What's the difference between Canadians' & Americans' ?

[Lou Garu]

Kiwi, I was born on the shores of Lake Erie in S.Ontario, I have heard Americans refer to me as "spare parts American ,and Oatmeal Cowboy " and yet people all over the world have assumed because of the way I speak ,that I was born in several Other counties ('sept Canada ) including sadly, the U.S. (WWWAAAAAAYYYYYY to much T.V.).
But ...I've had the delightful experience of translating english from a Yank (from the BRONX) to a New Canadian from Jamaica ( full island lilt and speed with edwardian accent ) and back.
I find the America view of things not american to be ..........unique ?

a small joke,,when they were surveying the land to place the border line , there was much anticipation and speculation, land values would alter outrageously , families would be sundered, and businesses affected (not to mention the political landscape).
So perhaps you can understand the huge sense of relief a elder lady must have felt when she found out that the border passed a few feet NORTH of her house. Her reply ? THANK GOD for that , and the winters are SO cold there...........

Make of this what you will sir...........and welcome to the great white north

 

[LikelyGuy]

Hey Kiwi,

To tell you the truth, the thing that separates us North Americans (north of the Rio Grande) is the 49th parallel.

I live in the west coast, and have far more in common with my Alaskan, Yukoner, Washingtonian, Oregoner , North Californian, Western Albertan or the odd Idahoan neighbour than I do with a compatriote, say a, 'Prince Edward Islander' (though I never met one).

'Cept I'd go to war for P.E.I.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

Hey Kiwi,

To tell you the truth, the thing that separates us North Americans (north of the Rio Grande) is the 49th parallel.

I live in the west coast, and have far more in common with my Alaskan, Yukoner, Washingtonian, Oregoner , North Californian, Western Albertan or the odd Idahoan neighbour than I do with a compatriote, say a, 'Prince Edward Islander' (though I never met one).

'Cept I'd go to war for P.E.I.

That is true enough, the west has very little in common with the east (the Maritimes). For that matter they have very little in common with Ontario and Quebec.

Why, they even have very little in common with each other. BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are totally different from each other (the Maritime provinces by contrast are a much more homogeneous group). Alberta is very conservative, almost like southern USA (Mississippi, Alabama etc.), it may properly be considered the Bible Belt of Canada.

BC by contrast is much more liberal. I remember when we discussed Alberta separation in canada.com forum, some posters there put forth the possibility of BC and Alberta separating together and forming a country. Such a country won’t last one year.

Saskatchewan tends to be socially conservative, yet elects NDP governments with fair frequency. Manitoba is not as conservative, it has some influence of Ontario. But Manitoba also elects NDP governments.

So the western provinces have very little in common with each other. This really illustrates what I said before, Canada is a ramshackle country (though best country in the world, in my opinion).

 

[YukonJack]

The basic difference between a Canadian and an American is that an American NEVER feels that he/she needs to be compared to a Canadian.

Whereas the essence of being a Canadian is exactly the opposite.

Another, and perhaps even more telling, is that an American IS an American, from Maine to California, from Seattle to Miami, on the coasts, or in the Heartland. They resolved their regional differences in a catharsis, the likes of which Canadians NEVER experienced, the Civil War.

Canadians are proud to be regionalists.

 

[Cliffy]

That's what we need... a civil war to feel united. Why hasn't anybody thought of that before? Brilliant Jack! Just brilliant.

 

[DurkaDurka]

The basic difference between a Canadian and an American is that an American NEVER feels that he/she needs to be compared to a Canadian.

Whereas the essence of being a Canadian is exactly the opposite.

Another, and perhaps even more telling, is that an American IS an American, from Maine to California, from Seattle to Miami, on the coasts, or in the Heartland. They resolved their regional differences in a catharsis, the likes of which Canadians NEVER experienced, the Civil War.

Canadians are proud to be regionalists.

Do you feel the need to fit into a common mold for what a Canadian should be, Jack?

 

[Tonington]

What's the difference between Canadians' & Americans' ?


Look's like Canadi and Americ is the difference. :lol:

Seriously though, one fought the British Empire. The other did not. The histories following from that account for much of the differences.

 

[YukonJack]

"That's what we need... a civil war to feel united. Why hasn't anybody thought of that before? Brilliant Jack! Just brilliant."

Cliffy, you misunderstand.

What I was trying to say was that we Canadians had an easy history. We have been looked after by Mother England even while we have been pretending to be independent. We never had to take a hard stand on anything, with the possible exception of our soldiers fighting abroad in all the past and present wars and perhaps the 1970 Quebec crisis anc subsequent referenda. So, because Canadians never had to fight for an idea that being Canadian supercedes any regional loyalty, for us it is easy to be Westerners, Ontarians, East-Coasters, Newfies etc. and forget that we are all Canadians.

It usually takes an event like the 1972 Hockey Summit to awaken the CANADIAN in us.

Americans ARE Americans because of their history.

 

[Whitewood]

I haven't bothered to read the last 7 pages but I'll ask the Kiwi this anyhow ... What's the difference between Aussies and Kiwi's ? I recall clearly how insulted both peoples were when asked that several years ago when I was in both countries.

 

[mkwblue]

The difference to me(when I was in Halifax) I would be afraid to be in a large city in America, not so in Halifax. I felt very safe...it had a very small town feel to it...loved every minute!
But the topic is PEOPLE, right? I'm talking about the people...in America large cities have all those that would do harm not so in Canada. People there are peace loving people. I was in a crowd of 60,00 + and no fights, all were there to have fun, and we all did!
I made sure that no one mistook me for Canadian, I wore a T-shirt w/ an American flag, made no difference to anybody(except the young girl from Quebec, she didn't understand , and I didn't understand her.:smile:

 

[YukonJack]

United States - Canada
Australia - New Zealand
Austria - Hungary
Hungary - Romania
Russia - Ukraine

Examples in history are many. They all have one thing in common: The smaller entity has the biggest superiority complex.

 

[coldstream]

To put the difference into terms everyone should be able to understand just think Cougar vs. Mountain Lion.

Personally i think that it's more the difference between Grizzly Bears (Canadians) and Alligators (Americans).. to take the metaphor to a logical extension.. but there might be some bias in my example. ;-)

 

[kiwi_NZ]

I haven't bothered to read the last 7 pages but I'll ask the Kiwi this anyhow ... What's the difference between Aussies and Kiwi's ? I recall clearly how insulted both peoples were when asked that several years ago when I was in both countries.

Hiya,

We find the same here in NZ from visiting Canadians and Americans as both accents sound exactly the same to us, we can't tell you apart.

We also get told in no uncertain terms that they are NOT American or NOT Canadian. I think it's just a THING with patriotic folk.

Aussies (to Kiwis) are too laid back and lazy. Aussies don't like the Kiwis cos we take all their jobs. Ask the employers, they'll hire a Kiwi anyday, honest, hardworking buggas!

Good and bad in all races, it's just who we all are huh

 

[kiwi_NZ]

That's what we need... a civil war to feel united. Why hasn't anybody thought of that before? Brilliant Jack! Just brilliant.

LMAO!

 

[AnnaG]

"What's the difference between Canadians' & Americans'". Spelling? Location?

 

[EagleSmack]

The difference to me(when I was in Halifax) I would be afraid to be in a large city in America, not so in Halifax. I felt very safe...it had a very small town feel to it...loved every minute!
But the topic is PEOPLE, right? I'm talking about the people...in America large cities have all those that would do harm not so in Canada. People there are peace loving people. I was in a crowd of 60,00 + and no fights, all were there to have fun, and we all did!
I made sure that no one mistook me for Canadian, I wore a T-shirt w/ an American flag, made no difference to anybody(except the young girl from Quebec, she didn't understand , and I didn't understand her.:smile:

And you didn't get dragged through the streets by a sled?

 

[petros]

What's the difference between Canadians' & Americans' ?



30lb and a plaid shirt!

 

[AnnaG]

What's the difference between Canadians' & Americans' ?



30lb and a plaid shirt!

Don't forget the toque. lol

 

[jambo101]

We dont take our politics so seriously which might be attributed to our better beer.:lol:

 

[EagleSmack]

We dont take our politics so seriously which might be attributed to our better beer.:lol:

A Canadian once addressed this.

He said the US has better beer but Canada has better swill. Meaning the common beer that is consumed in Canada is better than the common beer that is consumed in the US.

For example Molson is better than Budweiser. Probably some truth in that.

But as he ended... swill is swill.

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