Non-Canadians: What do you really think of Canada?
 

Well, not to threadjack, but the thread asking others about their attitudes about the ol' U S of A got me thinking...

What do others really think of me, and my nationality?

As Canadians, we have the opinion that others around the world envy us, because of our cultural diversity and public healthcare. Our natural resources abound, our geographic beauty is unparalleled.

We have good senses of humour and great taste in music.

We want people to get along, and have a strong international presence in UN peacekeeping.

What if people don't think of us the same way?

What do you TFP'ers think of "Canuckistan" (thanks Mal, I still laugh when I think of that), of our culture, people, foreign policy and so forth?

I wait with anticipation.

I imagine life in Canada as one big Kids In The Hall sketch. There's also lots of wide open frozen spaces that would be perfect for dumping nuclear/toxic waste. Other than that, I often forget Canada's even there. :D

well being from the UK I've met a few people from the USA in real life and 2 people from Canada. On the basis of that scientific survey Canadians win every time. :D

I don't feel envy. I like living in a country where 2 miles to the next town seems too far away :thumbsup:

Since your military doesn't go around bombing and killing then you have my vote.

+ Margaret Atwood is a fine writer :)

what are you talkin aboot?

To be honest, I get sick and tired of the shit Canadians talk onto Americans. We really are not all that different when it comes down to 1:1.

Then to add to that at our mall here every single weekend we get bus loads of Canadians to come here and shop (6% sales tax only on select items) and let me tell you. Those Canadians are some of the rudest, most ignorant, selfish people I've met.

I guess the moral of my story is that we're all the same. A mixture of good people, and assholes. Shame the bad are what often stand out.

I would like Washington to secede to BC. We're pretty laid back and would fit right in. Honest. :)

This guy...

http://img108.imagevenue.com/loc168/...dave_foley.jpg

I only envy Canada's ability to fly under the radar. I mean, they just seem to walk to their own drum? Blaze their own trail? Some other useless cliche..? And nobody seems to give a damn, which would be nice. And although all the Canadians I do know (or of) seem like nice folks, I've met my fair share of assholes as well, which just proves to me Canadians can suck just as bad as my fellow Americans.

friendly. i'm from minnesota, and we're known for supposedly being nice. but i think canadians are like what we used to be like. in my travels, i accidentally entered a closed campsite too early in the season. the ranger didn't just boot us out, but stopped to give us a map, mark some nice trails, and wish us a good day. i was nearly confused by that. just stuff like that... I love traveling up there, Montreal is one of my favorite cities for hanging out and just enjoying the place.

Spineless.

Socialists.

High taxation.

Poor medical system. Sure, it's "free," but you have to wait forever to have something done.

Far too liberal. You're liberal to the point that you're giving your country away to foreigners and ostracizing you're own people.

Militarily, politically, and worldly insignificant.

That about sums it up. That's pretty much how I view you, although Canada may be completely different. It's no more fair or unfair than the way Canadians view us in the US.

I've only been to Canada one time and it was on business in Windsor, Ontario. Were I taken there blindfolded and set loose in the factory I was visiting I wouldn't have noticed a difference from where I was North or South of the border. As has been mentioned by many others and more to come I'm sure, people are people. And you can't assume that one country's people are any better or worse than another's based on media stereotypes or the actions of the government.

FWIW, the Canadians I met in person were all quite nice people.

I'm not even Canadian but I'm gonna defend 'em

so Mr Pony prefers

Backbone and Aggression (mass murder)
Capitalism (and doesn't know what it means I just bet) (organised theft)
Low Taxation (the rich don't pay anyway)
A Fast Medical system (for the rich)
Liberal but not too liberal (hmmmm)
Militarily, politically, and worldly powerful. (Empire)



let's have every country in the world like this and we all die in about 3 years because every country is fighting with one another and we die by war or the finishing of all resources. Oh joy :rolleyes:

I take it you're pretty liberal?

I do not prefer aggression (except when neccessary), however I do prefer backbone. I am against mass murder.

Capitalism - yes, I prefer it and I know what it is. I am anti-socialist to the extreme. It's my money, not yours or anyone elses.

I prefer a flat rate user tax, but will settle for low taxation. Again, it's my money.

I am not rich, but the medical system is better here than there. My opinion. Socialists/pinko commies will disagree naturally.

I don't know where you get "liberal but not too liberal" from. Explain please.

Militarily, politically, and worldly powerful - yes. Empire - no. I prefer a more isolationist policy.

Thank you for misrepresenting what I said. I am middle of the road when it comes to liberal and conservative issues, but the moonbat fringe always misinterperates what I say. People like you have helped form my opinion on Canada (and leftism in general), and you're not doing anything to help improve on it. :)

Nowhere in my post did I advocate an aggressive world war, so how did you come by that conclusion?

I'm sure it's not the answer that you want to hear, but I see Canada as USA/North.

Yes, I need to show a passport when I fly in (OK, I don't have to, but it's way easier if I do).

You all use that funky metric system and Canadian dollars, which means I have no clue how much something costs (not that it really matters, you want to eat / you pay what it costs).

I "get" hockey, but you have a fascination with the sport of curling that is beyond my comprehension.

I honestly don't see Canadians as being much different than Texans. Both are a bit odd, but most of the ones I've met have been pretty nice.

I've got to ask you,What is it with adding "eh" to the end of a sentence to make it a question?

I hear those "spineless" Canadians sent a few teams of "spinelss" Seach and Rescue folks to the Gulf Coast. And they made it there before FEMA did.

I have several Canadian friends, they are fine people.

Canada itself? Quite beautiful, and way too cold for me, at least during the winter.

I love Canada! I want to move there some day. I have some Canadian friends, even. I visit Canada at least twice a year, if not more, and while I'm there I stock up on my favorite Canadian things (Ruffles All-Dressed chips, acetaminophen with robaxacet, Granville Island lager, maple creme cookies, and Smarties).

Of course, I grew up in NW WA watching Canadian television and Canadian Sesame Street...listening to Canadian radio...so that might have something to do with it.

:)

Surely there are things wrong with Canada, just as there are with the US. But somehow what is wrong with Canada seems far less grievous--it seems as if there is more RIGHT with Canada than right with the US any more. :( C'est la vie.

Capitalism - you are likely to be either an exploiter and therefore thief or an exploited person. I don't expect exploiters to support Socialism.

If it's YOUR money then hey why let anyone take so much as a cent from you? It's YOURS. If someone else's kid starves that's just too bad? Serves them right for having bad parents? I'm sure you are more socially responsible than that.

Since the US is the richest country in the world I would hope some of it's citizens get the best medical treatment :)

Well how many people like to say 'I love mass murder?' Not many.
Militarily, politically, and worldly powerful is the US.
When the UK Empire was so powerful we were mass murderers. I won't deny or defend it. The US leads the world on this now and in the last 50 years of the last century.

War is organised mass murder. Words are powerful though so politicans prefer not to say 'lets have mass murder'

If every country was fighting for resources and had a 'backbone' like the US and Israel, it would be the most wars being fought consistently.

I would no more expect an exploiter to become a Socialist than I expect a Tiger to become a vegetarian :)

Moonbat fringe, pinko communist? I'm sure you think you are middle of the road. It's a right wing road littered with stolen property and doomed.

I still love the Canadians I've met. Jim and Sue wherever you are, I hope you are OK and still as nice and cool as you were when I knew you :)

i've allways associated hockey addicts, snow, and more snow, with canada.... and the word "aye!"

when i think about canada, i think people driving around in the snow going to bars at night and drinking, all in hockey uniforms...


... past the stereotypes, i really don't even know much about canada, all i know is that they have a prime minister, a waterfall, and a place called toronto... and snow!

Thank you for your frank and blunt opinion. When you throw these words around:
I can't see how anyone could possibly misrepresent you. You could not have chosen words with more clarity if you right-clicked using MS Word and looked for fucking synonyms! I commend your attitude... after all, it was I who solicited a response from the world at large. You, my friend, have stated your views with such precision that I am "Shocked and Awed".

Well, I think it goes something like this:

We add the 'Eh?' to the end of a statement to show that we have finished that statement, and are now interested in knowing if the listener also agrees with our previous statement.

I didn't realize how much I said it until I was the only canadian at the table. In my defence, I was floor-licking drunk.

Pretty straight forward, eh?

:lol: your name wouldn't be Moosenose or Daswig would it? I can refute most of this but why bother... it's just one man's opinion.

(oh shit... there I go being spineless again... :p )

It's the same as Americans who say, "huh" or Brits who say, "init" or "isn't it" at the end of their sentances.

You know what I'm talking about, eh? or
You know what I'm talking about, right?

How's it going, eh?
:thumbsup:

I am an exploited person then. I'm not a business owner. I also don't subscribe to the opinion that businesses are theives. There is no logical reason that big businesses should just give their money or resources to the poor.

The 16th Amendment, which was invented and passed by liberals, is why I pay taxes. I don't agree with it, but to live and work here I have to pay it. Basically, I pay because it's the law. Again, I favor a flat sales tax, not an income tax, which is pretty liberal in thought; you pay according to your means. Bush (for example) will pay more taxes for the things he buys than I will. A nice progressive tax rate that liberals advocate. Oh, and no tax returns either. I prefer that we'd get out of debt.

I have little (but some) sympathy for the poor. I had nothing, and now I have something. I worked for it. It's a time tested method for success and there's absolutely nothing stopping the poor from getting an education and a job except laziness.

I agree for the most part. Like I said, I prefer an isolationist policy.

I only appear to be a right winger to the extremists. The liberal in me will come out when appropriate. :)

I've met several Canadians and loved them. My wife and I even went on vacation with them and visited them in Canada. However, they didn't influence my overalll opinion of Canada in general. I imagine it's the same as us (my wife and I) not influencing their overall opinion of America. Good people can come from anywhere.

Enough about me and my personal views. Someone asked how outsiders viewed Canada and I answered. I didn't figure it was going to be a popular opinion. :D

No, why? :confused:

It's one of those you-had-to-be-there kind of jokes/references.

But on to Canada and my views of it. I have an uncle who lives in BC so naturally I have a special place for Canada in my heart. Also, that Degrassi show is addicting as hell. It's like a teen soap opera that matters. Or something.

Oh, and Charlatan, toughen up, man. Christ, before you know it, you're going to be quoting Celine Dion lyrics to us.

It's just the kind of inflammatory thing that user of multiple handles and arch-conservative views would have written... Didn't mean anything by it other than to have a laugh at your conservative view of Canada...

Carry on. ;)

I don't want be accused of hijacking this thread so I'll try not to post again to it and will only answer this statement.

The argument about how wealth is created is essential to understand.
It's called 'good business practise', 'profit', etc in capitalist ideology.
I call it theft because that's what it is. Workers create the wealth of the world by their work and their unpaid labour. Big business takes this money for the few. Workers are not fully paid for the work they do. This is the surplus value they create.

It's a giant con trick and deception. Socialism means sharing the wealth for the benefit of all people. I don't expect you to agree not because you are stupid but because the dominant ideas in US culture (and UK and all capitalist countries) accepts capitalist values in various forms and strengths.

Breaking free from those beliefs is not something most people can do. Those beliefs are so powerful, appear so true and obviously correct. Beliefs which contradict them are 'mad' and 'extreme'.

You can't expect the rich to tell you they are thieves. It's hardly in their interests. They probably believe they are clever, respected and great people anyway :rolleyes:

Gnight.+

I still like Canadians :thumbsup:

I like Canada.

Pros:
Hockey.
Ubisoft.
"Eh?"
Newfies.

Cons:
Too cold.

I'm going to ignore the pissing match that's going on and tell you all that I absolutely love Canada. You Canadians have so much to be proud about.

My wife and i lived outside Buffalo for 3 years. We spent a lot of time in Toronto. As a matter of fact we spent most of our free time there. I'm so struck by how civilized life in Canadian cities seems compared to American cities.

We've also been to Ottawa, spent time skating on the canal in -30C weather and loved it. Where else could you leave your shoes by a bench and expect them to be there 2 hours later? Where else can you chow down on beaver tails in public and not get arrested?

There is also great natural beauty in your country. Temagami is spectacular for wildereness canoeing. We haven't gotten to ski out west yet but Lake Louise is high on our to-do list.

And finally: You have Don Cherry! What more is there?

I'm an American who loves his country, but couldn't be more impressed with Canada!

Well if tfp is a sampling of what canuckistan is like - i say we annex 'em... cute boys...

Plus, a buddy of mine - an exiled canucker showed me this ad - that every time I see it I Laugh - and LOVE Canadians!!!

http://www.coolcanuckaward.ca/joe_canadian.htm


But it's ZEE - ZEEE -- ZEEE -ZED is just stooopid.

but could you explain William Shatner to me? Please?

I've spent a fair amount of time on various trips to Canada. To be honest, it kind of reminds me of the good parts of visiting the Southern part of the US. Things are a bit slower paced, people are friendlier, and it's just an overall more relaxed atmosphere. I also happen to LOVE the backwoods of Manitoba and Ontario, the places I've been.

eribrav... skating on the canal is one of my favourite memories of living in Ottawa and I agree about Temagami... did you ever canoe in Algonquin Park?

Canada looks sweet. I'm going next summer with my brother. I bet you can guess which part. Come on guess? Hehe.

If you come to Toronto let me know... Though if you are in Mass... I'd say you would be more likely going to Montreal to see the Canadian Ballet.

After we see the Canadian ballet, we're gonna party for a week in Vancouver!

Aside from the beautiful scenery, wonderful people, my family, my heritage, and an excellent all around play ground for it's protector and big brother to the south, Canada is many things.

Including:

1. 60% percent income tax rates
2. 24th in all around quality of 25 industrialized nations with universal health care.
3. 15% sales tax.
4. Abundant natural resources.
5. 85% percent of it's land mass is unihabitatable for 6 months every year.
6. Awesome skiing.

Finally, this is what I think about when I think of my homeland:

http://www.faac.ca/content/WhosYourNanny.wmv

I will still return at least twice a year, and will diligently fill out the forms to have the sales taxes refunded. I will sport a canadian flag on my car and back pack, right next to my eagle globe and anchor.

-bear

What I do think of Canadians? Back in the early 90's I used to haul in auto parts to a manufaturing facility in Missassauga (sp?). I came in via Buffalo, and came out in Detroit. The Candians I dealt with in those days were a little rude, but I think that came from having to deal with so many asshole truckdrivers over the years. I didn't take it personal, and they weren't really that bad...just a little sarcastic, and full of themselves, but not too hard to deal with overall.

For the most part I like their sense of individualism (I think StanT compared Canadians to Texans), and for the most part my personal experiences with them in the US have been OK. But then people usually mind their manners when they are guests in someone else's home too. I see them occasionally down in the Galveston, near the seawall.

Canadians, being the pacifists that they are, sure do heap a lot of unfair criticism on us Americans. They're a lot like that pain in the ass little brother so many people have. Even though that little brother pisses you off, he's still you're little brother and you don't want anything bad to happen to him.

Now, now bear... that's a bit of an exageration...


It's only in the 45% or so...

I find that interesting that you would comment on our "individualism". If I were to say anything about the difference between Canadians and Americans it would be the Individualism of the US vs. the Collectivism of Canada. Our weather and general environment have made it group together for survival (i.e. settlers would die without pooling resources in our harsh climate) and today's poor would die (and do) without assistance (in some cases).

As for the little brother comment? Fair enough.

Ummm, Canada is good I guess. I don't really think about Canada that much. I kinda have the impression that Canada is a boring place where not much happens. I knew next to nothing about the Canadian government until I was forced to write a research paper on it. Most Canadians I have met have been nice, except for my Marketing professor. He's a pompous ass who thinks much too highly of himself and his position as a professor.

I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to Canada though. They're like our brothers in the north.

The Canadians I have known personally were very much individuals. A couple of them would tell me stories (complete with pictures too) of the excellent hunting and fishing in Canada. I guess most Canadians I have known well enough to talk to more than once were sportsmen. And, most sportsmen I know...Canadian or American, are pretty private people, big time individualists and survivalists, and are not really into crowds....and lot like me.

These have been my personal experiences with Canadians, which has been pretty limited. Considering the fact that I live in SE Texas...not far from Houston, it is a rare occurance to see or speak to a Canadian.