# U.S.A Hates Canada? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 27, 2002, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231 "2002-11-27T22:48:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Slugworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Slugworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slugworth)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/21 "2002-11-28T00:31:46Z")
Wait, wait, wait… You’re saying CNN compared Canada to Soviet Russia? … Like, one of the reporters, or just some schmuck that… for… some reason… CNN decided to interview? All of those insults, in fact, seem extraordinarily childish, and I can’t imagine _any_ news program carrying them, even Fox. When we don’t like a country, we say it’s part of the new axis of evil. We don’t call it Canuckistan. I’ll take your word for it, obviously, since you’ve nothing to gain by lying, but it’s very odd sounding. Certainly nothing like I’ve ever seen. Maybe Fox anchors up north are different. Aside from that, I’ve never in my life heard of an American with an active distaste for Canada. Quite the opposite actually, it seems Canadians love bashing Americans. In fact, didn’t you guys have an entire show devoted to it, where a guy asked Americans questions to make them look stupid? Basically, as I see it, any hostility between the two countries that I’ve ever seen comes when an American reveals that, like most other Americans, he has absolutely no opinions about Canada and even less knowledge of it, at which point a Canadian gets miffed, since he can name all 50 US states and is constantly inundated with our culture. I get the feeling you guys think about us a lot more than we think about you. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/22 "2002-11-28T01:23:10Z")
In my day to day life I’ve found that Canada doesn’t even register on the radar of Americans. And I live in Minnesota, for pity’s sake - it’s not like Canada’s not a neighbor or anything. Then again, I’ve found that freakin’ _Wisconsin_ doesn’t even register on the radar of Americans except for those Sundays when the Pack plays the Vikings. [sub]Y’all know I love the SDMB cos it keeps me from turning into a provincial rube, right? RIGHT?![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![slipster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@slipster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slipster)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/23 "2002-11-28T01:43:21Z")
To follow up on the last post, it is my observation that most people–at least in and around St. Louis, Missouri, honestly don’t think about Canada that often. In fact, I’ve had arguments with people who are convinced that Canada is not an independent country but is still a colony of Great Britain. When people here do think about Canada, it is generally because one or more Canadians did something which can reassure us as Americans that somebody, at least, is “like” us and seems to think we are okay. It appeared to be the same back in the late 1970s when I attended graduate school at Texas A&M. That was during the Iranian hostage crisis, and there was an incident in which the Canadian consulate (or embassy?) in Iran helped rescue some Americans. Thereafter there was an enormous outpouring of sympathy and affection for all things Canadian, and the Canadian flag was flown on campus. Similarly, during the Watergate crisis a disc jockey in Windsor, Ontario recorded a speech about how it was time to “stand up for the Americans”. People were feeling awfully shaky back then, and the recording served as a welcome emotional sop for a lot of people. For a while it was run the same as if it were a hit music recording on a lot of local stations in St. Louis. It is the ultimate vulgarity of the tourist to assume that foreigners “really” think and feel identically to people in one’s native culture. People in the U.S. are awfully prone to this, and it is especially easy to fall into when thinking about Canadians on account of the pronounced similarities between our countries and their physical proximity. If I had to sum up the attitude towards Canadians of most people I know, it is that Canadians are friendly, and are essentially like Americans except that they have less crime and pollution. To the extent that we regard them differently than other foreigners, it is in the fact that we are not so prone to assuming that they are secretly envious of us. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/24 "2002-11-28T02:24:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > \*\*I wouldn’t waste perfectly good salt on the likes of Pat Buchanan. \*\* God, no! I don’t even want to **imagine** the torrent of slime that would gush out if you poured salt on that slug! > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Slugworth (nice segue, huh?) \* > \*\*In fact, didn’t you guys have an entire show devoted to it, where a guy asked Americans questions to make them look stupid? \*\* Not a whole show, but the “Talking to Americans” segment of **This Hour Has 22 Minutes** (the reason I got cable in addition to satellite, so I cound get it from Vancouver). My favorite: asking USers what they thought of Canada’s new PM, Tim Horton. (My response: Don’t let him have a summit with Clinton, or there won’t be a doughnut left in the country . . .) ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/25 "2002-11-28T02:29:45Z")
Not as far as I can tell, although I didn’t know that the news depicted things that way. I know of no animosity towards your country amoungst my friends and acquantances. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/26 "2002-11-28T03:00:14Z")
In my experience as a Canadian who works lots of Americans, has lots of American friends, and travels quite a bit in the U.S., the American people almost universally like Canada and Canadians. However, if you asked if Canadians like America, I’d have to give you a different answer. There is a LOT of anti-American sentiment in Canada - particularly in the Liberal government and the industrial east, and in Canadian universities. It’s not as bad now as it was during the 80’s. I was in university in the 80’s, and even expressing support for the U.S. around campus was likely to get you yelled at by some young fool. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/27 "2002-11-28T03:07:51Z")
Even our supposed contempt for Canada has a modicum of respect. I tend to view “The fifty-first state” as more of an invitation than a jab. I think it’s all because of a collective wish that Rush might one day be retroactively made the Greatest (American) Band of the Millenium. ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/28 "2002-11-28T03:23:52Z")
Can’t believe noone’s mentioned the South Park movie yet 😉 Lyrics (WARNING: explicit) [http://www.mrhatshellhole.com/lyrics/blamecanada.htm](http://www.mrhatshellhole.com/lyrics/blamecanada.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/29 "2002-11-28T03:32:24Z")
The “Soviet Canuckistan” remark came from Pat Buchanan. Having nothing better to do, the Canadian media got into a froth about it a while back. They don’t seem to realize that Pat Buchanan has been nothing more than a paid sideshow entertainer for lo these many years, and currently has the political importance and clout of, say, Ozzy Osbourne. Both this and the “moron” debacle are the sort of inside-the-Beltway teapot tempests that no one cares about in the real world. Neither episode seems to have affected the feelings of the average Canadian or American. ---
**Author:** ![Ring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Ring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ring)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/30 "2002-11-28T04:01:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\* > > However, if you asked if Canadians like America, I’d have to give you a different answer. There is a LOT of anti-American sentiment in Canada - particularly in the Liberal government and the industrial east, and in Canadian universities. It’s not as bad now as it was during the 80’s. I was in university in the 80’s, and even expressing support for the U.S. around campus was likely to get you yelled at by some young fool. \*\* Many years ago I worked with a bunch of Canadians at a firm in Detroit Michigan. It was an almost universal feeling among these 10 or so people that the USA was a total piece of shit. I used to get into horrendous arguments with these guys and I’d constantly ask them why they were working in such a craphole country. Their reply: we don’t mind as long as we don’t have to live here. ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/31 "2002-11-28T04:11:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Splanky \* > \*\*I hear way too much Canada bashing around my way. Too much of the classic “blame Canada” and making fun of canadian accents. > > I’m half Canadian myself and I think Canada is a great place. A lot less assholes, a lot less dirty, and a lot less likely to be nuked by disgruntled muslim fanatics. \*\* I dont know what your talking aboot. …that was bad,I am such an asshole. I guess I’ll just go back to my dirty home in my dirty neighborhood and think about what I said and hope osama doesn’t nuke me… ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/32 "2002-11-28T04:40:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Slugworth \* > \*\* > > Aside from that, I’ve never in my life heard of an American with an active distaste for Canada. Quite the opposite actually, it seems Canadians love bashing Americans. In fact, didn’t you guys have an entire show devoted to it, where a guy asked Americans questions to make them look stupid? > > Basically, as I see it, any hostility between the two countries that I’ve ever seen comes when an American reveals that, like most other Americans, he has absolutely no opinions about Canada and even less knowledge of it, at which point a Canadian gets miffed, since he can name all 50 US states and is constantly inundated with our culture. I get the feeling you guys think about us a lot more than we think about you. \*\* I think there is a lot of truth to your comments Slugworth. I’ve spent the past 30 years outside of the US and the anti-American rhetoric by Canadians I’ve run into is very common. It almost appears as if they feel it is their life’s duty to speak disparingly about the US whenever they meet a Yank. And the only time I hear Americans complain about Canadians is after they have had to listen to a few to many of their diatribes. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/33 "2002-11-28T05:13:14Z")
Canadians? Love 'em! Even when they piss me off. Which is rare. I don’t even live near Canada, and I love 'em. Been there more often than I’ve been to any other country, by a long shot. Canada is like a brother, I figure… You can make fun of 'em, and argue with 'em, but in the end, they’re still family. Pretty sure most 'Mericans feel like-wise. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/34 "2002-11-28T05:31:05Z")
If you want to hear what Buchanan thinks, search for `Soviet Canuckistan’ on Google ([google.com](http://google.com) or google.ca :D). Whadda maroon, eh? ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/35 "2002-11-28T06:36:12Z")
The question seems to be garnering mostly opinion, so I’ll move this thread to IMHO. I’ll stick some GQ-type material in before I do though. Here’s a good source for U.S. public opinion about Canada: [http://www.canada-business.ro/focus/articles/apco/apco-insight1.htm](http://www.canada-business.ro/focus/articles/apco/apco-insight1.htm) It seems that most Americans have favorable opinions about Canada without actually knowing much about the country. For example, over 90% of Americans have a favorable general impression, but only 2% can name the Prime Minister. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/36 "2002-11-28T07:12:29Z")
I think they’re mostly harmless. ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/37 "2002-11-28T07:59:54Z")
We are harmless unless provoked… 😉 If Pat Buchanon is upset that one of Cretien’s lackeys insulted the intelligence of George W. I wonder what he would do if he caught a feed of the Royal Canadian Air Farce which lampoons Bush on a fairly regular basis. Take a peek at their online archives… [C is for Canada](http://www.airfarce.com/video/011231lh.ram) But in all fairness they are an equal opportunity offender… [Larry King Interviews Jean Cretien](http://www.airfarce.com/video/011231ah.ram) The rest of last seasons episodes can be found at: [http://www.airfarce.com/video/011231.html](http://www.airfarce.com/video/011231.html) It’s so nice they made them all available online. The Air Farce rocks. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/38 "2002-11-28T08:07:49Z")
I travel to Canada a fair amount on business. I was on a business trip in Canada on 9-11. I saw the planes arrive at Vancouver International Airport. I saw local residents come out to offer beds in their own homes, I saw the news reports on Churches and hotels setting up dorms for stranded travelers. I spoke with a lady who was in one of these dorms at a Hilton Hotel. She described to me how the hotel had put on a buffet that would shame a cruise ship. I had people ,who did not know me, offer their condolences to me when they found out I am an American. I am sure that every American that spent any time in Canada around 9-11 feels as I do. Canada is a great country, with good people living there. I think Tranquilis is right on about them being like brothers, they love to tease us dumb Americans, and we love to make fun of them saying Eh. However when the shit hits the electric fan, it is your family that you turn to. ---
**Author:** ![partly\_warmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@partly\_warmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partly_warmer)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/39 "2002-11-28T10:44:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by uglybeech \* > **I’ve never seen a study on it, but my guess is that most Americans not only like Canadians, but they’re only dimly aware that Canada is a separate country.** Lovely, evocative, and truthful turn of phrase. ---
**Author:** ![KenP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c0e974/32.png) [@KenP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KenP)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2002, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231/40 "2002-11-28T12:25:03Z")
No, Americans don’t hate Canadians, but… East Coast Americans hate flakey West Coast Americans. West Coast Americans hate uptight East Coast Americans. Both coasts hate the rubes in the fly-over states. North and south hate each other. Etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-a-hates-canada/139231.md?page=3)