Aquarius, you have to grow up a little bit here. I live in the US and that is a horribly ignorant question to ask.
What the heck does your question mean? I’m pretty sure if you look hard enough you’ll find the Canadians helped out with numerous operations.
I saw this on TV the other day but just one example of Canada helping out is on the landing in Normandy during WWII. Did you know they had the responsibility of taking a beachhead? Yeah they stormed the beaches right along with us and the english.
Present day, let’s talk about NORAD… you know what, I can’t believe I’m actually wasting my time answering this post.
This really is a great debate, but that’s for the moderators to decide, I guess.
Public opinion is a little more ambivalent up here about this war. Almost all of us felt sympathy for the US after the attacks, but opinion is a lot more divided about the response.
Some wholeheartedly support the US. Others support the idea of the War on Terrorism, but are skeptical of the US’s ability to carry it out, or want the UN to be in charge instead. Others, like myself, are against the war, but would have no problem committing medical supplies, and, if it ever becomes necessary, peacekeeping troops. Still others are against any involvement at all.
Our leader, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, has (for once) correctly read the public’s if-fy mood, and has been very careful about what kind of troops he commits, if any.
Add in the anger in this country when it looked like the US was trying to dictate our immigration policy (we are a separate country, and don’t take kindly to things like that), and the backlash the government caused when it tried to restrict our civil rights for “security reasons,” and you might see why many Canadians are getting very uncomfortable with the War on Terrorism.
Psycho, I know you’ve read what I and other posters have said in your ATMB thread. Do please take some time to consider these responses. You can voice just about anything that’s on your mind on these boards, but you gotta follow a few basics.
If you’re pissed off with Canada, then 1: you’re wrong - it has been an unwavering friend of the United States in the past two months and before, and 2: The is is the wrong forum for a rant. Try the BBQ Pit or Great Debates.
I would suggest that relations between Canada and the United States haven’t been “tense” in about eighty or ninety years, and cannot be said to be “tense” now or in the recent past by any meaningful working definition of that term. The disagreements Canada and the USA have are, by the standards of international relations, insignificant. If our countries have “tense” relations, then every country has tense relations with every other country, because Canada-USA is the absolute benchmark of a friendly international relationship.
When the worst grudge your countries have are
a) Canada’s mild inferiority complex satiated by the occasional mention of “Canada” on a sitcom, as long as it doesn’t seem to suggest there is any snow in Canada,
b) Lingering debate over who really won the War of 1812, a war that was not substantially more intense than your average soccer riot,
c) The USA’s discomfort at being subjected to the seemingly neverending import of environmentally hazaradous Canadian waste, such as Celine Dion, and
d) Generally ignorant bitterness over the U.S. entering World War One late, even though, frankly, CANADA would have been better off not getting involved, either, counterbaanced by weird rants about Canada not sending combat troops to Afgahnistan although it appears the Taliban would at this point lose a war to the Detroit Lions,
your countries are doing pretty good in the ol’ international relations department.
Psycho is an idiot. Mods - let’s hurry up and move this thread to the pit so that we can really show our thoughts!
[rant]
I am a proud Canadian. Some of the responses in this thread although well meaning (in defence of our great nation), indicate a complete lack of understanding on the part of some people.
As previously pointed out in this thread, the phrase “where is Canada?” is rather pitiful. Where were the Americans during WW1 (they came in at the last moment to save the day, but it was the other nations of the world who fought and suffered the most on those bloody battlefields). If you’ve never heard of Vimy Ridge, Dieppe or the Somme, I suggest you do some research before you comment on Canada’s involvement in global conflicts. These were only WW1 battles. I’ll let you find the references for WW2 and Korea on your own (if you’re interested, drop me an email and I’ll give you a detailed history lesson - it was my major at university).
Canada “helped out” with the Normandy invasion?! That’s an understatement if I ever heard one. Again, please do some research.
“Canada has/had 5000 troops on standby to go into Afghanistan”. Not quite. We only had 1000 (the 3rd battalion of the PPCLI (Pricess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry)). They were on 48hrs notice to move, and that has now been changed to 7 days notice to move. Along with many other Canadians, I am personally disappointed with Mr. Chretien’s handling of our involvement in this affair.
Canada came immediately to the aid of our fellow Americans after the tragic events of 9/11. This support included financial, medical and rescue aid. Several posters have referred to the reception of hundreds of trans-oceanic flights that were diverted to Canada immediately following the attacks. Where do you think all those people stayed when they were stuck here for several days? Answer - the homes of Canadians (your welcome).
Ever heard of Gordon Sinclair? If not, I’ll let you exercise your web-searching skills.
September 14, 2001 at 12 noon… a hastily organized ceremony to honour the victims of 9/11 in Ottawa (Canada’s capital) drew over 100,000 people. Consider this along with the fact that Ottawa has a population of approximately 700,000. That means almost 1 in 7 people came out to this moving ceremony.
Canada’s involvement in Vietnam? First, we won’t even go into the reasons why the Americans and French (who fought and lost before the Americans became entrenched there) should or shouldn’t have been there in the first place. The 10,000 Canadians who fought as Marines during this conflict included my uncle, who incidentally was wounded twice.
Canada and the US share one of the most friendly international relationships in the world. I have no idea what you’re talking about when you mention “tense”. Trade disagreements do not make for international “tensions”.
Where would the NHL be if not for the fact that over 60%of the players in the league are from Canada (sorry, had to throw this point in, after all, I am a Canuck).
RickJay, you forgot the number one issue: Softwood Lumber-- 'cause sure as hell we don’t like being slapped with a 30% export tariff when we supposedly have preferred trading nation status.
And as for the Expos Captain Amazing, they can disappear for all I care. But that’s just because I’m still upset at being bodyslammed by Youppi! as a kid.
What every other Canadian in this thread has said and more. You’re 14? You should be able to read by now, if you can uncross your eyes for that long. Pick up a history book and read it. Don’t just look at the pictures.
If you are wondering just what Canada has been up to, then ask in General Questions without putting a spin on your question: “How has Canada participated in the War Against Terrorism?” You will get lots of informative, fact based replies. The key to a good question is to divorce it as far as possible from an opinion, and similarly, to not present an opinion disguised as a question. Look at your OP. Are you giving us your opinion or are you asking a question?
2) Argument
If, having thoroughly researched how Canada has participated in the War Against Terrorism, and having formed your own personal opinion that the level of participation is unsatisfactory, then you might go to Great Debates with “Canada should increase it’s international military participation.” People with differing opinions would then discuss the issue with you, providing facts to back up their arguments, just as they will expect you to back up your arguments with facts. You will also be expected to use logic rather than rhetoric. Thus comments such as “The flag is a leaf. need i say more?” are not acceptable. See if any of the following fallacies can be found in your OP: false dilema, appeal to ignorance, prejudicial language, attacking the person, hasty generalization, unrepresentative sample, slothful induction, exclusion, complex cause, begging the question.
3) Excretion
If you wish to blow off steam, take it to The Pit: “Canada: No flag. No help. I’m tired of them.” Just keep in mind that any lack of facts or lack of logic will be canon fodder for those who disagree with you, and they may not necessarily be as polite and restrained as in other fora.
Now please go back and look at your OP and think about which of my three examples it most resembles, and which forum it should be in. If, after due consideration, you believe that it should be moved, then you can ask a moderator to move it.
I am probably the only Canadian alive who has never understood why we criticize the US for not entering World War One until 1917, so forgive me a slight hijack.
To answer your question “where were the Americans during WW1,” here’s your answer; they were at home staying out of the stupidest, most absolutely pointless war that has ever been fought in the history of the human race, which is what Canada should have been doing. THEY were right to stay out of it. WE were wrong to be involved in it. (Yes, I know that Great Britain declared war on Canada’s behalf. We were still very enthusiastic in the level of support we provided.)
People lump late American involvement in both World Wars together because… well, because they just aren’t thinking very hard, I guess. What possible justification could the USA have had for entering WWI in 1914? They had no conceivable pretense or justification for declaring war on Germany then. It was a stupid and bloody waste on both sides. The U.S. entered the war at exactly the appropriate time; when they had actually been subject to acts of war by Germany.
Hokay- let’s shut this one down. Any possible question in the OP has been answered (and well answered), and should you feel a need to flame, start it up in the Pit.