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Ripping on Americans. A message to Canadians
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| karim |
THE USA. The country us canadians love to hate. Why is that? Do we hate them because they're so ignorant to what makes us Canadians? Are we that much better because we know everything about them and they know jack about us?
NO. We're not better, we're not worse. Most Canadians have a better understanding of american politics than they do of Canadian politics. Most Canadians are clueless about the tensions between the west coast and ottawa, and the east coast vs. ottawa. It seems the only thing we know about in Canadian politics is that Quebec wanted to seperate. We only know about it because everybody remembers that one Halloween where the referendum was taking place. Hell, I was young enough to trick or treat back then and remember EVERY HOUSE that I went to had it on.
Now don't get me wrong, there are alot of well informed Canadians (Jayx1 et al.) but the majority of us are clueless. Those who do watch the news, simply choose CNN/ABC/NBC/CBS news over the CBC, Global News, or other Canadian based news channels. There may be an oversaturation of American news, and sure, alot of American news is important on a world scale, but choosing not to hear about Canadian news is a ing shame. The choice is there, it's on you to make it.
I'm sure many of you are reading this realizing that you don't know too much about what's going on in Canada. You prolly didn't hear about the extreme tension that was happening when Newfoundland was pissed off at Ottawa, or the Canadian cattle crisis that seems like will never end. Those who do know, good on you. Those who don't, research it. This stuff matters.
If you're gonna rip on americans, be informed.
A message to all the americans out there, I don't hate you, I just hate some of your populations very right wing bible humping views.
Note: nothing on this board triggered my rant. I was actually overhearing some people yesterday bashing americans and they were completely clueless.
:)
Karim |
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| Moral Hazard |
Karim, I think you would be surprised at how well informed our countrymen are when contrasted with the general populations of most other industrialized nations. Truth is, there is always a large portion of every the citizenry in every state that couldn't be bothered to care about what is happening outside their door. I think that Canada has fewer of those people but I have nothing to back that up.
FYI, I think the resentment we have toward the US is a reaction to the reality that everything that happens in the US effects us whereas very little of what happens here effects them. Like PET said, "it is like sharing a bed with an elephant, every time it moves you feel it". I think we just wish they would move a little less. |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by karim
THE USA. The country us canadians love to hate. Why is that? Do we hate them because they're so ignorant to what makes us Canadians? Are we that much better because we know everything about them and they know jack about us?
NO. We're not better, we're not worse. Most Canadians have a better understanding of american politics than they do of Canadian politics. Most Canadians are clueless about the tensions between the west coast and ottawa, and the east coast vs. ottawa. It seems the only thing we know about in Canadian politics is that Quebec wanted to seperate. We only know about it because everybody remembers that one Halloween where the referendum was taking place. Hell, I was young enough to trick or treat back then and remember EVERY HOUSE that I went to had it on.
Now don't get me wrong, there are alot of well informed Canadians (Jayx1 et al.) but the majority of us are clueless. Those who do watch the news, simply choose CNN/ABC/NBC/CBS news over the CBC, Global News, or other Canadian based news channels. There may be an oversaturation of American news, and sure, alot of American news is important on a world scale, but choosing not to hear about Canadian news is a ing shame. The choice is there, it's on you to make it.
I'm sure many of you are reading this realizing that you don't know too much about what's going on in Canada. You prolly didn't hear about the extreme tension that was happening when Newfoundland was pissed off at Ottawa, or the Canadian cattle crisis that seems like will never end. Those who do know, good on you. Those who don't, research it. This stuff matters.
If you're gonna rip on americans, be informed.
A message to all the americans out there, I don't hate you, I just hate some of your populations very right wing bible humping views.
Note: nothing on this board triggered my rant. I was actually overhearing some people yesterday bashing americans and they were completely clueless.
:)
Karim |
Right on! People love to talk american politics and bash bush but try and tell them about our own government wrong doings and they have no idea. Canadians can be just as ignorant as americans but in different fields. |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Moral Hazard
Karim, I think you would be surprised at how well informed our countrymen are when contrasted with the general populations of most other industrialized nations. Truth is, there is always a large portion of every the citizenry in every state that couldn't be bothered to care about what is happening outside their door. I think that Canada has fewer of those people but I have nothing to back that up.
FYI, I think the resentment we have toward the US is a reaction to the reality that everything that happens in the US effects us whereas very little of what happens here effects them. Like PET said, "it is like sharing a bed with an elephant, every time it moves you feel it". I think we just wish they would move a little less. |
I'd tend to disagree. I found Europeans much more informed about their local politics as well as the politics in other countries. And they were much more passionate and willing to discuss them. Most of my dutch family members know who our prime minister is! I couldnt tell you the dutch one to save my life! |
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| b4k-oz |
OK this thread is a joke right? :stongue: :haha:
LOL....Jayx1's ego must be flying right now  |
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| karim |
I mentioned in my first post that when the 95 referendum was taking place, every house I went to had it on. So yeah, people do tune in. But the people that do are my parents, their friends, etc.
The younger generation for the most part simply doesn't care. I'm in Poli Sci at Mac and I'm surprised how many kids in my program know jack , let alone other programs. So many students in my program only jumped on it because they took a mild interest in this "fight the machine" mentality that's anti capitalist, and anti imperialist. Nobody sits down to read or care about what actually happens to our fellow countrymen.
People in the US are not as dumb as we're all led to believe either. Yeah Canadians beat them in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), but when they're smart, they're smart! Most of their universities are no easier than our top universities here.
There are some incredible parts of the USA and some great people. But like every country, there are people we can't like. Canada is no exception.
:)
Karim |
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| Moral Hazard |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
I'd tend to disagree. I found Europeans much more informed about their local politics as well as the politics in other countries. And they were much more passionate and willing to discuss them. Most of my dutch family members know who our prime minister is! I couldnt tell you the dutch one to save my life! |
Three things.... first, the passion that Europeans display when talking about their local politics may very well be why you received the impression that they are better informed. The more passion they have the more it will be talked about. That doesn't mean that they are well informed, only that they voice their opinions more readily. PLEASE NOTE, I am not saying you are incorrect, only that there may be an alternative reason.... I've seen no studies on this.
Second, you have to look differently when talking about LOCAL politics in Canada then in Europe. Local in Europe may mean national but in Canada it is more provincial. Let's not forget that due to our federal system we are really more like the EU as a whole then like any one of its member countries.
Third, the amount of interest one state's populace has in the current events of another state is mainly linked to the historical or economic interest the people of that state have tied to the other. It's interesting that you cite Dutch relatives knowing who the PM is. This does not surprise me as the Dutch have taken a very keen interest in Canada ever since the second great war. If you go there and identify yourself as a Canadian many of the oldtimers will still give you a free beer and want to shake your hand. I met a man in Rotterdam that thanked me for over 20 minutes for the role my grandfather played in liberating the village he grew up in. Likewise, Canada has a keen interest in the US as our economic well being is tied to theirs. |
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| karim |
| quote: | Originally posted by b4k-oz
ok |
Wow, powerful words. I guess that settles this debate.
:p
Karim |
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| rabbitjoker |
| quote: | Originally posted by karim
Note: nothing on this board triggered my rant. I was actually overhearing some people yesterday bashing americans and they were completely clueless. |
If effecting change is the objective - wouldn't it be better to give this message to people who were bashing in the first place? |
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| b4k-oz |
| quote: | Originally posted by rabbitjoker
If effecting change is the objective - wouldn't it be better to give this message to people who were bashing in the first place? |
LOL That's what I thought too.... :p
Wait....is that why he named Jayx1 hahahahaha |
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| Jayx1 |
| lots of TAs american bash |
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