Are Canadians anti-American?

[earth_as_one]

I am glad Americans visit this website. Your contributions to this website help promote better understanding between our nations. As some of you have noted, many Canadians oppose US leaders and their foreign policies. Please don't interpret that as being anti-American.

It is true that a majority of Canadians (myself included), don't care for most of America's leaders or their foreign policies. Most Canadians started out not liking Bush, whereas most Americans have grown to loathe the man over time. Most Canadians opposed the US invasion of Iraq from the start. Most Americans now oppose the invasion. Seems to me that American and Canadian public opinion are more in agreement now than any time since Americans first elected GW Bush.

On a personal level, I like most Americans I know and I feel more at home traveling to the US than when I travel to other countries. Our culture and attitudes are very similar. I would hope that Americans will feel welcome to visit Canada and that most Americans welcome Canadians to the US. All the Canadian dollars spent in the US recently contributes to reducing the negative impact of a falling American dollar. When Americans visit Canada, it creates wealth and jobs here in Canada.

Polls since Americans elected Bush show most Canadians like Americans, we just hate your leaders.

Poll: Canadians Like Americans, Just Not Bush

NewsMax Wires​

Monday, Dec. 13, 2004​

WASHINGTON -- Nearly two-thirds of Canadians had an unfavourable view of U.S. President George W. Bush, even though most Canadians said they had a good opinion of Americans, suggests a poll done for The Associated Press.

Just over six in 10 said they were "worried" and "disappointed" by Bush's re-election last month, said the poll conducted by Ipsos-Reid Nov. 19-22...

http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/12/13/111818.shtml

Canadians and Americans Think a Lot Alike, Says New Poll.

WE SCORN their activist foreign policy. We mock their folksy politicians and sneer at their crude red-state provincialism. We resent their overwhelming cultural influence, and bristle at being treated as an afterthought. We've squabbled over everything from trade and the environment to security and foreign relations. And more and more, conventional wisdom holds, we are two nations going our separate ways: the moderate and sophisticated northern nation, stuck next to an increasingly obdurate empire. But, like most conventional wisdom, much of it is plain wrong. Despite everything you've heard in recent years about our crumbling relationship with the United States, most Canadians and Americans want the two countries to get a whole lot closer in the years ahead. A new poll by Ottawa's SES Research, in conjunction with the University at Buffalo, suggests that, on a wide range of issues from national security to energy policy, Canadians and Americans want more co-operation, not less. And when it comes to our perceptions of each other, the two nations are still defined more by our similarities than our differences, and often don't live up to our shared stereotypes. Perhaps most remarkably, on many issues that supposedly divide us, Canadians think a lot like Americans do....
http://www.encyclopediecanadienne.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0012831

But I'd like to hear opinions from Americans and Canadians. Are Canadians anti-American?

 

[eh1eh]

I like all people. I try to judge them according to their actions not the policies of their government.

 

[Kreskin]

People are people just about anywhere. So much of our prejudices are created on hearsay and noise. I may not agree with the leaders in there now but everyone American I meet is a good person.

 

[Outta here]

No, I honestly don't think the few that blame America for all woes in the world represent most Canadians. It's downright unCanadian! :lol:

It's been said umpteen times, but it's worth repeating again - the leadership of the US has caused some pretty drastic opinions to surface, but those are opinions on the governance of the nation - not the nation itself.

Today in particular, it seems appropriate to honour the sacrifices made by both countries towards our common endeavors and dreams.

 

[lone wolf]

Canadians just aren't USAmerican....

Woof!

 

[I think not]

For the upteenth time it is worth repeating.

Yes, Canadians are generally anti-american and have no qualms about it, as a matter of fact, it is that last acceptable form of bigotry Canadians can display in public.

 

[karrie]

What is considered anti-american? Without knowing your definition, it's pretty hard to say one way or the next if we are or aren't. My gut reaction though is to simply state that Canadians are human. Few humans growing up in one tribe, look to another tribe with envy and want to belong to it instead of their own. They focus instead on all the things they like about their own tribe, and sometimes the things they don't like about the other. Plenty of people take that comparison to an extreme, dwelling on the negatives. And conversely, plenty of people from one tribe see the pride of another tribe as snobbery, thus 'anti-them'.

Not to mention that the moods of a nation do shift. If Canadians are angry over what they perceive to be an unjust war, does that few years of anger and frustration with a government negate years of friendship with the people, and make us anti-american?

 

[Outta here]

For the upteenth time it is worth repeating.

Yes, Canadians are generally anti-american and have no qualms about it, as a matter of fact, it is that last acceptable form of bigotry Canadians can display in public.

Could this be in the eye of the beholder? I don't see this in my everyday life - I work in a Human Services environment - where bigotry of any kind is almost unheard of. So maybe it's just that I'm not exposed to it which is creating a certain degree of oblivion to the issue. And of course, I'm not American, so I'm not on the receiving end of anything of the sort.

Maybe it's just within my own little bubble that it doesn't exist - in which case, I'm sorry to hear it.

 

[gopher]

It seems as if we get a thread on this subject every few months.

While there are many Canadians who oppose right wing imperialistic terrorism overseas, this does not reflect any animosity towards Yanks. After all, even more Yanks oppose the government's terrorism and those who do are the most patrotic people anywhere.

I've come across many Canadians both in New York and here in Gopherland. Not one has ever been anti-American. Not one.

 

[#juan]

For the upteenth time it is worth repeating.

Yes, Canadians are generally anti-american and have no qualms about it, as a matter of fact, it is that last acceptable form of bigotry Canadians can display in public.

One more time ITN reinforces his anti-Canadian position. I've seen it for about ten years now. Yeah, yeah, we are all biggots and terrorist lovers. Next he'll make us responsible for 9/11....:roll:

 

[lone wolf]

There are some who believe if one doesn't simply bow down and worship all that is American, then they must be the enemy. Their little minds are single tracked so we just wish them well and send them on their way.

Woof!

 

[DurkaDurka]

For the upteenth time it is worth repeating.

Yes, Canadians are generally anti-american and have no qualms about it, as a matter of fact, it is that last acceptable form of bigotry Canadians can display in public.

A bit of an exaggeration ITN...

 

[mapleleafs67]

its there damn television shows that i can't stand i.e soap operas

 

[Impetus]

I've always felt the average American was swept up in the "post-911 pro-Bush patriotism at all costs" mentality which I would excuse as a symptom of post-traumatic stress syndrome.
GWB could do no wrong in such an atmosphere of fear and mis-information.

Over time as truth emerged, fear regressed the average American has begun to see things clearly again and question the administration.

A rather outspoken waitress down in Orlando last week really hit home with an unsolicited rant defending Americans in general and expressing hope we don't lump them all into the right-wing Christian fundamentalist steroetype as we tend to because we figure GWB was elected and re-elected by a "majority". She was awesome.

Anyhow, I've met both idiots and really cool people in my travels in the USA. Something like up here.

Muz

 

[Unforgiven]

Perhaps the answer is revealed in the question, are Americans anti-Canadian.

 

[Curiosity]

And again the rhetorical question which pops up when people have a few hours of experiencing national pride... or are looking for an argument...

I would put the Canadian anti-American percentages at:

75% against the U.S. even to its fast food and WalMart 'style of life'.... or its evangelist preacher symbolism.... or its beer..... or its aggression.... or...or....or...

and 25% who think those are vast generalizations.

As for the Bush reason - the U.S. was criticized long before Bush came into office - but perhaps many of you were not old enough eight years ago...and your teaching/indoctrination only go back as far as Bush's election.

It sounds cool tho .... doesn't it.

 

[Impetus]

As for the Bush reason - the U.S. was criticized long before Bush came into office - but perhaps many of you were not old enough eight years ago...and your teaching/indoctrination only go back as far as Bush's election.

It sounds cool tho .... doesn't it.

Flattery will get you...

But I'm afraid my teaching/indoctrination goes back far beyond Bush...beyond Clinton's BJ Impeachment (spearheaded by Republicans for Bush no doubt), actually back as far as Tricky Dick.

Agreed, the "imperialist" US foreign policy is not new, nor is using fear as a tactic (anti-commie-McCarthyism for example).

But no one of them had the combination of a 9/11 and a fundamentalist right wing president to exploit it into a mass hysteria in order to erode personal freedom and expand governmental powers of search, seizure and arrest/imprisonment without formal charges.

So are you one of those pro-Bush fringe elements?

Muz

 

[Sal]

For the upteenth time it is worth repeating.

Yes, Canadians are generally anti-american and have no qualms about it, as a matter of fact, it is that last acceptable form of bigotry Canadians can display in public.

Hm In some ways I think you may be right although people deny it. I think many times it is a reaction to the attitude the States has towards Canada which is basically we are a weak nation to their North who needs their protection and thus we are viewed as less than, or that of the average American who has basically no idea nor care that we exist.

I think there is a back lash to that. I post on an American site, the prejudice runs both ways much of it due to their ignorance of our country. To deny it solves nothing.

Now do we "hate" each other as individuals no. Would we wish bad upon the other. No. Do we have relatives down there. Yes.

Do we want to be them. A resounding no.

 

[Sal]

Anyhow, I've met both idiots and really cool people in my travels in the USA. Something like up here.

Muz

Me too. You made some good points.

 

[Curiosity]

Impetus

Because I caution Canadians for their impaired critiques regarding the United States in general - not just the government - but all kinds of innuendo and asides they flatter themselves with .... it does not come down simply to Bush, Clinton, foreign policy or whatever catch word you wish to list.....

Living in the U.S. is an entirely different matter of which very few of you with the exception of some devoted anti-American Americans love to cuddle up to the Canadiana version of 'how things work' .... are replicated in Canadian forums....

It is biased material sir.... whether you like it or not..... the vast majority of Americans are nothing as is perceived here..... and I have only touched the very minute surface of what it is like in reality...having spent almost twenty years here.

Regarding politics, I have no affiliation because I have never voted nor committed or contributed to any political group. I have just become a citizen this year and am watching the primary election stumping going on and weighing as much information as I can to finally cast my first ballot.

Thank you for your judgment of me however - feel assured you are heard and appreciated by your fellow workers for peace or whatever your goals aim for.

Contrarily you will not find me a warmonger whatever of those neat words you have at the ready....my life is taken with contributing to the comfort and peaceful coexistence of my community. It is a small start but one in which I can be effective.

In addition - something which I always find disarming about Canadians
In criticizing the nation to the south - it would appear to others that you attempt to define yourselves not "as Canadians" but rather as "not Americans" which is wasted
time and effort and lessens your appeal as one of the strong western, peaceful nations in our world, capable for leading many other nations into peaceful coexistence.

Just knock off the comparisons with the U.S. It is demeaning.