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McKenna tells Canadians to stop being smug when dealing with U.S.
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| EvilTree |
http://www.canada.com/news/national...4f-818cd8f3bea3
Canadian Press
June 4, 2005
ADVERTISEMENT
OTTAWA (CP) - Frank McKenna, Canada's tough-talking ambassador to the U.S., has some advice for Canadians dealing with their powerful neighbours to the south - stop being smug and take the chip off your shoulders.
Americans are offended when Canadians attack them and endlessly moralize about what they should be doing differently, he said Friday.
"In short, a self-righteousness that isn't very flattering," McKenna told The Canadian Press annual dinner, a gathering of journalists and power-brokers.
McKenna, fresh from media tours in the U.S. where he tried to correct false American impressions of Canada, turned the table on his Canadian audience, calling on them to have a better understanding of Americans.
The world changed dramatically for Americans on Sept. 11, and dealing with the shock and fear of the next attack "trumps all other issues and all other relationships," he said.
"As Canadians, we intellectually acknowledge this reality, but we do not comprehend the full depth of the emotional scarring caused by that extraordinary event."
"It has changed America. Americans are consumed with the need to protect their physical security and economic security."
McKenna said that Ottawa's increase in spending for the military and foreign aid budgets have been well-received in Washington.Traditional diplomatic fights such as softwood lumber and BSE remain.
But fear of terrorist attacks is behind the latest diplomatic spat.
The recent move by Americans to have all foreign carriers register their passenger lists if they fly over the U.S. is causing trouble around the world.
Americans are also preoccupied with social security reform, soaring oil prices and being reliant on external markets for the majority of its supplies.
The growing economic might of China has given rise to an increase in protectionist rhetoric in the U.S., he added.
"Although Americans respect us and like us, they do not think about us very much," he conceded.
To raise Canada's profile, McKenna is looking to support from a fifth column - "the Canadian diaspora."
There are up to three million expatriate Canadians living in the U.S. and McKenna said he's looking to marshal them so they can help Ottawa on issues of importance to Canada.
© The Canadian Press 2005
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For a Liberal, I like this guy. Often I see ignorant abuse of Yanks and I'm like, wtf.
Also interesting that there's up to 3 mil Canadians living in US... That's what, 1/10 of Canada's total pop. |
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| Jem_hadar |
| quote: | Originally posted by EvilTree
Often I see ignorant abuse of Yanks and I'm like, wtf.
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Me too. Its annoying and unflattering as he said. Many of us do need to get off our high horse and just stop bashing the US bc its the popular thing to do.
-jem- |
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| b4k-oz |
ok...to be blunt WTF :conf:
If anyone is smugg it's the American and their attitude towards Canada.
And if you disagree then that's fine but I think you should know...I'm originally an American living in Canada ...and I am proud to now call myself a Canadian. :thepirate |
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| Jem_hadar |
| quote: | Originally posted by b4k-oz
ok...to be blunt WTF :conf:
If anyone is smugg it's the American and their attitude towards Canada.
And if you disagree then that's fine but I think you should know...I'm originally an American living in Canada ...and I am proud to now call myself a Canadian. :thepirate |
Heh, I have cousins that were born up here in Victoria and lived there most till around 10 when the parents moved down south to Michigan, then Chicago.
I think they consider themselves more American than Canadian. |
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| DarkAngel |
| quote: | Originally posted by b4k-oz
If anyone is smugg it's the American and their attitude towards Canada.
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^Doesn't apply to me. :)
I don't carry that attitude, to be honest. I know some people who do, but that's them, not me. :) |
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| Jayx1 |
| Great article. canadians pride themselves on being more worldly and humble than americans. Ironically the only difference between most canadians and most americans is that we know about canada and the US interests whereas americans only know about their own affairs. Canadians are even more arrogant than Americans. The Americans i know at least are willing to admit that they dont know much about what goes on outside their own borders, Canadians think they know it all but many couldnt even ID our own prime minister if shown a picture of him. |
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| b4k-oz |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
Great article...Canadians are even more arrogant than Americans. The Americans i know at least are willing to admit that they dont know much about what goes on outside their own borders, Canadians think they know it all but many couldnt even ID our own prime minister if shown a picture of him. |
Now now jay...your blue colours are showing again :stongue:
Seems to me you've been hanging around some really wierd Canadians. I told you....you shouldn't hang out with all those Hare Krishnas'...what would they know about our prime ministers.
BTW...asking all the new argentinian immigrants don't count either...they are clueless....you gotta stop barking up their tree bud.....sooner or later your gonna get crapped on :stongue: :haha: :stongue: :tongue3 |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by b4k-oz
Now now jay...your blue colours are showing again :stongue:
Seems to me you've been hanging around some really wierd Canadians. I told you....you shouldn't hang out with all those Hare Krishnas'...what would they know about our prime ministers.
BTW...asking all the new argentinian immigrants don't count either...they are clueless....you gotta stop barking up their tree bud.....sooner or later your gonna get crapped on :stongue: :haha: :stongue: :tongue3 |
actually half my friends (Canadian born non hare krishnas) still think chretien is in power. LOL!
There is nothing wrong with liking americans. In fact im sick of our smugness toward them as well. |
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| Irishaddict |
I have no problems with Americans as people. I think what happens a lot of the time when people jump on the "I hate Americans" bandwagon is that they confuse their foreign policy or some other aggressive aspect of their nature to be instrinsically found in EVERY American citizen which is simply untrue. I mean, I'm a Canadian but do I agree with EVERY decision the Canadian government has made? Obviously not.
I have had both good and bad experiences traveling in the States and talking with Americans and for the most part they're extremely down-to-earth good-natured people. You will, however, always find an arrogant one in the group who sees themselves as the 'almighty' nation on the planet yadda yadda yadda. To them I aggressively adopt the "I hate Americans" attitude.
After all...the door swings both ways beeeeeeeeeotch :cool: |
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| Jayx1 |
Exactly... if we were seen based on our government then everyone would think we are american hating, self rightious snobs who condones stealing.
Hmmm wait a minute...
LOL |
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| Crazy Serb |
| NOTE: only 15% of Americans actually have passports... |
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| Jayx1 |
| i wonder how many canadians do |
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