Dumb Canada Comment

So what are you trying to say? What's your point? That some Canadians don't like us or our President? Oh no, whatever will we do?!

We'd boycott Canadian products, but you don't make anything. Is that your point?

If you're trying to make an anti-war point, then make it, instead of pussy footing around the issue.

Canada ranks just below jock itch in Americans' thoughts, unless you live on the border. 51st state? Not likely...

"... they look at us with amusement while we shoot each other, steal from each other." Been to Toronto lately???

And as to the vaunted medical system: waiting 4 months to get a muscular dystrophy diagnosis (try being a mother worried sick over her child's illness), 6 months for a knee scope (keep a good supply of ibuprofen on hand), and two months for 'emergency' colonoscopy, isn't my idea of a model health care system. BTW, all the above is from personal experience via in-laws.

Canadians are some of the most bigoted people I've met (and I travel worldwide). As a lilly white culture, I guess Canadians don't have to be concerned with racism on the homefront. But in their living rooms, it's common to hear the 'negro' jokes and slurs. I used to respect them from afar, now I just realize they're nothing but hypocrites.

51st state? Take away American markets, and you've got a country that resembles Siberia, with the GNP of Ghana. Hey, at least they have a cheap dollar (and they kiss American butts for greenbacks, then dismiss us as 'show-offs').

Don't for a second think that booing at a hockey game constitutes what our nation thinks of America as a whole. That's just generalized horseshit.

Monty

Canadians have EVERY right to boo whatever they want... We all should support free speech. In addition, many Canadians are understandably angry that we dropped a bomb on some of their troops in Afghanistan. That being the case, I still believe the USA is right in taking action against the tyrant in Iraq... but that's a separate issue (see link).

I won't defend the booing of the national anthem. That's classless. However, the incident probably gives a fair reflection of the general feeling in Canada, particluraly in Quebec. Our nation, on the whole, doesn't agree with Bush or Blair's argument for war, and there is, in general, a strong anti-war sentiment. Of course there are Canadians who do support the war (Asterix being one of them), but the majority do not.

Again, I won't excuse the lack of class, but these are emotional times. We've seen plenty of emotion on the issue in numerous threads on the topic on this board.

isn't it ironic, that they're booing the anthem of the only reason they have a right to protest?

sorry, how did the US give Canada the right to protest?

hey rojo,

good thing you didnt call me during the cornell teams phonathon. stop payment would have been stamped all over that check.

cornell' 94

My memory may be fading, but I seem to remember a basketball game from a while back where the US anthem was booed in Toronto during the playoffs. In retaliation, during a Detroit Pistons playoff game, the Canadian anthem was also booed. Most in the US just shrugged off this booing of anthems as playoff fan warfare. But the Canadians acted as if the US had started an act of war by having the audacity to boo the Canadian anthem. But it's acceptable to boo the US anthem? I'm not saying what is going on right now is right or wrong, but if Canadians can boo the US anthem, why the hell do they cry so frickin' much when their anthem is booed? This is a message board, Mr Squire. If you don't like what they put on it, (and I always haven't always agreed with what's on here), it's the Brothers Johnson's site to do with as they please. I suppose you would be the lone voice of reason in a crowded arena if the US anthem were booed in Canada? Jeez, you guys cry way too frickin' much.

caseyski,

I agree with much of what you say about Canada (not the bigotry part though). One reason why we as Americans don't think about Canada much is because they are a friendly neighbor. We enjoy their hockey and their beer. We enjoy Canada as a tourist spot. While I like their view on gun control, I agree with you that their health care is no great shakes - just because everyone has it doesn't make it good. There's a reason why many Canadians come to the US for medical procedures - they can get it done faster and in most cases better here in the US.

That all being said, even though I absolutely hate cold weather, if I had to live somewhere other than the United States, Canada would be my choice. "Oh Canada..."

As a Canadian, I can say that I am embarassed by these actions. Like the US, we are a free country and people can choose to disagree with the policies of their government or that of another. I notice many in the US also have a problem with Iraqi liberation. That's their right, even if I feel it's misguided.

But there are far better ways to show this disproval. March in the streets to the US consulate, wave your cliche'd banner slogans, but also remember that when it comes down to it, we are essentially more like Americans than any other country and depend heavily on each other economically, diplomatically and culturally (they'd really be at loss for fun if we pulled all our comedians back north of the border, but we'll leave Alan Thicke as our own WMD).

Don't lump in Quebec with Canada. Those "French Lite" morons have made repeated attempts to seceed since no one else in Canada alledgedly respects their unique language and culture. I've heard first hand from Canadians that they couldn't give a rat's ass what Quebecers think. In fact, they're resentful that after all this time, one province still dictates to the rest of the nation laws about bilingualism and culture. It doesn't surprise me that the most classless individuals in Canada are in Quebec. Pete, you can probably expound on this topic?

it was a red wings game. it happened after the government requested an inquiry to the friendly fire deaths of canadian soldiers in afganistan by a couple of us pilots who were jacked up on amphetamines at the time. their cos were working them too hard

More generalized horseshit. Quebec is a beautiful province with a rich history. You should go there sometime to form your own opinion, you might like it.

DougC wrote:

Canadians have EVERY right to boo whatever they want... We all should support free speech. In addition, many Canadians are understandably angry that we dropped a bomb on some of their troops in Afghanistan. That being the case, I still believe the USA is right in taking action against the tyrant in Iraq... but that's a separate issue (see link).

Except Canadians limit free speech in their country. They have draconian "hate speech" laws.

Accidents happen in battles. It is horrible that the USAF personnel dropped those bombs on friendly troops, but it was not intentional. The booing of the national anthem was. I am thinking of going to see the Expos when they come to town just to boo the Canadian national anthem, but I do not want to waste my time.

I wonder if anyone went to that hockey game just to boo?

For those of you who don't actually read an entire posting before you respond, I am an U.S. citizen residing within the U.S.

The point that pissed me off was the automatic assumption that Canadians are supposed to do exactly what we tell them since we own the country anyway. The idea is "sovereignty", the same exact thing that right-wingers quote when they complain about the U.N.

As for the statements made about Canadians (and Americans) in general, each is a large nation made up of many people, and they are not all alike. There are those both supporting and opposing the American invasion on both sides of the border. Government policy in Canada reflects a different attitude; there is in fact less gun control north of the border, and their national health care expresses a belief that the upper-middle and upper classes should not automatically get better treatment simply because they have more money.

It is interesting to note that it is almost de reguer that Canada's government backs the US on every international issue--but they are not on this one. If you read, listen to, or watch Canadian media with any regularity, you will find that they are extremely cautious to ever criticize U.S. policy, but they have broken with tradition now.

And if you assume that they are "aiding and abetting the enemy", well, I hear that drunken hockey fans are Hussein's #1 line of defense (but they're not so good at penalty killing).

I don't mean to interrupt this love fest, but will the anti-war attitude change if this thing ends in a couple of weeks (days) with little to no loss of life? Or will you blame Bush for not providing a real war to watch on CNN?

PR,

you've gone a bit far with this post. Quebecers are no more "classless" than Vancouverites or folks from New Jersey. I'm not sure why you lobbed out that line.

The whole Quebec vs "the rest of Canada" yin-yang is a deep element of the Canadian social fabric. We have always argued with each other and will always argue with each other. Every now and then, Quebec will threaten to secede, and then the passion will go away for a few years. And then it comes back again. And goes away. Kinda like what my guts do at the end of a long run when I've gotta make it to the can - sharp pains that come on every few minutes then go away again.

Quebec has a unique culture which is recognized in our Constitution. Many people in "TROC" resent this. This is at the root of pan-Canadian social friction. Similar friction exists in relation to First Nations, who also have special status, along with Inuit and Metis (who, although are recognized in our Constituation, haven't yet managed to secure tangible rights that would draw similar resentment from TROC).

Every now and then, we have internal strife (FLQ crisis, Oka, Burnt Church, Ipperwash, etc) when passions rise to the bubbling point. On the whole, though, we tend to mediate balanced solutions and try to keep everyone more or less "not unhappy" (not necessarily happy, but not PO'd enough to do something dramatic).

PR, I'm not sure what spurred to to write about the Quebecers the way you did. I usually find your writings both intelligent and defensible. Not so today.

Get back to writing us some humour - could you tackle this past week for us and wrap it up in a positive light?