One thing I frequently hear Canadians complain about is how the U.S. pays little attention to them. I myself live in California, and it does amaze me how little many Americans know about the rest of the world. When I talk to others, I always make sure to enlighten them about what else is out there, with Canada and the Philippines being the countries I quote the most (I am Filipino). I'm in Canada frequently.
However, I have to admit that even if the American public starts paying more attention to the rest of the world, I still don't know how much of it would go to Canada. Being in California myself, I'm more concerned about the other border. I'm sure a number of you have been down here before, so I probably don't have to explain much to you. I've worked in classrooms in which everybody is Latino, or even all Mexican. You can go to a Burger King or a Wal Mart and be a minority among Mexicans. California is a prime example of this, but it's not limited to here.
Estimates say that we have 6-12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. One financial firm back in 2004 estimated 20 million. I would not be silly to say that it's probably more. Illegal immigrants cross the Mexican border by the thousands PER DAY! Most are Mexican, but not all. Most of the non-Mexicans come from other Latin American countries, and very few come from Canada or across the oceans. Then they have children who are U.S. born citizens, but some consider them part of the illegal immigrant population. By now, if you take the population of undocumented migrants and their U.S. born children, you have a population that's LARGER THAN CANADA'S CURRENT 32 MILLION!
It's not just the Mexican border that gets crossed like crazy! South Florida is known to be a receiving grounds for Cuban and Haitian boat refugees by the thousands every year (if not more frequently than that).
Then you have the other world powers.
You may say that the U.S. is like the big kid that doesn't notice Canada paying attention to it. True. Don't forget, though, that there's other kids that are even bigger than Canada that are tugging at the U.S. even stronger! Namely rival powers and the other neighbours.
Face it, it's more like Canada is trying to whisper in the U.S.'s ear, while Mexico is shouting into the other. Other countries are shouting loud in the distance, too.
Someday, the U.S. may stop ignoring the rest of the world. However, once it does, Canada will have to take a number. Unless you want to start sending thousands of illegal immigrants across the Canada/U.S. border per day, or start building nuclear weapons. Then you'll definitely get the U.S. paying attention to you. And why would you do either?
When I was in Toronto, I met a guy from Washington DC who said "no, you don't want the U.S. to pay attention to you, they'll pick a fight." Think about that.
However, I have to admit that even if the American public starts paying more attention to the rest of the world, I still don't know how much of it would go to Canada. Being in California myself, I'm more concerned about the other border. I'm sure a number of you have been down here before, so I probably don't have to explain much to you. I've worked in classrooms in which everybody is Latino, or even all Mexican. You can go to a Burger King or a Wal Mart and be a minority among Mexicans. California is a prime example of this, but it's not limited to here.
Estimates say that we have 6-12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. One financial firm back in 2004 estimated 20 million. I would not be silly to say that it's probably more. Illegal immigrants cross the Mexican border by the thousands PER DAY! Most are Mexican, but not all. Most of the non-Mexicans come from other Latin American countries, and very few come from Canada or across the oceans. Then they have children who are U.S. born citizens, but some consider them part of the illegal immigrant population. By now, if you take the population of undocumented migrants and their U.S. born children, you have a population that's LARGER THAN CANADA'S CURRENT 32 MILLION!
It's not just the Mexican border that gets crossed like crazy! South Florida is known to be a receiving grounds for Cuban and Haitian boat refugees by the thousands every year (if not more frequently than that).
Then you have the other world powers.
You may say that the U.S. is like the big kid that doesn't notice Canada paying attention to it. True. Don't forget, though, that there's other kids that are even bigger than Canada that are tugging at the U.S. even stronger! Namely rival powers and the other neighbours.
Face it, it's more like Canada is trying to whisper in the U.S.'s ear, while Mexico is shouting into the other. Other countries are shouting loud in the distance, too.
Someday, the U.S. may stop ignoring the rest of the world. However, once it does, Canada will have to take a number. Unless you want to start sending thousands of illegal immigrants across the Canada/U.S. border per day, or start building nuclear weapons. Then you'll definitely get the U.S. paying attention to you. And why would you do either?
When I was in Toronto, I met a guy from Washington DC who said "no, you don't want the U.S. to pay attention to you, they'll pick a fight." Think about that.
