Why Doesn't the US Respect Canada More?

[Drea]

Our "city place" mortgage is almost paid for and then we are looking at keeping this place for the income (rent it out) but moving up north. Three more years of payments and we are finished yaaahhh!

I would certainly rather deal with winter than wall to wall people. LOL

My dad and I went through his collection of rifles and old stuff to see if we wanted to take any of it. He's got an old Chevy pickup we are going to salvage (doesn't need computer chips or specialty mechanic/technician, just a good old mechanic) I put away the 22 (nice and small for me to handle) and his old 30-30 for hubby. We are taking the canoe! 14ft aluminum bright yellow thing that I named "sunshine" when I was a kid.

I can hardly wait to leave this rat race... of course I will still have to have ADSL so I can come to MLW and keep in touch with family/friends.

Cheers!

[Guest American Woman]

I do not believe you. I do not believe you live in an area where you can be surrounded by pure wilderness (no cell phone service OMG!).

Of course you don't believe me. You don't believe anything that doesn't fit into your all-consuming anti-American mindset.

I bet if you keep walking you will run into another city within a day.

You'd lose that bet.

In Canada you start walking and you could end up NEVER seeing civilization again -- just keep walking north... no cities, no roads, nada, zip, just beautiful wilderness.

Us 30 million Canadians like the lack of population. We don't want to be wall to wall pavement.

Riiiight. That's why 75-80% of you are clustered within 100 miles of the U.S. border.

I grew up with no indoor plumbing, eating moose meat and melting snow for water. I know I can survive the wilderness. Could you?

Wow. You are cool. But yeah, I could. Do I win a prize?

[Oleg Bach]

Of course you don't believe me. You don't believe anything that doesn't fit into your all-consuming anti-American mindset.

You'd lose that bet.

Riiiight. That's why 75-80% of you are clustered within 100 miles of the U.S. border.

Wow. You are cool. But yeah, I could. Do I win a prize?

Class is not money or social status but the ability to utilze your environ - in other words be creative - so who do you think would be the best snow melter in a crisis - and American or Canadain ? Seeing we are so over loaded with new arrivals - survialism may be just for us privledged and experienced old school guys and gals....rule number one - yellow snow is a no go!

[jbg]

America respects its own Interest. Like thats changed from country to country and Nation to Nation for the span of human history. I mean come one what is there really going on in Canada. Your a Frozen popsicle of a country for what 7 months out of the year? Although you got some good culture in Toronto!

That bigoted post does not reflect the views of all or most Americans, including me. Americans must respect the country of Vimy Ridge, Juno Beach and the rescue of Teheran hostages.

[jbg]

Don't be too hard on him. After all he is one of those guys who come from that place where all the guys wear Howdy Doody outfits and the women are all called June Cleaver.

Whoopee! This thread has morphed into the "how ignorant a stereotype can I spew" thread.

He probably thinks Hurricane Gustav is heading for Saskatchewan.

[Rue]

I am staying in Niagara Falls, and just finished an intelligent, though slightly liquor-stoked conversation with an Ontarian. He asked why Americans in general and Bush in particular doesn't show Canada and Canadians more respect.

I think these are entirely the wrong questions. I pointed out that I met a Peterborough, ON school teacher who did not know what happened at the Plains of Abraham and didn't know who Montcalm and Wolfe were. I also asked why, if Canadians are not proud of Vimy Ridge and Juno Beach (Normandy), why should Americans show more respect for Canada than it does for itself.

Thoughts?

Bush showed ignorance and lack of respect to the entire world not just Canada.

More to the point, I could care less what politicians have to say. I get along with Americans and have never found one to be deliberately rude or intolerant in fact just the exact opposite. When they have said stupid things they were not said deliberately. I am not in the business of negatively stereotyping Americans because I feel Bush was an idiot.

Gerald Ford was a great friend to Canada. LBJ hated Pearson and physically grabbed him by the lapels and screamed at him. Diefnbaker hated Kennedy. Nixon hated Trudeau. Brian Mulroney loved Ronny and Jean Chretien and Clinton were supposedly buddies. Who the f..ck cares. What it comes down to is trade interests and no Americans or Canadians are not going to like each other if they feel the other side is being unfairly given the advantage in cross border trade.

Of course after what Harper's office did he will have major problems if Obama is elected. Then again I am not sure if Obama will warm up to Dion? Could anyone with that bumbling bafoon?

Actually if we were purely interested in Canadian interests, McCain would be the better fit but now that he put that one trick anti-abortion pony on his ticket who wants him elected.

[moderateamericain]

That bigoted post does not reflect the views of all or most Americans, including me. Americans must respect the country of Vimy Ridge, Juno Beach and the rescue of Teheran hostages.

Jesus make one joke about Canada and everyone gets a cork in there ass. But seriously all joking aside about popsicle countries. I mean outside of logging, oil, fishing and camping. What the fuck does anyone really care about Canada? Im not try to frost your balls here (if you have em) or tear down Canada but your not exactly a world player. Yeah you got some wicked good Hockey but besides that.... You guys like to play the middle ground peace keeper types. Nobody likes a fence poster. And enough with this Ignorant crap, Canada isnt a person or sex. YOu guys act like were racist against Canadians if we don't know everything about Canada! The mere fact that you have Americans here that take an Intrest in whats going on there should be satisfaction enough for you guys. Most Americans wouldn't even bother to learn.

Edited September 2, 2008 by moderateamericain

[Drea]

Jesus make one joke about Canada and everyone gets a cork in there ass. But seriously all joking aside about popsicle countries. I mean outside of logging, oil, fishing and camping. What the fuck does anyone really care about Canada? Im not try to frost your balls here (if you have em) or tear down Canada but your not exactly a world player.

We care about exactly the same things all other humans on earth care about -- having a happy, successful life and leaving some for our kids.

Who gives a crap if we are a "world player"? We hum along just fine being middle of the road, boring, happy, safe (educated, employed, healthy) people.

Yeah you got some wicked good Hockey but besides that.... You guys like to play the middle ground peace keeper types. Nobody likes a fence poster.

Psst... that would be fence "sitter" not "poster" LOL

But everybody loves to have a level headed mediator who has the ability to see more than one (or even two) sides of an issue.

And enough with this Ignorant crap, Canada isnt a person or sex. YOu guys act like were racist against Canadians if we don't know everything about Canada! The mere fact that you have Americans here that take an Intrest in whats going on there should be satisfaction enough for you guys. Most Americans wouldn't even bother to learn.

The MERE FACT that AMERICANS take an INTEREST... WOW!

bow down all you Canadians and kiss the feet of the few Americans who grace us with their shining godlike presence here on MLW. Halleluyahhhhh praise the American!

Fug... you really do think you are better than others don't you? U-n-b-e-l-i-e-v-a-b-l-e.

Edited September 2, 2008 by Drea

[moderateamericain]

We care about exactly the same things all other humans on earth care about -- having a happy, successful life and leaving some for our kids.

Who gives a crap if we are a "world player"? We hum along just fine being middle of the road, boring, happy, safe (educated, employed, healthy) people.

Psst... that would be fence "sitter" not "poster" LOL

But everybody loves to have a level headed mediator who has the ability to see more than one (or even two) sides of an issue.

The MERE FACT that AMERICANS take an INTEREST... WOW!

bow down all you Canadians and kiss the feet of the few Americans who grace us with their shining godlike presence here on MLW. Halleluyahhhhh praise the American!

Fug... you really do think you are better than others don't you? U-n-b-e-l-i-v-a-b-l-e.

O for christ sakes I give up. My point was Most Americans dont even give two shits. Any American that shows up here is attempting to better there knowledge about your country. Which the other 200 million of us dont care to do.

[Drea]

O for christ sakes I give up.

Good. It's about time. I am sure there are many forums that would be utterly thrilled to be graced by your omnipotent presence!

My point was Most Americans dont even give two shits. Any American that shows up here is attempting to better there knowledge about your country. Which the other 200 million of us dont care to do.

Only because they are largely undereducated. How can one live there entire life knowing nothing about the country in which you share the world's longest undefended border? Do your educators purposely leave out the entire upper half of the north american continent or are they simply incompetent?

And if you wanted knowledge about our country, you would read and learn instead of spouting that Canada has nothing but logging, hockey and snow and nothing to offer the world.

[moderateamericain]

Good. It's about time. I am sure there are many forums that would be utterly thrilled to be graced by your omnipotent presence!

Only because they are largely undereducated. How can one live there entire life knowing nothing about the country in which you share the world's longest undefended border? Do your educators purposely leave out the entire upper half of the north american continent or are they simply incompetent?

And if you wanted knowledge about our country, you would read and learn instead of spouting that Canada has nothing but logging, hockey and snow and nothing to offer the world.

The topic is why doesn't the US respect Canada. I just showed you the mind set of the average American in regards to Canada. If you stood back a second and didnt let your emotions get in the way of your reason. You would re-read what I wrote and realize that I was giving you the realistic reason. Do I ever post in the Canadian politics threads, no I dont, do you know why? Because I know I dont have a good enough base knowledge to comment on Canadian politcs and lifestyle to offer an opinion. Canadians however have absolutely no problem telling Americans whats wrong with us and how we should fix it. Hypocrisy. The problem is that Canadians have an inferority complex and there way of dealing with it is calling us Ignorant and Un-educated. Look at the rest of the world, the US is far more educated then most of it. I got a news flash for you and this goes for all Canadians, you are not any smarter then the rest of NA.

[Drea]

The topic is why doesn't the US respect Canada. I just showed you the mind set of the average American in regards to Canada. If you stood back a second and didnt let your emotions get in the way of your reason. You would re-read what I wrote and realize that I was giving you the realistic reason. Do I ever post in the Canadian politics threads, no I dont, do you know why? Because I know I dont have a good enough base knowledge to comment on Canadian politcs and lifestyle to offer an opinion. Canadians however have absolutely no problem telling Americans whats wrong with us and how we should fix it. Hypocrisy. The problem is that Canadians have an inferority complex and there way of dealing with it is calling us Ignorant and Un-educated. Look at the rest of the world, the US is far more educated then most of it. I got a news flash for you and this goes for all Canadians, you are not any smarter then the rest of NA.

Well you certainly do come across as condescending... perhaps you did not mean to.

And I don't have the belief that people are "inferior" to others, just lacking education. A person in North Korea may be just as "worthy" as a person from South Korea, but is just lacking education.

Americans always trot out "you have an inferiority complex" when confronted with people who do not believe that the USA is the greatest country on earth.

I do not want to be Warren Buffet (with all his billions) nor do I want to be an American (with all their posturing). I am happy being a boring, safe, healthy, educated Canadian. If that isn't "enough" for you, that is not my problem -- I, unlike you, do not expect all people to want to be me.

Reading literacy (most recent) by country

Canada ranks #2 behind Finland.

USA ranks #15

More stats from CIA Factbook -- Canada -- USA

Life Expectancy

USA -- 78.14 years

Canada -- 81.16 years

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

USA --total: 16 years

male: 15 years

female: 16 years (2006)

Canada -- total: 17 years

male: 17 years

female: 17 years (2004)

Cheers!

[Guest American Woman]

Well you certainly do come across as condescending... perhaps you did not mean to.

Pot, meet kettle.

[Drea]

Pot, meet kettle.

Hi Kettle!

Awesome that made me laugh ooot (out) loud. LOL

Cheers AW!

[White Doors]

I am Canadian and Drea most certainly does not speak for me.

Drea, trying using the singular in your posessives please.

Don't appeal to the majority here, your 'unique' views on things should be able to stand on their own two feet (or not) without that classic appeal.

[Drea]

I am Canadian and Drea most certainly does not speak for me.

Drea, trying using the singular in your posessives please.

Don't appeal to the majority here, your 'unique' views on things should be able to stand on their own two feet (or not) without that classic appeal.

I spoke in first person -- I said I do not... I do... etc...

see! Now where did I say all Canadians... looks like I am just mentioning MYSELF, not everyone:

I do not want to be Warren Buffet (with all his billions) nor do I want to be an American (with all their posturing). I am happy being a boring, safe, healthy, educated Canadian. If that isn't "enough" for you, that is not my problem -- I, unlike you, do not expect all people to want to be me.

I know you just wanna be a tough big ol "influential" American, but you aren't (neither am I) and that really pisses you off doesn't it?

[bush_cheney2004]

Canadians however have absolutely no problem telling Americans whats wrong with us and how we should fix it. Hypocrisy. The problem is that Canadians have an inferority complex and there way of dealing with it is calling us Ignorant and Un-educated. Look at the rest of the world, the US is far more educated then most of it. I got a news flash for you and this goes for all Canadians, you are not any smarter then the rest of NA.

ShssHHH..they really don't like to read/hear that!

The basic dynamic here is that many (but not all) Canadians cannot define themselves or Canada without America as a (often negative) foil, and this has become increasingly harder to do because they live nearly identical lives. The historical tug-o-war between Europe or the USA was decided long ago, mostly for practical economic reasons. Even when they drop bombs on people it's because America "made them" do it, since the peacekeeping myth must stay alive to differentiate from the warmonger 'Merkins.

You will read ad nauseam about the "mouse" living next to the "elephant", who sneezes and makes Canada catch a cold. They are the world's pre-eminent victim of the American hegemon, without a shot being fired, from television programming to (gulp) the location of the Stanley Cup. Imagine what it would be like to grow up hearing or reading mostly everything in reference to the USA each and every day...even the value of your currency. Americans have absolutely no perspective on this.....it must be suffocating!

In almost two years of posting, I have come to understand that some of these folks need that space, even if it doesn't exist, and sometimes they resent you for pointing that out. One need only review the citations in many posts to see that escaping the Americans is impossible, from the climate change arguments (NASA data) all the way to how Canada bungled SARS or the recent listeria outbreak (CDC). Oh, and there is that favorite...CIA factbook....how ironic.

Canada's cool....it's just that America does it a lot bigger with a bag of chips. We both live on the Good Ship Lollipop, and it has worked out pretty well for the most part. So when the Blue Jays are in Detroit, stand up and take notice when they play 'Oh Canada". It's the least an elephant can do.

[moderateamericain]

Well you certainly do come across as condescending... perhaps you did not mean to.

And I don't have the belief that people are "inferior" to others, just lacking education. A person in North Korea may be just as "worthy" as a person from South Korea, but is just lacking education.

Americans always trot out "you have an inferiority complex" when confronted with people who do not believe that the USA is the greatest country on earth.

I do not want to be Warren Buffet (with all his billions) nor do I want to be an American (with all their posturing). I am happy being a boring, safe, healthy, educated Canadian. If that isn't "enough" for you, that is not my problem -- I, unlike you, do not expect all people to want to be me.

Reading literacy (most recent) by country

Canada ranks #2 behind Finland.

USA ranks #15

More stats from CIA Factbook -- Canada -- USA

Life Expectancy

USA -- 78.14 years

Canada -- 81.16 years

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

USA --total: 16 years

male: 15 years

female: 16 years (2006)

Canada -- total: 17 years

male: 17 years

female: 17 years (2004)

Cheers!

Explain to me why if Canada is so much more educated, Has the Natural Resources in abundance that you have not surpassed the Rest of the world in Economic and politcal power, How come the US is on the leading edge of technological development. And why despite a shit economy why the US continues to GROW in GDP. Because I don't think those things come from the Un-educated and Ignorant

Edited September 2, 2008 by moderateamericain

[Drea]

Explain to me why if Canada is so much more educated, Has the Natural Resources in abundance that you have not surpassed the Rest of the world in Economic and politcal power, How come the US is on the leading edge of technological development. And why despite a shit economy why the US continues to GROW in GDP. Because I don't think those things come from the Un-educated and Ignorant

Who says that Canada has to be a political power that influences the rest of the world? Can one not be content just to live a decent life? Does one always have to go after the brass ring? As long as all the citizens are happy and healthy, why would anyone want Canada to "dominate" world economics or politics?

Only the most insecure need the rest of the world to "bow down" to them.

[guyser]

O for christ sakes I give up.

Thats the first thing one should do when the resident anti US moron joins the fray. Just garbage spewing from that one.

Couldnt travel an hour in the US and not be in wilderness? Oh too funny, ignorant, but funny. Guess one has never heard of the upper peninsula? Never been...been?... probably needs a map to find Minnesota.

Yes the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming are just crammed with people. Get into the mountains of Penn, Catskills, Rockies....why every corner you turn there will be a Starbucks, Home Depot, Wegmans and of course TGIF's.

Uh...no not kidding. Your ignorance borders on, oh never mind . Stay stupid, it suits you.

[Guest American Woman]

Thats the first thing one should do when the resident anti US moron joins the fray. Just garbage spewing from that one.

Couldnt travel an hour in the US and not be in wilderness? Oh too funny, ignorant, but funny. Guess one has never heard of the upper peninsula? Never been...been?... probably needs a map to find Minnesota.

Yes the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming are just crammed with people. Get into the mountains of Penn, Catskills, Rockies....why every corner you turn there will be a Starbucks, Home Depot, Wegmans and of course TGIF's.

Uh...no not kidding. Your ignorance borders on, oh never mind . Stay stupid, it suits you.

Thanks for saying all that I wanted to say. I couldn't believe she could actually be so ignorant as to believe that every nook and cranny of the U.S. is crammed full with people. What's even more amusing is that she's from one of the biggest cities in Canada-- as she derogatorily calls me a city girl. I'm still laughing at that one.

Some people will ramble on not caring in the least if they have so much as one fact in their rant.

[guyser]

Thanks for saying all that I wanted to say. I couldn't believe she could actually be so ignorant as to believe that every nook and cranny of the U.S. is crammed full with people.

Oh dont worry, in time that one always tops a previous ignorant comment. Whats funny is the poster believes what is posted. Well, if the poster didnt post, then that could concievable be true, but sadly since posts are made, we all know better.

Just smile at it.

[Born Free]

O for christ sakes I give up. My point was Most Americans dont even give two shits. Any American that shows up here is attempting to better there knowledge about your country. Which the other 200 million of us dont care to do.

Do you also speak like Archie Bunker? You certainly write like him........

[Guest American Woman]

Oh dont worry, in time that one always tops a previous ignorant comment. Whats funny is the poster believes what is posted. Well, if the poster didnt post, then that could concievable be true, but sadly since posts are made, we all know better.

Just smile at it.

Sometimes I laugh out loud, sometimes I roll my eyes, and sometimes I just shake my head at the pure ignorance.

Have you traveled much in the U.S.? Been to any of those places you mentioned?

----------------------

As for the topic, from my experience most Americans have the same respect for Canadians as Canadians have for Americans. In other words, most people on both sides of the border have due respect for their neighbors.

Edited September 2, 2008 by American Woman

[guyser]

Sometimes I laugh out loud, sometimes I roll my eyes, and sometimes I just shake my head at the pure ignorance.

All the while they revel in it. Too ignorant to see what it is. Oh well....

Have you traveled much in the U.S.? Been to any of those places you mentioned?

Most , but not all. When I lived in BCI would travel south to Idaho-Washington, been in North Dakota for a day, and have been on the UP.....enough to know they call 'em Yups...