The Americanisation of Canada.

Machjo

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Oct 19, 2004
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As long as we dont get 'Americanized' politically I'm fine with the other stuff. I remember watching some news stories from the 60s on CBC Archives and people were talking about this. A big part of confederation was to prevent 'Americanization.' I imagine this fear is something that will always be there for some.

My how things have changed! Victor Hugo proposed a United States of Europe in the 1800s, and Lord Tennyson said:

"For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see,
Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be;

Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails,
Pilots of the purple twilight, dropping down with costly bales;

Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rain’d a ghastly dew
From the nations’ airy navies grappling in the central blue;

Far along the world-wide whisper of the south-wind rushing warm,
With the standards of the peoples plunging thro’ the thunder-storm;

Till the war-drum throbb’d no longer, and the battle-flags were furl’d
In the Parliament of man, the Federation of the world.

There the common sense of most shall hold a fretful realm in awe,
And the kindly earth shall slumber, lapt in universal law. "


Winston Churchill also supported world federation, along with others of the 1800's.

Then it would seem from the 1900s onward nationalism had reraised its ugly head.
 

Nuggler

kind and gentle
Feb 27, 2006
11,596
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Backwater, Ontario.
Gopherland is getting Canadianized (if such a word exists) ~ poutine has been introduced as a food item in the State Fair which is happening this week and next.

Youse better have lots of heart attack health care, etc.


Freedom Fries with gravy, melted cheese curd..................I can't even hardly type it, eh, let alone eat the ****.............eh.

eh!!;-)............like...........eh.

Some of you forget that Canadian culture and American culture come out of the same origins.

Don't forget that many Canadian families stem from Americans.



****ing name one!!!

We used to have a genealogy of Scots Irish Brit. Long over.

Lots of United Empire Loyalists came up before the US was the US.

More than enough draft dodgers and deserters came up during "Nam"..........We showed our lack of balls and let them stay.

Everyone's welcome far as I'm concerned as long as they don't give up their Canadian citizenship then want it back...........after serving time in the US for fraud. If that guy was poor they'd never let him back in the country./





And people from Minnesota sound just like Canadians too.


Jesus, Eagle, maybe the retarded amongst us.:tard: Gotta second Gerry on this one.

Tear out me tongue if I do.........sound like, not second Gerry........eh
 

EagleSmack

Hall of Fame Member
Feb 16, 2005
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Nope. If they did I'd know WTF a hackey mam is.

Well... my buds from Minnesota sound like my cousins from Ontario.

In America they call bottled water, beer.

And you called bottled skunk beer.

Jesus, Eagle, maybe the retarded amongst us.:tard: Gotta second Gerry on this one.

Tear out me tongue if I do.........sound like, not second Gerry........eh

LMAO... it was just an observation!

Not only that, but we gave you guys Cajuns.

And their aren't many cities in the US with a stronger and distinct culture than New Orleans.
 

darkbeaver

the universe is electric
Jan 26, 2006
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Yeah, N American culture, give me a break. We were culturally castrated long ago, all ours comes out of cans and plastic bags, the art, the music, the products, the overlords, you,d swear we all had the same number of fingers as them Americans.
 

Mowich

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Dec 25, 2005
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Eagle Creek


Not only that, but we gave you guys Cajuns.

Due to the year, I'm re-reading Pierre Burton's books on the War of 1812, it's got some great insights into the people who crossed the border at will. One thing it REALLY emphasized to me was the whole Bishop Strachan thing, which led directly to the 'family compact' thing, which had a huge impact on Canada - the idea that certain families run everything, and a good Canadian citizen does what he is told by the upper crust of society.

Interesting to think about how Canadian society would have been different if he in particular hadn't been around.




Haven't read Pierre's book but did catch a History Channel doc on the war and from it I learned just how helpful a rich and very influential American gentleman with interests around the St Lawrence seaway was for the Canadian side. Seems that this particular chap didn't want to see his valuable assets ruined in a nasty war and, as he was also helping to finance the American war effort, he made a bargain. He would keep the coffers open if and only if the Americans agreed not to blockade the seaway. I can just imagine how this went over with the guys on the ground but the rich dude had his way.

Now this might not seem like a big deal but in fact it was a Very Big Deal as the St Lawrence seaway provided goods and services to landlocked Upper Canada and had that lifeline been severed the outcome would surely have been in the Americans' favor.

Who says greed isn't a good thing. ;-)

 

B00Mer

Make Canada Great Again
Sep 6, 2008
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www.canadianforums.ca
 

darkbeaver

the universe is electric
Jan 26, 2006
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Fear of Americanization is sooo yesterday, America {the united states of} cannot afford to Americanize itself let alone a vast frozen white wasteland. All that could be done has already been done by TV forty years ago. We should already be invading, they don,t suspect a thing.
 

Bar Sinister

Executive Branch Member
Jan 17, 2010
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Americanization? Pretty old news. That started in the 19th Century with the Americanization of traditional Canadian (British) spelling and pronunciation. Words like honour became honor and schedule became the less elegant skedule.
 

Bar Sinister

Executive Branch Member
Jan 17, 2010
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Bullshyte, they do not, I've watched Fargo and Frances McDormand doesn't sound anything like a Canadian.

Oh ya..... and Canadian women are sexier.

Right on. The accent changes as soon as you cross the border. The closest Americans come to sounding like Canadians is in the media where newsreaders and actors are taught to lose their regional accents.
 

EagleSmack

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Feb 16, 2005
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Right on. The accent changes as soon as you cross the border. The closest Americans come to sounding like Canadians is in the media where newsreaders and actors are taught to lose their regional accents.

That must be across the board. I still have to have my Canadian (Newfoundland) cousins translate for their parents.
 

Bar Sinister

Executive Branch Member
Jan 17, 2010
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That must be across the board. I still have to have my Canadian (Newfoundland) cousins translate for their parents.

Ah, but the Newfies are unique. That's what happens when you live on an island and refuse to become Canadian for the first 82 years after Confederation.