Look at it like this - Canada is a realitively young country I mean, we're still ruled by the Queen of England and we've only been a country for like 140 years and not even really the whole country, like what is currently Canada wasn't Canada in 1867. We're a country whose foundation is based on selling the beaver pelts and hats to rich europeans. The country we lived in used to be called Ruperts Land because some drunk Englishman gave us to his cousin. Our first Prime Minister was actually not even born in this country he was born in Scotland and a drunk at that. Density wise the population is about 3.5 inhabitants per square kilometre and, is among the lowest in the world. Who wouldn't laugh at us? We do.

Canadians can take exception and offence to our nation being considered subservient to or "just like" the United States or the United Kingdom. and visitors should also beware of belittling Canadian institutions (TV shows, movies, football, etc.), even if we Canadians do it ourselves. What sounds like a joke from a Canadian can sound condescending or hostile from a foreigner. And thats where we differ, we can take a joke, we're not gonna get all offended and grab a gun. We're just not like that.

Its I think worthy to mention the fact that although they are our neighbours, they know little about us, so I personally view a lot of their jokes and stereotypes to being ignorant. We don't all say "eh" when we say "out and about" its out and about not "oot and aboot", Canadas drive cars, we don't relay on the dogsled, we have electricity, you know, but there are still these common beliefs held that outside of the major centres we are pretty much still a country of moccassin wearing deer hunters living in a wigwams.

So sure they go and take the piss out of us, but who cares, I grew up watching this show called "what americans think" these were real american people being asked questions about Canada and the overwhelming level of stupidity was shocking. Like one question they asked "how do canadian make love" a serious answer was "with their socks on because its cold in the snow" another was "Prime Minister Tim Horton wants the country to use the Metric system, should they?" a handful of people were either really dumb and didn't know what the metric system is because they were so proud of us for converting, they also believed that the whole country ran on a half hour time zone just because of newfoundland.

Are we as dumb as they like to make us seem? no, but are we going to waste our time correcting them, no.

Bad Kitteh haha, I think the media has given you a slightly warped view of things. You are obviously getting American media and not Canadian. I am a Canadian that spends about 50% of my working time in the USA. Canada is mostly just on the ignore list of most Americans.... not a good, nor a bad thing. Its just that we are not that important in thier day to day lives. They dont view us as a rival. (of course a few exceptions) On the other hand... Canadians do enjoy taking pot shots at Americans. (our CBC is biased bad bad bad) We are the little kid in the playground trying to get the big kids to notice us.

I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than to live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is.

Since I love weather, the one complaint I get from people is "That cold Canadian air". I find people respect me a lot when I tell them I am from Canada. So the answer to the question is no.

Things change...

I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than to live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is.

I'm not talking about Rick Mercer, I personally view him to be an ass. The show I'm referring to was an actual half hour show that was on when I was like 12 so back in 92. They aired it on the movie channel between movies. And it wasn't Rick Mercer who was the host. If I recall rightly there were two individuals, a taller red head man, and a rather daft guy wearing glasses. Either way neither had that newfie accent that Mercer does and it was done in the tacky early 90's fashion. Additionally I would never use Rick Mercer as a source of insight into how I view the relationship between the States and Canada, and on my travels to the States have encountered several ass backwards americans who would ask me questions from electricity to housing, and once they found out I was part Indian, then they'd start in with the questions about teepees buffalo and hunting deer. I had a rather odd encounter when using the public transit in Denver, being that I was only 13 and my sister had gotten off with the rest of our group I had to wait until the next stop, a man pulled a gun on another man, his girlfriend saw me freak out and said it would be okay, I replied with "I'm Canadian and not used to this" she replied "this is your first time on a bus? that has to be exciting" I didn't know how to reply to that, so really my view on the run of the mill person is pretty much rooted on personal experiences.

Jennyjen... Well, fortunatly I've not a gun pulled on me. That would definetly shape the way you view things. Glad you are not basing your views on Rick M. (ya, he is a bit of an ass)

I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than to live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is.

Rick Mercer just annoys me, and its not even because of his show, I was flying from Toronto to Ottawa, and he was on the same flight, he threw a semi fit because some old lady got in line a head of him, they were doing preboards and I was on crutches at the time so I was standing behind him, and the whole time he just was mumbling like a crybaby, because this old lady was doddling a head of him. It wasn't like he needed to preboard he could have waited for the executive class boarding but he didn't.

And just for clarity the guy didn't pull the gun on me, he pulled the gun on the guy who I was trying to push pass to get off the bus, it was freaky.

I did notice (much to my chagrin) while living in the UK, that while the British may for whatever reason hold us (Canadians) in higher regard than they do Americans, they know very little about us either. If it's North American, it must be American. You will rarely ever find any mention in the British news about Canada.
Two years ago when trouble flared up in Haiti, Canada was one of the first (if not the first) countries to send troops to restore order. For over a week on BBC news, the only mention was of US forces.
Canada is not on the US radar, but we are also not on the British radar either. As far as contributions to global issues and entertainment, to them, we might as well be Americans.

The above is not indicative of an issue with the British. I enjoyed my time there, and thoroughly liked the people.

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sadly Rodders I don't think that Canadians are on anyones radar. Tragic really. but at least we can give world domination a try and no one would notice

Rodders you are so right. Yes the Brits do hold the Canadians in higher regard than the americans.
And also true we dont know much about Canada, but we knows loads about America.....maybe because Americanism gets shoved down our throats daily. That's not a dig, that just an observation.

Half the stuff Jennyjen wrote in her first post I didnt even know about...and what a bloody cool history

No Canadians are NEVER on the news here....and yet we all love ya.

♥´¯`♥In Loving Memory Of *MY* Purple Turtle♥´¯`♥

Bad Kitteh wrote:

Half the stuff Jennyjen wrote in her first post I didnt even know about...and what a bloody cool history

The thing with our history is that most of the super cool stuff is pretty much passed by in our own educational system - at least in Saskatchewan. Which is sad - if I hadn't been such a nerd I'd be clueless about the place I call home

Sadly you're right Bad Kitteh. However, probably no country is more affected by American-media (for good and bad) than is Canada. I just wish the world would make the effort to notice a distinction.

If you look at the BBC news website (as I just did), there is not one story under the "Americas" section about Canada. Rather appalling given that after the UK, Canada is the largest English-speaking country in the Commonwealth.

Oh well. Guess that makes us easy to come in under the radar.

And please don't take my comments as anti-British. I loved my time there, and thoroughly enjoyed meeting (most) the people. If I win the lottery, which I plan on doing, I would buy a place in England.

Rod

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Ahh...well...even we Americans have been asked more then a few about such things as electricity or having cars...
So is it ignorance or people pulling our collective legs?

Anyway...as far as Canada not getting the attention it so richly deserves...I thought that was a mark of ingenuity on the part of Canada...
Speaking from my own standpoint at least...from the USA.....
not so enjoyable to always be mentioned..and have it almost always be in a negative light..
Consider yourselves lucky...

I don't really hear a lot of the potshots you guys are referring to...maybe the"eh" thing...which is no more mean spirited than the fun they make of my southern "drawl"..(what drawl. I say?)

I have actually always thought of it in the sense of being above all the "crap"...
It's a bit like...no news is good news....kind of thing.
I would rather NOT hear about my country at all then to have it beaten up all the time.
So trust me...you're not missing a thing.

The best way to cheer yourself up...is to cheer somebody else up..
MT

I find Americans to be ignorant and indifferent about Canada. They just don't know much about their neighbours to the north. I live right across from the US (I'm in Windsor, Ontario, right across from Detroit), so it's not as bad here. In my experience though, the further south you go in the US, the less people know about Canada. I know a lot of people down there that are seriously thinking of moving here, especially if the Rep's win the next election. Should be interesting....

Oh and contrary to popular belief, we don't say "eh" after every sentence...just every other one!;)LOL

Take off eh!

R mercer is a newfie,aren't newfies the butt of most canadian jokes?

Canada is a beautiful country but I just don't get on with the people there, neither in person nor on the internet... in fact, with all due respect, Canadians have been the bane of my existence to the point where, in my now defunct account at Interpals, I stated in my profile that I will not communicate with Canadian women and requested that if "you are female and you are from Canada, kindly give me a wide berth"... the weird thing was that instead of hate mail, I received a heap of messages from American ladies referring to Canadian people as "our arrogant neighbors to the north" and other such diatribe... so in answer to your question, yes, I think Americans belittle you...

Well, as a Canadian MALE, I to some point understand the reason for Canadian arrogance towards America.

Now before I continue to that end, let me say that I have had the great opportunity to visit much of the US, and have therefore met many Americans. I can say without much hyperbole, that I cannot think of an incident in which I have been greeted by anything other than friendliness and welcoming.

I think the reason so many of my country-people feel the way they do about Americans is because of the constant litany of ignorance (albeit well-intentioned) we are faced with from Americans. The constant belief that we live in perpetual winter. We all eat seal meat. What side of the road do we drive on? Are our prices in US dollars? The captiol is Toronto. We are all communists because of our health care system. Have we ever seen a polar bear? Do we have hamburgers in Canada? Do we have televisions?

Before you accuse me of talking out of my a$$, these are ALL questions or statements I have personally had addressed to me from Americans!
Now, I do not think for a second that all Americans are so ignorant/uninformed, but when you consider that I have been to all but two states (Alasks & Hawaii), and have faced such guestions as close to home as Michigan (which borders my province (yes, we don't have states), it becomes somewhat disheartening. Especially when you consider that we are EACH OTHERS largest trade partners. Gurranteed most Americans think it's Japan. WRONG!!!

If you actually care about, or are somewhat rightfully bothered by how we Canadians think of you Americans, then take the time to learn a bit about us.

We are the second largest country in the world (after Russia).
We are your largest trade partner.
With only a few exceptions, we have stood by you on every issue (bearing in mind we are our own country and permitted to make our own soverign decisions).

Our relationship would be infinitely better if you (Americans) would make even a token effort to learn something about us, and not derive all you think you know about us from Hollywood.

Respectfully, your neighbour to the north

Rodders

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Canadians have been the bane of your existence? really? how so? and if we are .. then why would you choose to post in the Canada Channel where you're clearly going to encounter the ban of your existence? that just doesn't make sense to me ... unless your a sadist.

Though its lovely to know that down south in your little country your women think like us, because I do consider most of your population to be my arrogant wee neighbours to the south.

Rodders - even though I don't really know you ... its nice to see you back because for a while there I think the modboarders where gonna chuck you ... but hopefully now they won't.

And second you're much nicer in your replies then I.

Why did I come here? A culmination of things. Morbid curiosity, a quiet day in the pathology lab, or maybe I just wanted to see if I was over-generalizing in thinking that Canadians were pompous and arrogant. However, the smug tone of your reply only served to substantiate my initial opinion of you.

I am truly sorry for dropping by. It wont happen again.

Also, I made no mention of Australian women in my post nor the fact that they think like you do. I'd ask what the hell you are talking about, but really I couldn't give a damn. Oh, and the term you were after in your poorly worded exercise in simple-minded confusion is "masochist", NOT "sadist".

There! You have learned something. So it was not all in vain.
Have a good life.

Oh no I clearly meant sadist ... and the meaning of it ... sexual perversion in which gratification is obtained by the infliction of physical or mental pain on others ... the delight in cruelty ...

and clearly you don't know me, because that was just general curiousity, nothing smug about it

I know they were. They said as much. Will the note my activity and reverse their decision, or will I need to write them?

I don't find this site as enjoyable as I did. I get so many letters from people asking me for all manner of things other than simply communicating.

Thanks for the kind of words, though they can be every bit as fiery as you when cornered. Especially in this channel. :-)

Rod

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honestly i have no clue what you should do rodders ... i mean for a while there i thought they meant to chuck me because i have such a potty mouth at times. but maybe you should ask them if they're still planning to chuck you ... personally i doubt it just because well that was like 4 weeks ago and we'll you're not off the list so maybe they forgot.

as for the site being enjoyable ... its what you make of it; just delete the crap you don't like and move on ... thats what i do.

"With only a few exceptions, we have stood by you on every issue (bearing in mind we are our own country and permitted to make our own soverign decisions)."

And this is a good thing?

Ring the bells that still can ring.
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack, a crack in everything.
That's how the light gets in.

~ Leonard Cohen ~

Yes, I think it's a good thing that we are a sovereign nation separate from the US, and I suspect the vast majority of Canadians feel the same way.

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I do believe I can agree with Rodders

I meant the part where you stand by the US on nearly every issue! Not the part where you are another nation capable of making your own decisions. personally, if more nations would stand up and say I disagree with what you are doing, maybe the world would be a better place.

Ring the bells that still can ring.
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack, a crack in everything.
That's how the light gets in.

~ Leonard Cohen ~

[/quote] I meant the part where you stand by the US on nearly every issue! Not the part where you are another nation capable of making your own decisions. personally, if more nations would stand up and say I disagree with what you are doing, maybe the world would be a better place. [/quote]

Sorry Bluma. I thought you meant the other part.

Well when I say we stood by them on most issues, it's because very often, our best interests are the same as those of the US. This is true when it comes to trade, the environment, and many (though not all) security/defence issues.

We did not support them with regards to Iraq, and I am glad we did not. We took a lot of grief from Americans over that. Despite the fact that tens of thousands of American travelers were put up in Canadian homes on September 11th (a fact which few Americans care to acknowledge) because they were prevented from landing in the US, their leader and indeed many Americans only cared that we were not interested in attacking a country which had absolutely nothing to do with the attacks on the WTC et al.

We did not support them in Vietnam, and indeed gave refuge to people who were forced against their will to go to war. Also a sore point for many Americans.

So our geographical proximity, and the nature of our largely friendly relationship do dictate that we have many common goals, there have been many times where we do not see eye-to-eye.

Rodders

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Ring the bells that still can ring.
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack, a crack in everything.
That's how the light gets in.

~ Leonard Cohen ~

Well to respond to some of the dribble & manuer i have read here from jen.

Stereotypes such as all Canadians say "eh" or "still use dogsleds" bother you ? ... you don't say ? i got the same feeling when i read the "get the gun" reference you made OBVIOUSLY speaking of Americans. as if all 350 million of us go around shooting each other every time we have a disagreement. sorry to hear of those backward Americans who assaulted your intelligence when they inquired about the state of Canadian electricity and hunting deer. those ignorant bastards who don't know anything about the country will probably sure as hell never ask another Canadian anything. i'm sure you're forever scarred now from thier ignorance. it must have been hell. i only hope you can get through it.

I don't think Americans belittle Candians. if anything it's the opposite 9 times out of 10.

Other than South Park and Bill O'Reilly Americans have nothing against Canada. just some of it's know it all inhabitants. though 2 mounties and a moose in a canoe did once try to assault me with a hockey stick when i was up there, so i figure they must hand them out at birth eh? mooses, canoes and hockeysticks just my personal experience with Canadians

I can only please one person a day and today isn't your day. Tomorrows not looking to good either !