Do Americans care about Canada?

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
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Most Canadians I know care more about US politics than Canadian politics. And the Americans I know don't really care about Canada at all.

Why is that??

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's US Visit - News Illustrated - Blables

I've met a lot of Americans over the past 20 years and they've pretty well treated me very well, so I'd say they care a lot about Canadians if not Canada. I've found throughout my life that most people feel the same about you as you do about them.
 

Tyler

New Member
Oct 3, 2008
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www.blables.com
I've met a lot of Americans over the past 20 years and they've pretty well treated me very well, so I'd say they care a lot about Canadians if not Canada. I've found throughout my life that most people feel the same about you as you do about them.

Agreed. On a personal level, most Americans I've met are quite friendly and welcoming. (In fact, I'm American living in Canada.)

However, on the political scene, it just seems that Canada is irrelevant to Americans where as Canadians would pay more attention to US politics than Canadian politics.
 

Nuggler

kind and gentle
Feb 27, 2006
11,596
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Backwater, Ontario.
A lot of Americans can't find the USA on a world map. I doubt very much if they care about anything past the mall at the end of the street.

When the economy was "good", they used to come up in the summer and rent cottages in our area. They came for several years. Every year they would bring their lumberjack wool jackets (big red and black plaid) and even wear them............in July. One would think that after a couple of times they would realize we don't build igloos in July. Oh well...............

Usta see them shopping in our "little" Canadian food stores, trying to niggle the price on a bottle of pop, cause they ran out of the several cases of pop they brought along so they wouldn't have to spend money here.

Smoke cigaw, big HAW HAW, we the BESTO,
Son of a gun, have big fun, in Cannnado........

Yepper, they're a caring people, knowledgeable also. Oh ya. That's why they're doing so well today.........How do you spell foreclose??

At least the girls were easy.

8O
 

hermite

Not so newbie now
Nov 21, 2007
467
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At least the girls were easy.

Oh Nugg, you are sooo bad. lol I pretty much agree with what you said, though.

I think Americans who live in border towns certainly have more knowledge about what's going on up here than the ones who are further away. I know from my travels, around the southwest especially, many people don't realize there is any civilization up here at all.

And I've seen many the 'mericun touista out of their habitat, and they behave abominally. In France, especially, I saw things that would make you go :roll:.
 

Johnnny

Frontiersman
Jun 8, 2007
9,388
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Third rock from the Sun
back in my anti days i bumped heads with alot of Americans on the internet, now that ive grown up worked all over the place and traveled around a bunch i have to say my opinion of them has changed.

Ive realized there all pretty much the same as us with the same concerns etc etc... its just there stinkin government lol
 

karrie

OogedyBoogedy
Jan 6, 2007
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Most Americans need to actually seek out news on Canadian politics. As Canadians, we're spoon fed a steady diet of their politics. Of course we know more and are more engaged in American politics. Our government and media expect us to be. Whereas their government and media could give a rats ass about what goes on in Canada. The tricky part is knowing that the citizenry and their handlers (gov/media) aren't the same people.

If you'll notice, the pic of Harper could have been shot here in Canada too... we're no more excited about him when he walks down the street than Americans are. lol.

Another thing is that Americans tend to have a bit more faith in Canadians to be a democratic country, to sort out of own issues, than the world seems to have faith in them to worry about their own backyard.
 

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
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"I've realized there all pretty much the same as us with the same concerns etc."- THAT ABOUT SAYS IT ALL.
 

tracy

House Member
Nov 10, 2005
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They don't care in the sense that they don't feel the need to get involved. I think they like us by and large. I've lived here almost 5 years and can count on one hand the number of times I've received a negative reaction to my nationality.
 

EagleSmack

Hall of Fame Member
Feb 16, 2005
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I think by and large most Americans don't care one way or the other. That is what makes people like Nuggs get all upset and start stereotyping.

It makes them upset that Canadians do know more and most Americans cannot be bothered with what happens up in Canada.

Easy women? I am sure there are easy women everywhere... in Canada too. I don't think Canadian female college students come down to Spring Break to meet other Canadians.
 

Colpy

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Nov 5, 2005
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Most Canadians I know care more about US politics than Canadian politics. And the Americans I know don't really care about Canada at all.

Why is that??

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's US Visit - News Illustrated - Blables

That is hilarious.....and sooo true.

The Americans are the most powerful nation on earth. Their military could handle the next 3 largest at the same time. Their economy burps, and the world has indigestion.

Canada is a little middle power, a dependable (so far) ally, but really not up on the scope as a military power.........we are America's largest trading partner, but I bet not 1 in 10 Americans knows that......we just don't jump up on America's radar screen, while we can't help but notice every US fart, they're just too damn big and too damn close to ignore.
 

SirJosephPorter

Time Out
Nov 7, 2008
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Do Americans care about Canada? Most Americans don’t even know that we exist. Out of those who know that we exist, many of them think that we live in igloos, wear moccasins, and ear raw seal meat for lunch.

OK, that may be an exaggeration. But I think it is a safe bet that most Americans know very little about Canada, e.g., how many Americans know that we have a Prime Minister, and not a President? I suspect very few.

One of the reasons may be that here in Canada we get most of American TV channels; news channels such as CNN are widely watched here in Canada (I assume some on the rabid right subscribe to the FOX news as well). So we get wide exposure for everything American.

However, how many Americans get CBC or CTV? I expect damn few. It is a safe bet that cable does not carry them, only those who live near the border and use the antennas to get their reception may get an odd Canadian channel or two. American media for the most part ignore Canada.

After all, we don’t send illegal immigrants to USA (which is why Mexico is in the news all the time), we don’t defy USA internationally, (which is why they talk incessantly about Cuba), we are not a big power (which is why they talk about China). What is there to talk about Canada?

So it is not surprising that Americans show an appalling ignorance of anything Canadian (e.g. how many Americans know that the Blackberry is a Canadian product?).
 

karrie

OogedyBoogedy
Jan 6, 2007
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So it is not surprising that Americans show an appalling ignorance of anything Canadian (e.g. how many Americans know that the Blackberry is a Canadian product?).

That raises an interesting side point joseph. How many CANADIANS know that? How many Canadians know how our system of government works? I've met ten year olds who didn't know that Bush wasn't OUR president. How many Canadian school children know who Stephen Harper is? Who flocks to our prime minister for autographs when he walks down OUR streets?

Are Americans anymore ignorant of in depth Canadian goings on that Canadians are?
 

Tyr

Council Member
Nov 27, 2008
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That is hilarious.....and sooo true.

The Americans are the most powerful nation on earth. Their military could handle the next 3 largest at the same time. Their economy burps, and the world has indigestion.

Canada is a little middle power, a dependable (so far) ally, but really not up on the scope as a military power.........we are America's largest trading partner, but I bet not 1 in 10 Americans knows that......we just don't jump up on America's radar screen, while we can't help but notice every US fart, they're just too damn big and too damn close to ignore.

Their military could handle the next 3 largest at the same time. :lol::lol::lol:

Now thats funny
 

Tyr

Council Member
Nov 27, 2008
2,152
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38
Sitting at my laptop
A lot of Americans can't find the USA on a world map. I doubt very much if they care about anything past the mall at the end of the street.

When the economy was "good", they used to come up in the summer and rent cottages in our area. They came for several years. Every year they would bring their lumberjack wool jackets (big red and black plaid) and even wear them............in July. One would think that after a couple of times they would realize we don't build igloos in July. Oh well...............

Usta see them shopping in our "little" Canadian food stores, trying to niggle the price on a bottle of pop, cause they ran out of the several cases of pop they brought along so they wouldn't have to spend money here.

Smoke cigaw, big HAW HAW, we the BESTO,
Son of a gun, have big fun, in Cannnado........

Yepper, they're a caring people, knowledgeable also. Oh ya. That's why they're doing so well today.........How do you spell foreclose??

At least the girls were easy.

8O

A lot of Americans can't find the USA on a world map. I doubt very much if they care about anything past the mall at the end of the street.

Having lived there, that is the god's honest truth.

They believe that the world starts in NYC and ends in LA. To the average american , Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan are "over there" and Canada is "up there"
 

Colpy

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 5, 2005
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Their military could handle the next 3 largest at the same time. :lol::lol::lol:

Now thats funny

and true.....the historical definition of Hegemony.

That does NOT mean occupy the next three biggest nations....it means out gun their militaries....and they do.

their equipment is just so damn superior....I watched a program about two F-18s pitted against two Mig 21s in the First Gulf war.......the two Migs lasted 45 seconds.

perhaps you missed the First Gulf war?

the Chinese and Russians didn't....it scared them to death.
 

EagleSmack

Hall of Fame Member
Feb 16, 2005
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Do Americans care about Canada? Most Americans don’t even know that we exist.

I know it exists... my Mom is a Screecher.

Out of those who know that we exist, many of them think that we live in igloos, wear moccasins, and ear raw seal meat for lunch.

Errr... are you saying you don't all live like that? (jk)

OK, that may be an exaggeration. But I think it is a safe bet that most Americans know very little about Canada, e.g., how many Americans know that we have a Prime Minister, and not a President? I suspect very few.

I knew that! I also know that Montreal is NOT the capital.

One of the reasons may be that here in Canada we get most of American TV channels; news channels such as CNN are widely watched here in Canada (I assume some on the rabid right subscribe to the FOX news as well). So we get wide exposure for everything American.

Good stuff isn't it?!

However, how many Americans get CBC or CTV? I expect damn few. It is a safe bet that cable does not carry them,

Very safe bet.

only those who live near the border and use the antennas to get their reception may get an odd Canadian channel or two. American media for the most part ignore Canada.

There aren't many antennas around these days.

After all, we don’t send illegal immigrants to USA (which is why Mexico is in the news all the time),

With regards to immigration... agreed


we don’t defy USA internationally, (which is why they talk incessantly about Cuba),

The most I hear about Cuba is right here on CanCon. I bet most Americans do not even know we have an embargo.

we are not a big power (which is why they talk about China).

Agreed...lot's of talk about them.

What is there to talk about Canada?

Hockey? Cold Weather? ;-)

So it is not surprising that Americans show an appalling ignorance of anything Canadian (e.g. how many Americans know that the Blackberry is a Canadian product?).

I just found that out from the CBC interview with Obama... I bet he didn't know either.