Dear Brazilian Guest:
First off, thank you for taking the time to look into other cultures. I think this is something many people simply don't bother to do. This brings me to my reply...There has always been a close relationship between Canada and the United States. They have always shared a friendly bond, sometimes impaired by the frequent appearance of liberal governments in Canada. I have the priviledge of being able to live in both countries and plan to remain in the U.S. I grew up in Canada but moved to the U.S to go to University and have been here ever since. Culturally, the two countries are NOT that far apart. Canadians will deny this but they are only fooling themselves. Almost all forms of media in Canada come from the U.S, almost all sporting rituals are the same (Hockey, Baseball, Football...American style, etc.) We drive the same cars, build our houses the same way, eat the same food, have a proportionately identical mix of religions and so on. To address the comments made about maintaining ethnic identity in Canada versus the United States, apparently Andem has not been to the world's largest Chinatown in San Francisco. He/She has obviously also not visited the various sections of large American cities like New York and Boston where groups of people from various national backgrounds exist closely together (Little Italy, Little Odessa, etc.) I will just take a moment to moot any retort that will attempt to identify this as segregation. Wake up, this is the 21st century!
To further reply to "Andem's" remarks, his facts are somewhat skewed...to the left (the Canadian way). I fear that he has been brainwashed by the government run (socialist) media outlets in Canada. Here are the facts: Health care is NOT free in Canada...in fact, it costs more than in the U.S. Canadians just don't see it because it comes out of their taxes (which generally amounts to 40% of their income). Income tax in the U.S is MUCH lower but premiums for health insurance are slightly higher. It all works out in the wash though and all the while, Americans get MUCH better quality health care. There are virtually no waiting times for minor surgeries and emergency room visits, etc. In Canada, you would have to wait over a year for knee surgery and over seven weeks to get an MRI (non life threatening issues).
Canadians often claim to be culturally independent from the U.S and claim not to care what Americans think about them. At the same time, however, they get upset when Americans don't know where Saskatchewan is and get excited when they hear someone on television talking about Canada. It is almost amusing to see what lengths Canadians will go to to deny these facts. Just watch for replies to my posting and you'll see how defensive they get....this only furthers my point.
Speaking of geography lessons, this has always been a soar spot for Canucks. If an American tourist doesn't know that Vancouver is in British Columbia and that Newfoundland is an island, they get so distraught and often reply that Americans don't know anything about Canada and that they must be uncultured or less intelligent. This child-like bickering has gone on from one end of Canada to the other. In reality, this is nothing more than hypocracy. Next time a Canadian makes a comment to this effect, ask them to name all of the States from below Manitoba down to the Gulf of Mexico (9 out of 10 will not be able to do it). While you're at it, ask a Canuck what the capital of Wyoming is....they won't know. Ask a Canadian to name the States that surround Missouri...they won't know. My point is, its up to the individual to learn these things, not the system to teach it to you. Canadians need to see both sides of the issue and realize that this is what they can do to ease their ill feelings (we're essentially all the same).
In any case, my reply might give you some insight into the real dividing issues between Canada and the U.S. (petty bickering). Canada chose not to particiapte in the Iraqi Freedom war because, despite a proud military tradition, the liberal government in Canada hasn't spent very much money on defense (defence for you Canadians) since the Korean Conflict. I have many relatives who served in WWII (for Canada) and they must be ashamed to see their country so weak, after all they sacrificed and fought for in what was a battle against tyranny (sound familiar...try Iraq). Canadians find it scandalous that the U.S. has banned Canadian beef (they are only trying to protect their own citizens as well as their own beef exports...its actually called protectionism) and Canada woudl do the same thing if reversed. This makes headlines in Canada all the while, a good chunk of Canadians go to work everyday, putting food on their tables because they work for American companies that obviously contribute to the Canadian economy. Ask a line assemblyman at a GM plant in Ontario how he feels about the American free market and he'll be short on criticism, I assure you (or at least, he should be).
I have no doubt that this will prompt some angry replies from other Canadians out there but they need to open their eyes and see what the Chretien government has done to their country. Paul Martin doesn't seem to be much better. First, they will have to admit that they DO care what Americans and other allies think of them and only then will they see the slow decline of what WAS one of the greatest countries in the world. Admit you live in the shadow of the U.S, admit that you admire the many positive aspects of American life, and certainly admit to yourselves that given the chance, you would live here in a heartbeat. The U.S. is an entrepreneur's paradise, promoting individuality, personal responsibility, and strong work ethic instead of government handouts and thus complacency. All of the right ingredients are there for Canada, they simply need to get over their petty squable with the U.S and rebuild what was once a beautiful friendship.
First off, thank you for taking the time to look into other cultures. I think this is something many people simply don't bother to do. This brings me to my reply...There has always been a close relationship between Canada and the United States. They have always shared a friendly bond, sometimes impaired by the frequent appearance of liberal governments in Canada. I have the priviledge of being able to live in both countries and plan to remain in the U.S. I grew up in Canada but moved to the U.S to go to University and have been here ever since. Culturally, the two countries are NOT that far apart. Canadians will deny this but they are only fooling themselves. Almost all forms of media in Canada come from the U.S, almost all sporting rituals are the same (Hockey, Baseball, Football...American style, etc.) We drive the same cars, build our houses the same way, eat the same food, have a proportionately identical mix of religions and so on. To address the comments made about maintaining ethnic identity in Canada versus the United States, apparently Andem has not been to the world's largest Chinatown in San Francisco. He/She has obviously also not visited the various sections of large American cities like New York and Boston where groups of people from various national backgrounds exist closely together (Little Italy, Little Odessa, etc.) I will just take a moment to moot any retort that will attempt to identify this as segregation. Wake up, this is the 21st century!
To further reply to "Andem's" remarks, his facts are somewhat skewed...to the left (the Canadian way). I fear that he has been brainwashed by the government run (socialist) media outlets in Canada. Here are the facts: Health care is NOT free in Canada...in fact, it costs more than in the U.S. Canadians just don't see it because it comes out of their taxes (which generally amounts to 40% of their income). Income tax in the U.S is MUCH lower but premiums for health insurance are slightly higher. It all works out in the wash though and all the while, Americans get MUCH better quality health care. There are virtually no waiting times for minor surgeries and emergency room visits, etc. In Canada, you would have to wait over a year for knee surgery and over seven weeks to get an MRI (non life threatening issues).
Canadians often claim to be culturally independent from the U.S and claim not to care what Americans think about them. At the same time, however, they get upset when Americans don't know where Saskatchewan is and get excited when they hear someone on television talking about Canada. It is almost amusing to see what lengths Canadians will go to to deny these facts. Just watch for replies to my posting and you'll see how defensive they get....this only furthers my point.
Speaking of geography lessons, this has always been a soar spot for Canucks. If an American tourist doesn't know that Vancouver is in British Columbia and that Newfoundland is an island, they get so distraught and often reply that Americans don't know anything about Canada and that they must be uncultured or less intelligent. This child-like bickering has gone on from one end of Canada to the other. In reality, this is nothing more than hypocracy. Next time a Canadian makes a comment to this effect, ask them to name all of the States from below Manitoba down to the Gulf of Mexico (9 out of 10 will not be able to do it). While you're at it, ask a Canuck what the capital of Wyoming is....they won't know. Ask a Canadian to name the States that surround Missouri...they won't know. My point is, its up to the individual to learn these things, not the system to teach it to you. Canadians need to see both sides of the issue and realize that this is what they can do to ease their ill feelings (we're essentially all the same).
In any case, my reply might give you some insight into the real dividing issues between Canada and the U.S. (petty bickering). Canada chose not to particiapte in the Iraqi Freedom war because, despite a proud military tradition, the liberal government in Canada hasn't spent very much money on defense (defence for you Canadians) since the Korean Conflict. I have many relatives who served in WWII (for Canada) and they must be ashamed to see their country so weak, after all they sacrificed and fought for in what was a battle against tyranny (sound familiar...try Iraq). Canadians find it scandalous that the U.S. has banned Canadian beef (they are only trying to protect their own citizens as well as their own beef exports...its actually called protectionism) and Canada woudl do the same thing if reversed. This makes headlines in Canada all the while, a good chunk of Canadians go to work everyday, putting food on their tables because they work for American companies that obviously contribute to the Canadian economy. Ask a line assemblyman at a GM plant in Ontario how he feels about the American free market and he'll be short on criticism, I assure you (or at least, he should be).
I have no doubt that this will prompt some angry replies from other Canadians out there but they need to open their eyes and see what the Chretien government has done to their country. Paul Martin doesn't seem to be much better. First, they will have to admit that they DO care what Americans and other allies think of them and only then will they see the slow decline of what WAS one of the greatest countries in the world. Admit you live in the shadow of the U.S, admit that you admire the many positive aspects of American life, and certainly admit to yourselves that given the chance, you would live here in a heartbeat. The U.S. is an entrepreneur's paradise, promoting individuality, personal responsibility, and strong work ethic instead of government handouts and thus complacency. All of the right ingredients are there for Canada, they simply need to get over their petty squable with the U.S and rebuild what was once a beautiful friendship.
ccasion5: