Very Interesting article I found: Canadian vs. American

Kylus

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Oct 15, 2006
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First off I will start with the imigrant post.
Imigrants are the lifeblood of this country, like most developed nations canadas population growth is creeping ever closer to the 0 marker, which means no more population to support growth, create new jobs, or basicaly do anything our country will collapse.

Second the Quebec issue.
The problem I have with Quebec is that if or when they leave money millions of dollars will be spent in seperating the countries, creating new laws/customs. there will be border issues, new check points stuff like that as well I garentee you that Quebec would not take with it its share of the national debt. Quebec is currently in the have nots catagory meaning they do not produce enough revenue to pay their government workers, their social programs, like daycare, pave their streets, or maintain their infrustructure with out money from the other have provinces. If Quebec leaves they will be in a huge debt which will be growing until they A) find a way to balance their budget(I find this less then likely as Quebecers are attached to their social programs and will not redily accept this, nore would they accept even higher taxes then its already paying). B) Ask to rejoin Canada or to join the United States. First the United States would not accept Quebec without making it surender most of its autonomy which we know from whats happening now that Quebec wont do. Which leaves us with Quebec rejoining Canada, and the government will accept as to do otherwise would be suicide for whichever party is in parliment at the time. Of course nothing will be said about the debt that has been aquired over its seperation and the rest of Canada will foot the bill so to speak.
Onterio employes a lot of Quebecers then when you take into effect that they would have to pay both Canadian taxes and Quebec taxes on top of that working in Onterio will become infeasable and vise versa with Onterio workers. both countries would then start suffering from economic collapse as in onterio many of the manufaturing companies that have plants there who are already shutting down plants may just pull the plug competely causing radical loss of jobs, and in Quebec with a high unemployment rate already it will sky rocket meaning more people on wealfare, more people the government has to give money to to stay alive, the country goes farther in debt.
It is simply not feasable for this to work. And don't think France will help you your version of French is to them a Bastardized version, an insult to the language, and they wont have anything to do with a welfare state. Face it we both need each other. Sure you have your own customs and what not, as does a lot of Canada but what makes this country great is that the diffrences bring us closer together rather then for the most part pushing us away.
Quebec has a unique culture, that does not mean it should be a seperate country or have a seperate say in global matters, we elect people to speak for us in parliment, the provinces all have a say, but in global affairs it is the voice of the majority, and believe me it is not Canada vs Quebec, all of Canada participates and many people disagree with the way something happens all over Canada not just Quebec.


Third the American Debate.
Canada and the States are very similar, we share a lot we are both dependant on one another for many things. But due to that dependance, our diffrent governments, laws, climate, geography, and history we are very diffrent. I am not talking about the Zed Zee things many important things are diffrent and while our cultures clash on varried issues we , as with Quebec grow closser due to this. I personly have no fear that there will be an american take over of Canada we are simply to diffrent, and to be honest being that diffrent is best for both as it increases trade and tourism, brings diffrent ideas and inovations to bear, and genraly erivhes both cultures. Eventually as the world grows North America will join together much as Europe is doing now with the EU(baby steps) but I don't doubt that the two cultures will stay seperate even though people may come to call themselves NA's or North Americas, or more probably Americas for short.

I live in Alberta (Red Deer as a mater of fact) it is a wealthy province there is no denying that, and partly due to that Saskatchewan is growing wealtier(also more oil being discovered there is helping). I have been to BC Sask Manitoba, part of Onterio and Quebec, and have family living in Nova Scotia and NFLD so I discus things with them all the time. I've been to Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Claifornia, Florida and Hawaii. So what I have said comes from talking with people accross Canada and the US and experiancing it myself.
I also want to state that my french is not very good, I can speak rudimentary French but thats it and when I went to France I was treated like a second class citizen, and I hear complaints about Quebec being treated as second class, I think this is a case of making sure your own ****ter is clean before complaining about others. Due to the labor shortage we have here I have met many Quebecers in Alberta and every one of them has mentioned how well they have been treated here

Sorry this went on so long take care
 

Kylus

New Member
Oct 15, 2006
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sorry for double posting here I just noticed that this threat is like a year and a half old so I want to apologize for bumping this up after the topics been pretty well delt with, I just stumled accross a link to this exact thread on the net never been through the site so...
 

ErinGil

New Member
Dec 13, 2010
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"Canadians indeed do have an "identity crisis". All people need to have a sense of belonging, a feeling that they are a part of something progressive, unique, and proud. The team spirit in Canada, however, is a muddled one, because of this massive Goliath which directly or indirectly controls everything from Canada's economy to its culture. Thus, Canadian nationalists have to go out of their way to show that "I AM CANADIAN", or "NOT AMERICAN", even though in almost every way, just like all other Canadians, they are American - from the language they speak, to the food they eat, to the sports they play, and the entertainment they watch"

I think out of alll of this ridiculoUs article I find this part the most annoying. The language we speak? You mean english? A language that was established in ENGLAND you know that country that was there far before America was even a thought? The food we eat? You mean most of which that was first made in other countries? Like England? Italy? France? and they sports they play? You mean like hockey which is STILL 80% dominated by CANADIANS? Or basketball which was invented in CANADA? and the entertainment we watch? Like all those shows and actors that are made in or from Canada? Seriously?

Canada and America are VERY similar I will agree with that but they are two seperate countries and will remain two seperate countries. I am a Canadian living in America and believe me i know the differences better then most. I am married to an American and constantly get crap for different ways my Candian heritage comes out. Like in my spelling such as coloUr, LaboUr etc. Or how I say different words, and how sometimes I say eh? when asking a question but my differences go far more deep then the foot I eat, the sports I play or the tv I watch.

Living here I can now officially say, I care more then the average American, I treat people with far more respect. My family values typically run deeper then the average American and my appriciation of nature is far surpassing of most here. I am not saying all because I have met many an American that is not the "typical" rude always in a rush American, my husband included. But I can honestly say from living in both countries the differences run far deeper then the moron writting this article seems to state.
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
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The identity crisis is part of what I love about Canada. It's just a mass of land and we can be proud to enjoy its resources, but aside from that, there is no true nationalism - and that's good for democracy. Of course, we still have old white conservatives that need to die, but as they drop off and we can hold out on war for the next few hundred years, the rest of the world might adopt the same identity crisis and we'll stop separating our cultural differences based on imaginary lines drawn up on pieces of the ground.

Religion will go first. Then nationalism. And then conflict.

Of course this is the exact opposite of America, and the more secular EU countries like France and the Netherlands already have a leg up on us.
 
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Retired_Can_Soldier

The End of the Dog is Coming!
Mar 19, 2006
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I find it funny that we rant and rave that "WE ARE NOT LIKE AMERICA!" -yet we try so very hard to be like them through so many forms of media.

It's so hypocritical.

Penis envy is a tough thing to get over when you're sleeping next to an elephant.
 

Trotz

Electoral Member
May 20, 2010
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Who said anything about an identity crisis? I'm a British Columbian not a 'Canadian', nor an 'Ontarian', and certainty not a Quebecer. My family was present in B.C. when it had been a British territory and thus I have heritage that predates British Columbian unionism with Canada.


Was overseas, a guy from Nova Scotia saw me and it took about five seconds for us to agree that we didn't have much in common our than our geographical association and anti-American-Federalism.


I don't care to be honest. I have the B.C. Flag and Douglas Fir on my backpack and fly the flag on B.C. day in the Okaganon. B.C. stands for "Best Country".
 
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JLM

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Nov 27, 2008
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I find it funny that we rant and rave that "WE ARE NOT LIKE AMERICA!" -yet we try so very hard to be like them through so many forms of media.

It's so hypocritical.

Penis envy is a tough thing to get over when you're sleeping next to an elephant.

I've been to the U.S. lots- I don't see much difference, except a wee bit in terminology and some words pronounced a little differently - restroom vs. washroom & roof vs. ruf. They laugh, they cry, they hurt, they bleed same as us. :smile:
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
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I find it funny that we rant and rave that "WE ARE NOT LIKE AMERICA!" -yet we try so very hard to be like them through so many forms of media.

It's so hypocritical.

Penis envy is a tough thing to get over when you're sleeping next to an elephant.

You're right - there is some sort of paradox going on, but it's not the media mimicry imo. The one pivotal thing that I think separates most Canadians from Americans is the lack of some unassailable, belligerent pride. It's a paradox because we're actually proud to be modest. But again, this has been a great formula for many successful (and democratic) european countries. It's the same behaviour that Americans will eventually adopt when they evolve.
 

gopher

Hall of Fame Member
Jun 26, 2005
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Wow! Still another one of those old threads that keeps coming back. Well, a thought occurred to me - you Canadians preserve what we refuse to preserve in the interest of the big money plutocrats such as this:

YouTube - Never Surrender : The Trolleys

Be nice if we could have more trolleys as we would save on traffic, pollution, and keep some people employed in useful jobs.
 

Dexter Sinister

Unspecified Specialist
Oct 1, 2004
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,,, you Canadians preserve what we refuse to preserve...
Oh, I dunno, I think Americans have done a much better job of preserving and celebrating their history than we Canadians have. I'd venture to suggest that pretty much every American's heard of Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone and Lewis and Clark and knows at least a little bit about who they were and what they did. I'd bet not one Canadian in a hundred could tell you anything useful or interesting about Henry Kelsey or John Palliser, or why a large section of the Canadian prairies is called the Palliser Triangle. I've been in the border states south of where I live, Montana and the Dakotas and Wyoming, many times, and everywhere I went there were signs pointing out details of your history, almost to the level of "Meriwether Lewis once took a leak in the Missouri River at this spot." There's nothing like that where I live, just a few highway signs called "Point of Interest," with no clue what it is unless you stop and look.
 

damngrumpy

Executive Branch Member
Mar 16, 2005
9,949
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There is one huge difference Canadians have a social conscience and America has little to none.
the American health care system is a prime example. Americans will help to a point one of their
own who has medical problems. They rely on medical insurance than only covers those with means
to pay, and those on welfare. The working poor, the poor, and even into the middle class, the best
advice is don't get sick. In Canada we believe health care is a right. In many states foster kids don't
receive the care they need Washington State is a prime example. They have to stand and sing the
anthem and hold their hand over the heart so everyone can see how patriotic they are. In Canada
we are patriotic and we know it, besides there is no point bragging when we have the best country
in the world.
We are actually closer to French Canada than America when you strip away the fancy wrapping paper.
America is a great country, but I would bet you have a better chance to reach your dreams in this
country than you would in the USA. We as a nation, of people, have a better sense that we are a
national family, that is when we are not arguing with each other.
There are a lot of academics out there who have never set foot in the real world amongst people
that have ideas other than their own so they can pontificate all they want. In the centuries coming there
will still be a border there and their will still be a Canada, to the south there will be a patch work of
shrill voices going on in endless debate, something they learned from Ottawa and never understood.
Professors make the poorest observers in the world, they see life though a crack in a clam shell and
think that is all there is. The rest of us are the real world for better or for worse.
 

Trotz

Electoral Member
May 20, 2010
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Oh, I dunno, I think Americans have done a much better job of preserving and celebrating their history than we Canadians have. I'd venture to suggest that pretty much every American's heard of Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone and Lewis and Clark and knows at least a little bit about who they were and what they did. I'd bet not one Canadian in a hundred could tell you anything useful or interesting about Henry Kelsey or John Palliser, or why a large section of the Canadian prairies is called the Palliser Triangle. I've been in the border states south of where I live, Montana and the Dakotas and Wyoming, many times, and everywhere I went there were signs pointing out details of your history, almost to the level of "Meriwether Lewis once took a leak in the Missouri River at this spot." There's nothing like that where I live, just a few highway signs called "Point of Interest," with no clue what it is unless you stop and look.

I conclude it's the result of the current academicians who were hippies back in the 1960s and their reflection on historical Canada being an intolerant racist Anglo-Saxon institution; suppressing the Metis, the Salish, the French, et al; but now it's ok because we have 'Vertical Mosaicism'.

To the extent, especially on the secondary and post-secondary level, most Canadian history courses largely ignore Canadians and their history and instead dwell into history of the first nations or explore sociological themes like women's liberty in 1795 Lower Canada.


Most Canadians are usually surprised to know that we had a different flag and even a different (although unofficial) anthem for a long time (thanks Pearson ya ass)
 

Unforgiven

Force majeure
May 28, 2007
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A car has many similarities with a truck. But they are not the same. Plenty of Canadians, myself included demonstrate their national identity clearly most every day. Sadly most Canadians watch tv and after being told they have an identity problem, and given some sappy answer to that problem, "I AM CANADIAN" which is now owned by an American company, they fail to say anything remarkable that will show just how distinct Canadians are.
 

wulfie68

Council Member
Mar 29, 2009
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For all the bashing of the original article, two of its points are completely valid and on target:
- Canadian nationalists do use negation of Americans to identify themselves; they don't celebrate Canadian accomplishments as much as they try to tear down American ones and rationalize it
- the differences that most cling to are superficial, i.e. how we are governed and the games we play in our leisure time. Our values are very similar, as are our goals: if they weren't we would have come into conflict with them (and spare me the myths about Canadians kicking ass in the War of 1812...).
 

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
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A car has many similarities with a truck. But they are not the same. Plenty of Canadians, myself included demonstrate their national identity clearly most every day. Sadly most Canadians watch tv and after being told they have an identity problem, and given some sappy answer to that problem, "I AM CANADIAN" which is now owned by an American company, they fail to say anything remarkable that will show just how distinct Canadians are.

Maybe it's time people on both sides of the border just try harder to be a person and forget the bullsh*t about trying to be better than anyone else. :smile:
 

Unforgiven

Force majeure
May 28, 2007
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Maybe it's time people on both sides of the border just try harder to be a person and forget the bullsh*t about trying to be better than anyone else. :smile:

Have you met our culture? There is nothing and I mean nothing we won't turn into a competition.