. In August 1914, civilised Europeans foolishly commit suicide. Quote
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