American Ignorance About Canada

[moghrabi]

Re: RE: American Ignorance About Canada

I would say: stop the bashing of America. It's just a non-issue, as I explained in my post. I don't see how it's such a big deal, and in that, I agree with Detroit. If you want to have a clear view of this American ignorance of the outside world, you should come with clear statistics that other countries on the planet score better on this part. Furthermore, I think it's logical that Canadians probably know more about Americans than Americans about Canadians; I bet the Dutch youth knows more about Americans than about our neighbors the Germans. That's just because America has always been the focus of attention, whether it is in the political corner, the cultural corner etc. We have MTV, we have CNN, we have American cartoons, we have McDonalds ...

And I don't know whether a spelling mistake moghrabi (Sir instead of Sri) is such a clear indicator of ignorance.

The spelling mistake broke the ice for me. But i do disagree with you totally. I can sit with 4 Sri lankans and they can discuss the politics of your country. People around the world are more open to the world around the, Rick. They know about Europe, the Orient, the South East. They know the difference between Canada and the US. Not because of McDonalds. It is because they are not ignorant. They are open. They like to read and learn.

You call it US Bashing. I call it truth telling.

 

[Rick van Opbergen]

I would say: stop the bashing of America. It's just a non-issue, as I explained in my post. I don't see how it's such a big deal, and in that, I agree with Detroit. If you want to have a clear view of this American ignorance of the outside world, you should come with clear statistics that other countries on the planet score better on this part. Furthermore, I think it's logical that Canadians probably know more about Americans than Americans about Canadians; I bet the Dutch youth knows more about Americans than about our neighbors the Germans. That's just because America has always been the focus of attention, whether it is in the political corner, the cultural corner etc. We have MTV, we have CNN, we have American cartoons, we have McDonalds ...

And I don't know whether a spelling mistake moghrabi (Sir instead of Sri) is such a clear indicator of ignorance.

The spelling mistake broke the ice for me. But i do disagree with you totally. I can sit with 4 Sri lankans and they can discuss the politics of your country. People around the world are more open to the world around the, Rick. They know about Europe, the Orient, the South East. They know the difference between Canada and the US. Not because of McDonalds. It is because they are not ignorant. They are open. They like to read and learn.

You call it US Bashing. I call it truth telling.

Look moghrabi, I can also find 4 Americans to discuss the politics of my country. I can also find 100 Americans who think the Netherlands is the capital of Denmark (once read that in an interview with an American popstar); but I bet I can also find 100 Sri Lankans, 100 Nigerians, 100 Russians, 100 Brits and 100 Brazilians who think that. On what do you base your conclusion that people around the world are more open to the world around them than Americans? Can we simply base that on certain personal experiences? Or should we really find out the truth and investigate with actual numbers and people? Have you ever gotten any scientific proof in your hands which stated that Americans know less about the world around them compared to other inhabitants of this planet? And if so, what were the reasons given for that?

 

[moghrabi]

I am basing it on my own personal experiences. I don't know how mush travel you have done Rick. But I have been to the States and Europe. No need for numbers. Travel around and talk to people. I was talking to an Armenian yeterday. I was really impressed by his knowledge of what's going on around him. I haven'r seen that with a lot of Americans.

 

[Rick van Opbergen]

But are personal experiences enough? Is it not that when you visit a country where the mothertongue isn't the same as yours, you tend to end up with people who have - in this case - enough knowledge of English, people who also tend to be the more intellectual ones? When you visit to Europe, how do you know you are talking to the average European? As a Dutchman I just know that there are just a lot of people here who don't know much about others and who actually just don't give a sh*t (sorry for being so rude). For my study, I've read a report about how much Germans know about the Netherlands and vice versa, and it's both humerous as it is shocking. That's why I am not convinced that we should especially focus on Americans when we talking about this kind of ignorance.

I'm not saying the "ignorant American" does not exist. I bet they do! (I'm positively sure). However, I'm not convinced whether this is not the same in other countries across the globe.

 

[moghrabi]

I'll give you one example. Why is it that you and me have to speak English to an American and they don't bother to learn any Fu**ing forign language to communicate with others. Why when they go to China they expect Chinese to speak English to them and they don't bother learning Chinese to get by. Why is it that people have to live up to their standard and they don't have to yield to other people standards. Why do they have to enforce their values on others and not learn from the values of others.

Too many questions Rick. We need a whole thread for this.

PS. Not all Americans are included in this discussion.Some are very willing to learn and get involved. But the majority are simply too ignorant for me to deal with. It might be fine for you.

 

[Rick van Opbergen]

Why is it that you and me have to speak English to an American and they don't bother to learn any Fu**ing forign language to communicate with others. Why when they go to China they expect Chinese to speak English to them and they don't bother learning Chinese to get by.

And Americans are unique in that in what way? Don't you think Germans speak German when they visit my country and Canadians speak English or French? How many people from the West who go on a trip to China actually try to learn Chinese? I totally agree that most Americans are that way, that they rather speak English than that they speak the local language when they visit a foreign country. But I don't see how that is so different from lets say Canadians or Dutchmen.

 

[edgerunner]

As an American, living in a region of North America with the most highly Hispanic population living here, I have learned to speak Spanish.
Your generalization concerning me and my fellow country-folk is a big-fat-untruth, and a misconception and insult to those of us who respect the cultures of others'. I also speak German, but not Dutch. I would gladly sink to speaking German or English while visiting the Netherlands if it were to help me gain a more respectful oppinion from you in your Motherland.
As there is no Universal language, as of yet, English seems to be the most accepted in most areas and thus, the most practiced. Go figure.

 

[Rick van Opbergen]

I agree edgerunner. But I was wondering, was your post directed to me? Just wondering.

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: American Ignorance Ab

You prove my previous point though, Edgerunner...

Most Americans that don't know about Canada and the rest world are like that because they have chosen to be ignorant. You can tell that it's a choice they've made because other Americans know about Canada and the rest of the world.

Unfortunately a lot of the ignorant ones(including your president and a few right-wing radical pundits) are also the most vocal. They give your country a bad name.

 

[Montana]

As someone who was born and raised in the US, but moved to Canada where my roots are almost 5 years ago, I have had a lot of laughs listenening to some Americans explain what they think Canada is like, but they don't know any better because the media in the US doesn't talk about Canada at all. Here in Canada was have all kinds of US channels added to our Canadian channels, but the US channels are strictly US channels.

 

[Montana]

As someone who was born and raised in the US, but moved to Canada where my roots are almost 5 years ago, I have had a lot of laughs listenening to some Americans explain what they think Canada is like, but they don't know any better because the media in the US doesn't talk about Canada at all. Here in Canada was have all kinds of US channels added to our Canadian channels, but the US channels are strictly US channels.

 

[Montana]

As someone who was born and raised in the US, but moved to Canada where my roots are almost 5 years ago, I have had a lot of laughs listenening to some Americans explain what they think Canada is like, but they don't know any better because the media in the US doesn't talk about Canada at all. Here in Canada was have all kinds of US channels added to our Canadian channels, but the US channels are strictly US channels.

 

[Montana]

Also, International news is also covered in our news papers.

 

[Montana]

Also, International news is also covered in our news papers.

 

[Montana]

Also, International news is also covered in our news papers.

 

[Montana]

But, Bush is a moron!

 

[Montana]

But, Bush is a moron!

 

[Montana]

But, Bush is a moron!

 

[moghrabi]

I love you when you say that.

 

[moghrabi]

I love you when you say that.