Canadian Ignorance...
- Thread starter CDNBear
- Start date
Unfortunately, ignorance and prejudice exists on both sides of the border. They have since at least 1783, when Canada absorbed thousands of former American Colonists, that either chose to continue to live under the Crown, or were forced out by their former neighbors and the new State governments.
As a person who has direct ancestors who both advocated for separation and advocated to remain "British", and direct ancestors who fought for both sides during the American Revolution (including one man who fought on BOTH sides), I think I understand this a bit better than the average person.
It is amazing to read the histories of the revolution from the two different perspectives. You would swear that they were describing two totally different sets of circumstances. Cousins that decided that their relatives had gone mad, others that suddenly wanted to kill each other (not in battle either), and hardened feelings that lasted long after the war was over.
Those perceptions colored the viewpoints of each side, and to some extent they still do. They have infected teaching in the primary and secondary schools, they have colored the perceptions of "Ministers of the Gospel", and they have influenced the ideas of the common people through a process of osmosis.
Both countries have much more in common than they often realize. But sadly, both countries continue to downgrade the inhabitants of the other, to believe the "old wives tales" about the other, and all to often to believe the worst about each other.
I grew up knowing that I had relatives in Canada, and having visited them from time to time. The kids all got along just fine, but the adults seemed to have some differences. As we all got older, it seemed that all too often we absorbed the feelings and impressions of our elders, and grew apart.
What none of my fathers 7 children knew was that our father was a Canadian. He claimed to have been born in Minneapolis, and his mother claimed to have been born in Pembina, N. Dakota. We knew our grandfather lived in Canada, but we just assumed that he had moved there after he and Nana had divorced.
Lo and behold, after my parents died, I began to work on a family genealogy. There was no trace of my father anywhere in Minnesota (not even a family that was remotely close to them). No trace of my grandmother being born anywhere close to Pembina. I found my mothers family, with no problem, but my father was a total mystery
Then, I discovered his younger sister, who had not seen our side of the family since 1946. I queried her, and she was amazed that "You actually believed that lie". She told me, "Your father was born in Winnipeg, just like the rest of us. Our mother was born in Manitoba too, and our father was born in Nova Scotia."
Turned out she was right, and I have been able to trace his mothers family back to Scots who came to work for the Hudson's Bay Company and their Native brides; and my grandfathers family back to over 250 years in Nova Scotia, as well as back to Blair Athol, Perthshire (and those Loyalist families, which BOTH the Canadian and American sides of my family had). My grandmother had been born on a farm in what is now the Rural Municipality of Franklin, Manitoba, which is very close to the US Border. They used to go to Pembina to do their shopping, because it was a much larger town.
Thanks to my father being an illegal alien in the States, I was able to claim Canadian citizenship (along with my siblings). I have spent the past 30 plus years learning as much as I can about my Canadian family, and about my second country. It has been a fascinating journey, to say the least.
You can quote all kinds of beliefs that the ignorant, and the illiterate have. I truly believe that most Canadians and most Americans respect each others countries, celebrate both the things in common and the differences and get along just fine.
Unfortunately, "red necks" occur everywhere, and you can not expect them to be ambassadors for their own country, much less be open to any other.
As a person who has direct ancestors who both advocated for separation and advocated to remain "British", and direct ancestors who fought for both sides during the American Revolution (including one man who fought on BOTH sides), I think I understand this a bit better than the average person.
It is amazing to read the histories of the revolution from the two different perspectives. You would swear that they were describing two totally different sets of circumstances. Cousins that decided that their relatives had gone mad, others that suddenly wanted to kill each other (not in battle either), and hardened feelings that lasted long after the war was over.
Those perceptions colored the viewpoints of each side, and to some extent they still do. They have infected teaching in the primary and secondary schools, they have colored the perceptions of "Ministers of the Gospel", and they have influenced the ideas of the common people through a process of osmosis.
Both countries have much more in common than they often realize. But sadly, both countries continue to downgrade the inhabitants of the other, to believe the "old wives tales" about the other, and all to often to believe the worst about each other.
I grew up knowing that I had relatives in Canada, and having visited them from time to time. The kids all got along just fine, but the adults seemed to have some differences. As we all got older, it seemed that all too often we absorbed the feelings and impressions of our elders, and grew apart.
What none of my fathers 7 children knew was that our father was a Canadian. He claimed to have been born in Minneapolis, and his mother claimed to have been born in Pembina, N. Dakota. We knew our grandfather lived in Canada, but we just assumed that he had moved there after he and Nana had divorced.
Lo and behold, after my parents died, I began to work on a family genealogy. There was no trace of my father anywhere in Minnesota (not even a family that was remotely close to them). No trace of my grandmother being born anywhere close to Pembina. I found my mothers family, with no problem, but my father was a total mystery
Then, I discovered his younger sister, who had not seen our side of the family since 1946. I queried her, and she was amazed that "You actually believed that lie". She told me, "Your father was born in Winnipeg, just like the rest of us. Our mother was born in Manitoba too, and our father was born in Nova Scotia."
Turned out she was right, and I have been able to trace his mothers family back to Scots who came to work for the Hudson's Bay Company and their Native brides; and my grandfathers family back to over 250 years in Nova Scotia, as well as back to Blair Athol, Perthshire (and those Loyalist families, which BOTH the Canadian and American sides of my family had). My grandmother had been born on a farm in what is now the Rural Municipality of Franklin, Manitoba, which is very close to the US Border. They used to go to Pembina to do their shopping, because it was a much larger town.
Thanks to my father being an illegal alien in the States, I was able to claim Canadian citizenship (along with my siblings). I have spent the past 30 plus years learning as much as I can about my Canadian family, and about my second country. It has been a fascinating journey, to say the least.
You can quote all kinds of beliefs that the ignorant, and the illiterate have. I truly believe that most Canadians and most Americans respect each others countries, celebrate both the things in common and the differences and get along just fine.
Unfortunately, "red necks" occur everywhere, and you can not expect them to be ambassadors for their own country, much less be open to any other.
YukonJack
I simply did not realize there was already a post with that title, to call names is the lowest common denominator and I will not stoop to that level.
I hope you can do better once we get formally introduced.
I simply did not realize there was already a post with that title, to call names is the lowest common denominator and I will not stoop to that level.
I hope you can do better once we get formally introduced.
MapleOne, anyone who needs to disrespect, tell lies about, demean and denigrate others in order to glorify himself, is a pathetic, ridiculous and insecure caricature of a human being.
When it is done uninformed the above should be considered a praise.
When it is done uninformed the above should be considered a praise.
I see
So much like yourself then eh?
4000 post and thats the best you can come up with?
Pity... pass the grey popoun please
So much like yourself then eh?
4000 post and thats the best you can come up with?
Pity... pass the grey popoun please
MapleOne, whatever I called you, you earned and deserved.
On the other hand, Americans DO NOT deserve your cavalier and offensive opinion about them.
And I do not care to get formally introduced. Your posts told me about you all I need to know.
On the other hand, Americans DO NOT deserve your cavalier and offensive opinion about them.
And I do not care to get formally introduced. Your posts told me about you all I need to know.
My family and my country, in that order. No one is willing to die or wants to die, but if you are sent somewhere where you might be shot at, then you better be in a frame of mind to kill if necessary. I do feel sorry for those who cannot understand my 1st sentence, they will never understand.
YukonJack
I respect Americans as our neighbours and consider them our equalls. Its only foolish accusations I disrespect. Hence I will now bid you goodbye and I hope you will do me the courtesy to stay away from my posts in the future.
Thank you in advance for understanding.
I respect Americans as our neighbours and consider them our equalls. Its only foolish accusations I disrespect. Hence I will now bid you goodbye and I hope you will do me the courtesy to stay away from my posts in the future.
Thank you in advance for understanding.
You got me baffled Y.J., the new guy is on here like 6 hours and you already have him p*ssed off at you. YOu asked me awhile back if being obtuse comes naturally to me or if I have to work at it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! People are going to start to think that you don't even have to work at it. :lol::lol::lol:
"disrespect, demean, and denigrate"? You mean like the above quotes?
I wonder how many of those things apply to YJ's comments on Obama? Oh, right, all of them.
I guess that explains it.
A northern donkey called Jack hurls insults and thinks he's smart but in the end he's only making an A$$ of himself.
MapleOne, as the old saying goes: A man's word is his bond.
Remember this?:
"YukonJack
I respect Americans as our neighbours and consider them our equalls. Its only foolish accusations I disrespect. Hence I will now bid you goodbye and I hope you will do me the courtesy to stay away from my posts in the future.
Thank you in advance for understanding."
I trust you don't want the world to see that your word on this forum is not worth the paper it's written on. So, send me a Personal Mail.
Remember this?:
"YukonJack
I respect Americans as our neighbours and consider them our equalls. Its only foolish accusations I disrespect. Hence I will now bid you goodbye and I hope you will do me the courtesy to stay away from my posts in the future.
Thank you in advance for understanding."
I trust you don't want the world to see that your word on this forum is not worth the paper it's written on. So, send me a Personal Mail.
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You leave me no choice but to go head to head
A jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a carpenter to build one.
A jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a carpenter to build one.
