Canadians: A racist term in the US?
 

Has anybody out there, particularly in the US, ever hear of the term "Canadians" used as a perjorative or racist term?

This has broken in the news in the past couple of days and I have a suspicion that there may be a sense that we are being viewed in a negative manner due to our tendancy to be a tad left of centre in our national composition. What say you TFP? (I must say that whoever thinks this way hasn't had the pleasure of working, serving or playing with Canadians).

Here is the article & Link:

http://www.thestar.com/article/297666

Is term 'Canadian' used as racist word?

Email lands Texas district attorney in hot water

Jan 26, 2008 04:30 AM
Brett Popplewell
Staff Reporter

Is "Canadian" the new black? Perhaps – that is if you're a racist speaking in code.

Recent revelations that the term "Canadian" is being used to replace racist names for black people have got a Texas assistant district attorney into trouble and have left others wondering what exactly it means to be labelled a Canadian in the American south.

Long derogated as weak-kneed liberals with lax laws and funny monopoly money, Canadians have carried a negative connotation in certain regions of America – but not as a replacement for the N-word.

Earlier this week a columnist with the Houston Chronicle uncovered an email from Harris County assistant district attorney Mike Trent who, in a congratulatory note to a junior prosecutor, used the word "Canadians" to describe blacks on a jury.

Trent wrote of the prosecutor in a 2003 email: "He overcame a subversively good defence by Matt Hennessey that had some Canadians on the jury feeling sorry for the defendant and forced them to do the right thing."

Trent's email remained unchallenged by colleagues who received the email, despite there being no actual Canadians on the jury.

But when Trent's office came under scrutiny this month over an unrelated incident, the email was unearthed, leaving Trent open to accusations of bigotry.

Those accusations are grounded in allegations that the use of "Canadians" was in keeping with the definition listed on an online racial slurs database that defines "Canadian" as a masked replacement for the N-word.

In his own defence, Trent said he honestly thought there had been Canadians on the jury and did not understand the negative connotation of the word.

Others, including the columnist with the Houston Chronicle initially thought the reference to Canadians may have been a misspelling of Californians, who are themselves seen to espouse many of the same liberal values as Canadians.

Despite the controversy, Henry Wells, a Texan and media relations officer with the Canadian Consulate General in Dallas, says he has never heard the term used in a racial manner before.

You know how there is one idiot that's always trying to start some trend or another? Makes up nonsense words and tries to get other folks to use them?

This is what happens when that kid grows up and becomes a lawyer.

I read this in the star the other day and was amused by it... I'm just glad the idiot was caught.

Canadian has been 'code' for Blacks in chicago for at least 20 years now.

I'm sure it led to some amusing misunderstandings.

This is extremely common in restaurants. Serving staff generally refers to blacks as Canadians because they don't want to get in trouble. Stereotypically, blacks tip less and are more demanding of servers. And it is not new.

Fascinating. In the Niagara Falls/Buffalo Area, strip clubs (especially the raunchier ones across the border) often referred to as "the Canadian Ballet".

That people are using code words to hide their prejudices is not surprising but I wonder what the "Canadian" connection is.

Canadians aren't a race.








They're not even human.

Canadian labels nationality. Is calling someone German or Mexican racist?

Add me to the list of people who have never heard of Canadian used as a derogatory term. When I hear Canadian, I think of someone who lives to the North of the U.S. border.

You weren't suppose to know, now we have to do things so you can't talk :paranoid:

But its not really derogatory per say, but it can be used in a derogatory manner. It softens the blow.

Example, and as a former waiter the server example is best.

Waiter to manager: I've got a whole section of Canadians so I won't be tipping out tonight.

Its not derogatory, but it is racist, as blacks as a whole are known for being very demanding and crappy tippers.

Since we have been PCed out of talking about race like it matters, its just natural that people will adapt and 'invent' new ones.

I have heard that we Canadians are also considered bad tippers, at least in tourist districts like Florida. My theory (if it's a true categorization) is that many Canadians calculate their tips based on the total sales tax, which is lower in American restaurants and bars.

Ooooookay. Apparently I am a bad tipper who, when caught leaving a sub-par tip, is referred to as a Canadian. Do people just make up s**t as they go along?

I don't think everyone is reading the thread.

Ustwo, I think everyone missed the joke. Texas lawyer chooses to use the term "Canadian" to describe a black jury.

Think about it.

So they're using the term Canadian in a derogatory way eh? Fucking Americans, I don't even know what to say. For the love of GOD I hate hearing about this shit.

You know, there's a REASON that Americans sew CANADIAN flags onto their packs when they travel abroad. It's because the world hates your guts, and you're so oblivious to the fact your country is rotting from the inside out. The only thing that would make me sad about the USA spiraling downward into oblivion would be that you dumb fucks would drag us down with you.

I guess you can't put ANYTHING past some inbred backwards fucktard from Texas.

I had something far more eloquent thought up, but for the love of god this has to be one of the most retarded things I've EVER heard.

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/7923/facepalmfb2.jpg

Putting the 'duh' in Canada.

so, can we still call em* Canucks?


edit: * = Canadians, that is.

I love you too Ustwo :thumbsup:

You're WAY too easy, you know that? That entire post was Ustwo bait... thanks, you totally made my night with the Picard picture

I love it

Based on how some people reacted I can only hope you are not that stupid so I'll say well done!

I crafted that after reading your "I don't think everyone is reading the thread" post. I wanted to give you the stereotypical Canadian foil to the American bashing of Canada.

No, really, what I think of this whole thing is that it's just sad. Chris Rock said once that if in old times people used the term "butter" instead of the n-word then today it would be "I can't believe it's not N*****!"

People will use any word, it's really just a shame it has to be Canadians. Frankly, when I read the thread I kinda assumed he was painting the jury as having a liberal bias and that's why they could sympathize with the defendant. you know, haw haw Canadians are all commies haw haw.

On the other hand, if it is really a bigoted remark, I really could care less what some bigot thinks and what garbage spews out of their mouth. I find that those people are so set in their ways that they will cheer for an all-black football team and still hate black people. People really confuse me that way.

As for the whole tipping thing, if you don't like the extra money I give you, I've got two works for you... Learn to fucking type.

Jessus Christ Ace! I couldn't stop laughing. I was showing my American friend the same post, and he has a great sense of humour, and he was laughing too. Nice work.

But, for the record, this whole "Canadian" thing is totally news to me.

Although I can see the leap in the venacular, I still find it quite, um, bizarre I guess.

Still, what can I do. I have winter tires on my AWD car. I say zed, not zee. I love William Shatner. I - Am - Canadian. White, but Canadian.

Gawd, so weird? I guess I should head down to Starbucks and clear my head with an Americano.

Peace,

Pierre

I have an old friend who lives in Chicago and whenever I visit him and go out with his buddies, they always refer to blacks as "Democrats". I got the impression that is a common reference in Chicago.

So is it worse to be a Canadian or a Democrat? Two negatives make a positive, so a Canadian Democrat is a white person?

I've started a new thread because I am interested in learning why Canadians and other foreigners come to the US, dine in our restaurants and patronize other services offered by the hospitality tourism industry, and....tip noticeably, and sometimes appreciably less than American residents who patronize these services and establishments...

Oh, well. Some much for the obvious. :rolleyes:

I wouldn't get so excited, it is established into our culture, and it is, I believe, due primarily because of a comparison of restaurant tipping practices which are frequent and stereotypical to the point of having become ingrained:

The columinst who wrote this is a black male:

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/7923/facepalmfb2.jpg

hahahahahahahaha :thumbsup:

man am i glad i got high before i read this post...........fucking laugh riot.



atta boy Ace..........:thumbsup:




........here's the tip folks..............:rolleyes:

I thought that this was DISCUSSION forum....

The thread started with an OP that inquired as to whether Americans were using the word "Canadian" because of disapproval of "left of center" political leanings of the Canadian majority.

Now, it seems, a shift has taken place in which posters who identify themselves as Canadian, are directing negative sentiment at subservient, well groomed, powerless working people.....people born to embrace "left of center" political leanings....

Canadians were not singled out and labeled. It is not uncommon to stereotype and associate people who act similarly and with a high probability. It's just business, and a positive way to channel hostility, to vent it so that it does not spill over into the next business transaction.

How do you usually react to people, who compared to most others who you deal with, are measurably deficient in holding up their end of the bargain. Maybe the people who act in an average way when they pay the bill for a restaurant meal are doing it on purpose, to make you look bad.

Jesus, do you work in the restaurant industry?

Or is there some other reason you have such a hard-on for thinking that all Canadians are somehow stiffing every waitress in the USA out of valuable tips?

You so silly.

That used to be my method, when the sales tax and the GST added together gave you 15% of the food bill. As 15% is the accepted tip amount, that is what i would leave.

Since the GST has dropped from 7% to 5%, I now have to mentally calculate the 15%, so it's abit tougher.

Since this is the method used my a lot of Canadians, perhaps we undertip in the US? What is the accepted rate in the US? more than 15%? At any rate, I must add that personally, tipping is a practice that I abhor. I understand that the wages of the servers, busboys kitchen staff are artificially set lower, in order to encourage income via gratuity.

It just irks me that by the time I drop a bundle on food, drinks, parking what have you, I still have to pony up another 15%. so it is anticipated, and doled out in a very exacting manner.

Don't get me wrong, I do tip, it just bugs me. And I know the other side as well, having worked in various hospitality roles during my student years.


see my question above..... maybe there is something lost in translation?

A Canadian killed my parents.

The jury refused to sentence him to death, because under US provision 23.554c., B and F, all Canadians are hereby and henceforth considered mentally and physically retarded, and it would go against the morals of the community at large to put retards on death row.

I think they were just enamored with his tuxedo...

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...anadian+tuxedo

Does it matter? I can say that from now on when I say "orange juice" I really mean "nigger". Does that somehow make "orange juice" bad? WTF? If nobody cares, then what difference does it make? It's only a problem when some people let it start actually mattering.

I have never heard someone use Canadian as a racist term.

I just opened a new store..
the banner reads 'Terms are Us'

I'm just going to say this differently because sometimes I can't tell when people are joking and when they are not and I think this is important:

The term "Canadian" is used by some people to describe a black person. This is done because saying someone is Canadian is less likely to get you in trouble than if you tell someone that there is a table of blacks or something like that. It is not meant to disparage Canada in any way, at least it is not in every instance I have ever heard it.

I find the word Canadian insulting... from now on, I wish to be called black (says the white Canadian)

Hats off to the inventive jesters in our midst. This thread ought to be moved to Humor, or at least 65% of it.

My half-brother is Canadian.