Are You Out Of Your Minds? Us Think Canadiana Are Too Patriotic

The BBQ Pit
81

CheekyMonkey, good for you for not being afraid to post your opinions whole-heartedly, resulting in an interesting and hiliarious discussion. Too much pc-ness and too many sacred cows make these boards awfully boring sometimes.

And to answer your questions, Bruce_Daddy, yes, he does have the biggest and best of all the igloos. It is a veritable igloo mansion, with tons of parking for reindeer and sled dogs and everything. He can wear whatever he wants - he’s worshipped like a god here. Sometimes he wears gold lamé and a crown, but not very often (it’s a little much, even for him). And yes, the constant snow does get tiring, but the constant diet of blubber is even more vexing. Does that help at all? :smiley:

82

CheekyMonkey613, since you are relatively new here, you may not be aware that it is common to abbreviate someone’s name when addressing them. So if someone refers to you as “Cheeky,” or “Monkey” or CM, we are not trying to insult you. And yes, I already know that you didn’t say that we were.

I think that is part of your problem with the Americans. You have a problem with some of the things our government is doing. Hey! So do a lot of Americans! In fact, I think that you will find that most American Dopers do not have the views of the French that you have described.

Yes, that is exactly the perfume that I wear – L’Heure Bleue by Givenchy. I even made it a point to buy more perfume and French cheese when a handful of people were being silly about “freedom fries.” (I never did see those on a menu myself.) But please don’t expect me to stick the Givenchy up my ass. Customs might frown upon that when I am returning from Paris in April.

Some of my ancestors are also French – Fordes, Jettons, Brevards. Canadians don’t have a monopoly on that heritage, you know.

Yes, that probably is our biggest problem with Canada. Thirty years ago someone suggested that I wear one on a trip to Europe. Because I behaved myself and enjoyed the cultural differences, there was no need for it. I was treated warmly everywhere I went.

But it is a beautiful patch and I have a particular fondness for maple trees. My biggest problem with Canada is that such a lovely patch symbolizes your country and not mine.

I do want to let you know that the United States also makes some mighty fine maple syrup. Vermont is particularly well-known for it. We always keep something maple flavored around our house – pecans, candy, tea.

I’ve never heard the Superbowl champs referred to as the “world champions” but I will keep an ear out for that in January. Do many other countries play the American version of football? (Pardon my ignorance.)

To all Canadian Dopers, I’ve always thought of us as best friends – with your being the quieter more stable one. I do know that there have been times in recent years when you have been deeply wounded as a country and the American media virtually ignored it. The only reason that I knew about how the death of the soldiers affected you was because of the grieving of a Canadian friend.

I also think that some Americans were very rude after the Olympic hockey game. That didn’t get much coverage either.

I wish that I knew more about your history and your current events. In school it was all I could do to handle information about all of the 48 states. (blushing furiously)

I know that cheeky isn’t typical of Canadians. And I know that most of you know that the rudest and loudest Americans don’t speak for the rest of us either.

Pax

83

Paul Martin lost the leadership to Chrétien prior to the Kim Campbell election slaughter. Typically Finance minister is the second biggest job and Martin was given it to heal party wounds. It seems, however that Martin began his leadership bid about 5 minutes after loosing. Basically that entails getting your people into riding associations, getting new members to sign up, networking, building a leadership war chest etc. Prior to the last election Martin supporters became slightly too aggressive in their bid to have their guy take over. The then current PM (Chrétien) was lucky enough to have a newly minted (plus stupid) opposition leader challenge him to an election. Chrétien called the election and the Martin camp fell into line, on the assumption that this was the old man’s swan song. However, following victory, Chrétien argued that given such a large mandate (plus a historic electoral hat trick) from the people he couldn’t possibly leave. At that point the moves to replace Chrétien increased. With almost weekly corruption/ethical scandals coming up like mushrooms following a rain, Chrétien announced his retirement for February 2004. He announced it 18 months prior to the date. :dubious: Which was partially brilliant as it basically ran the mandate out, allowed Martin his run at the leadership and yet managed to maintain control of the party.

Personally I don’t like Mr. Chrétien’s politics or his ethics but damn! he can run a party.

84

It would probably help if they were more important than US states. I can name a number of governers and such from other states. But the fact is that events in California have more interest and impact for me than an internal political feud in the swamp across the pond.

85

Aren’t 3 of these statements of fact? Acknowledging the truth has nothing to do with patriotism.

In general, I find a lot more Canadians with an anti-American chip on their shoulder than I have Americans with an anti-Canadian one. I just assume that that’s only natural, given the relative affects the two nations have on eachother.

86

Dear American Dopers:

We’re not all unstable idiots. I for one embrace and enjoy our differences.

Love, Gingy

87

Lucki, I would like to apologise for how you were treated in Canada. When I was younger I remember teasing a couple of American kids once. It is provincial, small-minded and embarassing.

But hey, our incoming prime minister is going to make us all the best of friends!

88

I for one welcome my new Canadian overlord, in the form of my future wife Elenfair.

What’s that? Yes, dear…

89

I doubt most Italians can name the leader of Slovenia.

Also to the Cheeky: Yes, the Canadians entered WWII to save the Jewish people just like the US entered Iraq to free the Iraqi people.:rolleyes:

90

Chretien had decided on his own to step down during this term; the Liberal party sort of by acclamation pushed him to step down sooner during the term, since he was in effect a lame duck PM and the government couldn’t really table significant legislation with a lame duck leader.

While Chretien is beloved by the Liberal Party, it’s generally believed that change was needed to keep the party fresh. I personally am not the slightest bit impressed by Martin, but Liberals think he’s a godsend.

91

I’ve travelled around the US quite a bit, and I haven’t seen a whole bunch of anti-Canadian sentiment. In my experience, Americans realize they need Canadians. Without Canadians, who would be able to name all 50 states and their capitals?

We need that vast knowledge of American geography that Canadians are taught at an early age.

92

I’m not impressed with Martin either. For one, it’s very hard to pinpoint what he thinks about anything. Perhaps he only thinks of money. He was pretty impressive as a businessman, and of course he no longer has any connection to big business since he signed over his company, Canada Shipping Lines to his sons… :stuck_out_tongue: For anyone who’s interested, this is a link to a timeline of Paul Martin’s life :

http://www.cbc.ca/disclosure/archives/030401_csl/timeline.html

I just want to add that, as a fellow Montrealer, I’m embarrassed by the contents and tone of the used by CM in the OP.

matt_mcl : glad you pointed out the “ton front est sein” bit, it kept me from ranting.

BTW, CM, “aïeux” is the word for ancestors. Your not knowing the words to our national anthem leads me to believe that you were playing the troll, that you are not as obnoxiously patriotic as you seem.

93

Is this yet another closeted Americaphile who hangs out on a(predominantly) American message board most of their waking hours just waiting for a shit on America thread to open up for them to pounce on?

Yawn-o-rama…

You and the rest of the cluster fucks need to stop hanging out here in order to gain a shred of credibility - you hate America and what it stands for? Stop hanging out on a fucking predominatly American message board!

As far as Canada is concerned, I have spent a very good portion of last month in Montreal - and guess what? They loved me! They thought I was American until I explained my funny (Australian) accent to them…and I loved them!

This board is bizzare with the amount of foreigners who continously hang out here to slam this fine nation…I just don’t get it! Stop the crazy obsession, and these threads are old and tired!

Viva la America! (Honestly one of the greatest nations on this earth!)

Flame accordingly.

94

**

We didn’t go to war to save Jews or anybody else so the question isn’t relevant. England and Canada certainly didn’t go to war to save Jews so why bring this question up? Europeans had a chance to prevent the war before it ever stopped but they failed. Sure, Canada was there before the United States but we did more to help the war effor then Canada was capable of.

**

Nah, but it is kind of cute when you guys bitch and moan about America.

Marc

95

::: sigh::: :confused:
There are some things I just don’t understand about CM’s attitude.
I am an American, and I get to visit Canada several times a year on business. I was in Vancouver on 9/11 and saw planes lined up on the runway. I saw the traffic jams as local people went to the airport to offer the stranded people a place to stay. I recall crying when I drove up the highway toward Whistler and saw a small town that had an American flag flying over the post office.
I also recall the story of how Canadians smuggled out some Americans from Iran when the hostages were taken.
IMHO the USA would have to look long and hard to find a better friend, over the long haul, than Canada.
However with that said, last week when I was in Vancouver there were headlines in the paper about a teenaged Filipino boy that was beaten to death, apparently for being Filipino. WTF? In a country that prides itself in being multicultural a kid gets beaten to death over being from another country? So it would appear that all is not perfect in the land of igloos, maple syrup and hockey. This is not the pot calling the kettle black; OG knows that the US has plenty of problems, just pointing out that Canada isn’t as perfect as CM would have us believe.
It seems to me that Canada and the US are like two siblings. We point and giggle about the other, and call each other names and what not, but when the shit hits the fan, we do recall that we are part of the same family.
Good people Canadians, I’m just not sure if I could take sleeping in igloos all the time. :smiley:

96

CHEEKYMONKEY –

Well, how ever many there were, God rest them, they were apparently dying after y’all were already off your asses, so maybe this isn’t really a great point for you to be making. I mean, if we were tardy, what did that make you? (Note to every other Canadian reading this: The above argument is made for solely for the sake of pointing up the stupidity of this statement. Thank you for your countrymen’s brave and selfless service in WWII. Be assured that I am well aware that if Americans cannot reasonably be blamed for the Holocaust, neither can they be credited for winning the war alone. But surely you see that your compatriot is a schmuck.)

You’re so cute when your voice gets all querolous and squeaky like that. You do realize how transparent your pretextual OP is, yes? You claim to be offended that certain Americans think Canadians are too patriotic, and so rather than address that, you attack America. You choose to be insulted by something that is not really insulting, and then use that as an excuse to be obviously insulting. The thing that’s most laughable about it, of course, is that in attempting to show just how awful we Americans are, you’re being as awful as you possibly could be. Here’s a tip: The way to take issue with the idea of the Ugly American is not by being the personification of the Ugly Canadian. Because accusing us of being a bunch of assholes while being a total asshole yourself pretty much blows your credibility to hell, you know?

And if you think the poll finding that some Americans think you’re too patriotic was insulting, prepare to be really insulted: The truth is, the average American doesn’t have an opinion on the level of patriotism by Canadians to Canada, because the average American has never given so much as one moment’s thought to the issue at all. Call it self-centered arrogance, ignorance of world events, whatever – and there you might have a point – but the brutal truth is that Canadian patriotism (or the lack or excess thereof) is firmly in the category of “Things Americans Do Not Give The Single Smallest Shit About.”

So don’t be insulted to find we think you’re too patriotic. Be insulted that most of us truly, deeply don’t care. It’s not that we think you’re great; it’s not that we think you suck. It’s that we don’t think of you at all.

97

…no it isn’t. They’re completely different. We’ve got a moron for a president, you’ve got a beaver.

Sincerely,

A very edumacated 'Merikan

98

And let’s keep it that way. The more the US doesn’t notice Canada, the happier I am.

99

I’m trying to figure out where the state of Canadiana is. Is it equally distant from Indiana, across Michigan?

100

Don’t get me wrong; we notice you. Cute guys, great shopping, laid-back people, beautiful country – what’s not to like? If I couldn’t be an American, I’d be a Canadian in a heartbeat. Heck, if I fell in love with a Canadian, I’d move there in a minute and change citizenship without a qualm. IMO, the only way Bush can reasonably get away with telling Britian it is the U.S.'s best international friend is if he’s considering Canada to be family.

But we Americans are a self-involved lot, especially politically. And Canada has been largely irrelevant in the latest political discussions down here because it has decided to decline to support us in our recent actions. And I take not issue with that, but when you ask someone to help and they say “No thanks,” then you move on to asking someone else, or trying to get things done yourself. You don’t stand there and think “Gee, I wonder what that guy who said ‘no’ is doing now?”

So to believe that most Americans think Canadians are too patriotic is IMO assuming they care about the issue at all. And we don’t. Heck, I’m more aware of Canadian social and political issues than most, living up by the border and listening to Canadian radio, and even I don’t care about it. Because it is an issue that has zero relevance to my life or the current political life of my nation. Besides, however patriotic you all may be, you have every reason to be: You live in a great country. And that is something that most Americans do believe.