# What does the USA have against Canada?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 21, 2001, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-usa-have-against-canada/83036 "2001-09-21T16:21:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![adzoa\_k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b782af/32.png) [@adzoa\_k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adzoa_k)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-usa-have-against-canada/83036/1 "2001-09-21T16:21:27Z")
Seriously…i was offended to not hear Canada mentioned in Bush’s speech last night. Is it because we aren’t that ‘foreign’ in US eyes? Are we just seen a big ass northern state? Are you mad because half your celebs are Canadian??? Please, clue me in! 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Airblairxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Airblairxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airblairxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-usa-have-against-canada/83036/2 "2001-09-21T16:33:42Z")
It’s just that you’re so . . . _Canadian._ ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-usa-have-against-canada/83036/3 "2001-09-21T16:34:52Z")
Huge WAG here, but given that your reference was to Bush’s speech, I would assume that he mentioned those nationalities that were politically prudent to mention, and Canada, for this situation, didn’t fall into that category. He mentioned Pakistan first - obvious political connection. He mentioned a number of countries that are predominantly muslim or whose people could be portrayed as “foreigners” to your average American, to bring home the point that we can’t just look at people who don’t look like us and assume they didn’t suffer, too. He mentioned Britain because Tony Blair was there and a large proportion of the foreign nationals were British (200 plus, IIRC). So, I don’t get the impression there was an intentional snub… ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-usa-have-against-canada/83036/4 "2001-09-21T17:08:16Z")
1: Bush != “The USA” 2: Speeches given before a joint session of congress need to be concise and too the point. Simply put, strengthening relations between the US and the other countries mentioned was higher on the agenda. 1. I think the support and solidarity of Canada and the US, in both directions, is always just assumed as a de facto relationship. The relationship we have with Canada is so good it’s like we’re one bigass country (Canada being the 51st state, of course. 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-usa-have-against-canada/83036/5 "2001-09-21T17:18:36Z")
_This_ American has a Canadian flag on the sleeve of his jacket. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-usa-have-against-canada/83036/6 "2001-09-21T17:55:34Z")
According to the CBC digest I just received, [Chrétien didn’t think y’all were snubbed](http://www.cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?/news/2001/09/21/snub010921). BTW, did I mention I liked Canada long before all this happened? ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-usa-have-against-canada/83036/7 "2001-09-21T17:56:44Z")
I don’t know of any American, including myself, that doesn’t think Canada is a great neighbor. I don’t think Bush slighted Canada, given that he had a lot of information to pack into his speech. As for neglecting to mention that Canada had casualties in the WTC, well, there were 80? 82? countries also affected, and he didn’t mention many of those, either. As for not mentioning the fact that Canada sent aid, Israel also sent aid, and they were not mentioned, at least not in that context. Those were the two areas that I could think of that you might feel slighted about. Don’t worry, Canada. We still love you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![adzoa\_k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b782af/32.png) [@adzoa\_k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adzoa_k)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-usa-have-against-canada/83036/8 "2001-09-21T18:02:45Z")
_sniff_ thanks guys…our feelings were just hurt a 'lil bit…i’m sure if the Isreali prime minister was thanking various countries for their support and left out you’d feel a little neglected too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cmburns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@cmburns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmburns)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-usa-have-against-canada/83036/9 "2001-09-21T18:16:44Z")
Thousands of people are dead, including some of your countrymen, the bodycount is sure to increase in the coming months of strike and counterstrike, hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs, and you’re upset because you feel snubbed? I have seen many, many news stories mentioning the incredible support that Canada has given us over the last two weeks. When Bush said that the US had no greater friend than the UK, my very first thought was “What about Canada?”. Not mentioning Canada was a serious ommision, but do you really think it was intentional, or indicative of America’s feelings? Maybe Bush and his speechwriters had a few other things to worry about than making sure not to hurt anyone’s feelings. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-usa-have-against-canada/83036/10 "2001-09-21T18:27:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by adzoa k \* > \*\*Seriously…i was offended to not hear Canada mentioned in Bush’s speech last night. Is it because we aren’t that ‘foreign’ in US eyes? Are we just seen a big ass northern state? Are you mad because half your celebs are Canadian??? Please, clue me in! 😕 \*\* We’re still pissed about the burning of the White House in the War of 1812. :D:D ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-usa-have-against-canada/83036/11 "2001-09-21T18:28:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dire Wolf \* > **I don’t know of any American, including myself, that doesn’t think Canada is a great neighbor.** I’ll second that. It’s funny because as soon as Bush mentioned Great Britain as our most faithful ally I immediately thought, What about Canada?" I guess I wasn’t alone. (Make no mistake…GB is a wonderful ally as well.) I suppose this is one of those things that is just taken so much for granted that it slipped by. Still, I can understand the hurt as well. In any relationship it’s nice to be told you’re loved no matter how much that love is just assumed to be there (i.e. how often do you tell your parents or siblings you love them?). IIRC the US and Canada share the longest undefended border in the world. That’s just one measure of the trust I believe our two countries share. In short, **adzoa k** , don’t feel too slighted because of a slipup from our President. I have yet to meet an American with a bad thing to say about Canada (truly) and I, for one, love your country. The US is _very_ fortunate to have friends such as Canada with us. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-usa-have-against-canada/83036/12 "2001-09-21T18:36:59Z")
Does Canada have an icon like our Uncle Sam who might be female and we could hook up with ol Sam? I’d bet they’d have gorgeous kids. I also noticed it as was mildly surprised. But this has been a wierd time with the US making comments about UK, Canada, Mexico and Ireland all of which seem to be mutually exclusive. Ireland’s on the lowest end but I’ve seen it called great things too. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-usa-have-against-canada/83036/13 "2001-09-21T18:53:06Z")
Cana_who_? Just joshin’, y’all are cool. So, is Canada sending their plane to help the war effort? No, really, I kid because I love. ---
**Author:** ![Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milton_De_La_Warre)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-usa-have-against-canada/83036/14 "2001-09-21T19:46:43Z")
Does anyone know how many Canadians (aprox.) were killed in the WTC atrocity? IMHO, if an American doesn’t love Cannda, they at least like it a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2001, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-usa-have-against-canada/83036/15 "2001-09-21T20:02:34Z")
Between 35 and 50 Canadians are missing in the WTC attack: [http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/RTGAMArticleHTMLTemplate/C/20010921/wcanadianmissing?hub=homeBN&tf=tgam/realtime/fullstory.html&cf=tgam/realtime/config-neutral&vg=BigAdVariableGenerator&slug=wcanadianmissing&date=20010921&archive=RTGAM&site=Front&ad\_page\_name=breakingnews](http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/RTGAMArticleHTMLTemplate/C/20010921/wcanadianmissing?hub=homeBN&tf=tgam/realtime/fullstory.html&cf=tgam/realtime/config-neutral&vg=BigAdVariableGenerator&slug=wcanadianmissing&date=20010921&archive=RTGAM&site=Front&ad_page_name=breakingnews) (That’s got to be the longest link I’ve ever seen.) ---
**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:** [September 21, 2001, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-usa-have-against-canada/83036/16 "2001-09-21T20:07:17Z")
This isn’t really a general question. I’ll close it rather than move it because there are already several 2 threads in other forums on this subject. In the Pit [Bush snubs Canada](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=88619) In Great Debates [Why wasn’t Canada Mentioned?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=88569) I think I saw another in either MPSIMS or IMHO, but I’m not sure. bibliophage moderator GQ