g_bambino Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 (edited) Not as equals, no. More than not as equals: not at all. It was probably only a little more than half a century ago that Canadians, while realising their distinct place in the Commonwealth, still saw themselves as British. If the UK had been replaced by the US in this equation, we wouldn't now be having this discussion about how Canadians define themselves against their southern neighbours. [sp.] Edited July 27, 2009 by g_bambino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shraytus Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 I retracted what I said about the USA, and made MY opinion on what I BELIEVE it is to be Canadian, and now there's Americans telling us not only what it means to BE AMERICAN, but that my opinion is wrong, when I just did what they told me to. Can we just make another topic so we can beef at each other, and keep already-made topics what they are? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g_bambino Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Hey, that's just more of the same.....definition in terms of what Americans do.....sheesh! A definition of Americans in terms of what Americans do? What a concept! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bush_cheney2004 Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 More than not as equals: not at all. It was probably only a little more than half a century ago that Canadians, while reliasing their distinct place in the Commonwealth, still saw themselves as British. If the UK had been replaced by the US in this equation, we wouldn't now be having this discussion about how Canadians define themselves against their southern neighbours. Of course we would....PM Trudeau defined the cultural "threat" late in the game and took measures to stave off the onslaught. Canada even struggles from within without resolution, unlike the violent Americans. We read of "joining the USA" or "becoming a state" routinely in this forum. The definitions we read are a desperate attempt to keep from being devoured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest American Woman Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 I retracted what I said about the USA, and made MY opinion on what I BELIEVE it is to be Canadian, and now there's Americans telling us not only what it means to BE AMERICAN, but that my opinion is wrong, when I just did what they told me to. Can we just make another topic so we can beef at each other, and keep already-made topics what they are? Yes, you gave your opinion. And others gave their opinion in response. Are we not allowed to do that? Which threads/posts aren't open for discussion on this discussion board? Perhaps it would help if you could clarify that ..... ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Yes, you gave your opinion. And others gave their opinion in response. Are we not allowed to do that? Which threads/posts aren't open for discussion on this discussion board? Perhaps it would help if you could clarify that ..... ? Since you are not Canadian, I think you have only to listen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g_bambino Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Of course we would.... Not in the way you're describing it: you constantly complain about Canadians defining their nation as not-American; Canadians never, until very recently, defined themselves as not-British. Ergo, you can't now simply replace the word "British" with "American". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bush_cheney2004 Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Not in the way you're describing it: you constantly complain about Canadians defining their nation as not-American; Canadians never, until very recently, defined themselves as not-British. Ergo, you can't now simply replace the word "British" with "American". That's debatable.....starting with Quebec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g_bambino Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 That's debatable.....starting with Quebec. Well, I tend to agree with Daniel Francis' statement in National dreams: Myth, memory, and Canadian history that "until at least World War II the worship of the monarchy and the British Empire enjoyed almost cult status in Canadian society." And we shouldn't forget that Quebecers were enticed into joining the American Revolution, but refused. There were also French-Canadians amongst the Fathers of Confederation, who all agreed that Canada should be formed around the then-British Crown. The Lower Canada Rebellions failed to inspire French-Canadians to follow Papineau to a republic, and in 1909, George-Étienne Cartier expressed his opinion that Quebecers were "monarchical by religion, by habit, and by the remembrance of past history." It was only with the revisionist and bigoted propaganda of the Quiet Revolution and the FLQ and their ilk that many Quebecers, enflamed by that twerp de Gaulle, became anti- everything not purely Quebecois. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbg Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Can we just make another topic so we can beef at each other, and keep already-made topics what they are?When I was posting on the old, now defunct CBC Forums (link to article about their shutdown), I suggested to the moderator that just such a thread be opened. It was. The consequences were quite ugly and ultimately led to the events that caused the closure of that forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bush_cheney2004 Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 (edited) When I was posting on the old, now defunct CBC Forums (link to article about their shutdown), I suggested to the moderator that just such a thread be opened. It was. The consequences were quite ugly and ultimately led to the events that caused the closure of that forum. Sure did....what a ride! We had to type any derivative of the word "Jew" with spaces, hyphens, misspelling, etc, to beat the filter, and laughed that it was easier to use "Jesus Christ" in vain. Those were the days. Edited July 27, 2009 by bush_cheney2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallc Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 You're saying it's OK for Canadians to define themselves as against Americans but not vice versa? No, I think that it's ok in either direction. Part of who we are is who we're not. Obviously you nee to learn something of American history.We started ourselves largely as part of a tax revolt and a struggle against overbearing, over-paternal monarchial government. That is our country's essence. I know all that, and I think all you've done is echo what I was saying. It's one of our fundamental differences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbg Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Sure did....what a ride! We had to type any derivative of the word "Jew" with spaces, hyphens, misspelling, etc, to beat the filter, and laughed that it was easier to use "Jesus Christ" in vain. Those were the days. If you liked it so much why do you have me on "ignore" and my PM's blocked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 If you liked it so much why do you have me on "ignore" and my PM's blocked? It is not the place to settle American family feud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bush_cheney2004 Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 If you liked it so much why do you have me on "ignore" and my PM's blocked? Because we love you...not SPAM! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny Posted July 27, 2009 Report Share Posted July 27, 2009 Because we love you...not SPAM! Canadians have another conception of love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bush_cheney2004 Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 Canadians have another conception of love. Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me? The last Canadian boxer (Arturo Gatti) to be killed was apparently killed by his wife and the last American boxer (Vernon Forest) to be killed was apparently killed by robbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shraytus Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 I don't want to sound arrogant, honestly. But this is happening again, let's drop the country against country act and focus on the topic that we were given. If a guest from a non North-American country came on this forum and saw the question that was posted here and then saw our responses to it - I'd think that they'd be disgusted that the citizens of the two countries with the largest undefended border and the countries that rely most on each other are arguing over our respective opinions on what it means to be from our respective countries. These debates are what forums like "Mapleleafweb" are made for, yes, but the discussion going on currently isn't directly related to the original question, who's PM's were blocked or ignored has no bearing on Canadian pride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbg Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 If a guest from a non North-American country came on this forum and saw the question that was posted here and then saw our responses to it - I'd think that they'd be disgusted that the citizens of the two countries with the largest undefended border and the countries that rely most on each other are arguing over our respective opinions on what it means to be from our respective countries.That's more a case of sibling rivalry than anything else. Here you have two countries with (mostly) a similar language, similar cultures, and similar histories. Basically, like all siblings, especially boys, they fight harmlessly. These debates are what forums like "Mapleleafweb" are made for, yes, but the discussion going on currently isn't directly related to the original question, who's PM's were blocked or ignored has no bearing on Canadian pride.I think the use of the "ignore" function and PM blocks are childish, except where threats are involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 (edited) I don't want to sound arrogant, honestly. But this is happening again, let's drop the country against country act and focus on the topic that we were given. If a guest from a non North-American country came on this forum and saw the question that was posted here and then saw our responses to it - I'd think that they'd be disgusted that the citizens of the two countries with the largest undefended border and the countries that rely most on each other are arguing over our respective opinions on what it means to be from our respective countries. These debates are what forums like "Mapleleafweb" are made for, yes, but the discussion going on currently isn't directly related to the original question, who's PM's were blocked or ignored has no bearing on Canadian pride. An indefensible border and economic dependency may well leave an anxiety in Canada-USA relations, anxiety that may explain a half-overt hatred. Edited July 28, 2009 by benny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest American Woman Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 Since you are not Canadian, I think you have only to listen. Think again, benny. Cuz Americans don't "just listen." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Think again, benny. Cuz Americans don't "just listen." My prescription would not be valid if Americans were just listening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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