Well, it read that you were pissed about it. It's not like any of us have the time to read every single post and say "well, I see what you're saying there, but let me ask you how you feel." That's a bit much, don't you think?

We all have to realize that when we post things online, well, people are going to make assumptions. We can't see your face as we could if we were having a coffee discussing things. You could be rolling your eyes as you post something, but I can't know that.

I don't have a problem with you at all. But at points in this thread you're not coming across any better than those Ignorant Americans out there.

Maybe somebody needs to come up with some sort of quiz. One testing American history and culture, and one testing Canadian history and culture. I have Canadian friends so I might know a bit more than the average American about the culture. I have no idea if Canadians learn American history in school. I know I didn't learn much Canadian history. Is this because we don't think it's relevant? No, I don't think so. I think it's more of an issue of there only being so much time in the day.

Should Americans and Canadians and Mexicans know more about eachother? Of course. But it doesn't look like we can depend on our school systems to do this.

silent_jay, I'm curious about what you might have learned about American history in school. In high school we had classes called "World History" or "Global Studies". Basically take a few weeks and learn some French or Russian history. Living in New York we do have some shared history with Canada and the French and Indian War. Seems like there might be more of a chance for a Canadian to take an American history course than for an American to take a Canadian history course.

Sheesh, I wrote a lot..

That about sums it up.

Canadian and American cultures overlap so much that they are indistinguishable from each other. Sure you have the Kids in the Hall, SCTV, Margaret Atwood, and the ultra-pretentious Glenn Gould but really, is there that much of a divide? Could Canadians cogently explain Cuban refugee status, NASCAR history, or recite the Gettysburg address? Some could I'm sure but mostly I'm guessing no. There's so much anti-Americanism in the the world now, some of it justified, that any article on the subject will be printed, even poor ones like at the start of this thread. This reminds me of the hour I spent in a German bar convincing someone that Sesame Street was an American show even though there is a German language version. My sister spent a month this spring dogsledding near Hudson bay and the pictures she sent back are of an ice-locked tundra, yet I don't stereotype. And yes Canadians I should tell you that there are parts of your country with snow in June!

still don't know how this looked pissed, I was polite and nice, oh well.

Explain please, I haven't been rude, disrespectful or anything, you can't just type things like that and not back them up. so I'm waiting.


[/B][/QUOTE]silent_jay, I'm curious about what you might have learned about American history in school. In high school we had classes called "World History" or "Global Studies". Basically take a few weeks and learn some French or Russian history. Living in New York we do have some shared history with Canada and the French and Indian War. Seems like there might be more of a chance for a Canadian to take an American history course than for an American to take a Canadian history course.[/B][/QUOTE]

We touched on American history, but most things that I know about America are because I enjoy to read. Maybe some Americans should try reading books about other countries (other than when the bombs are dropping) instead of the Wall Street Journal, or The National Enquirer. That might help.

Well, I guess that for starters. I dunno, this whole thread is annoying. We're all ignorant. Lets just accept it and move on.

Every immigrant I've ever met seems to appreciate America more than most Americans I know.

And no, we don't know all the ins and outs of politics and cultures of other countries--we really don't care.

However, I doubt someone from Spain or China has much knowledge about our government, football, differences between various regions of the country, etc. So what? Nobody seems to care about other countries' ignorance of America.

I'm sure as hell not losing sleep because most people in Russia probably don't know that California is full of liberals and Wisconsin produces our cheap beer and dairy products. Why the double standard?

If the thread is annoying then stay away, no one is forcing you to contribute. Now that wasn't meant to be rude, it's a suggestion to get rid of your annoyance.

I'm sorry but if this is rude well then the world is too sensetive.

I mean come on it is true and Americans have said it in this thread already, they knew nothing about Afghanistan or Iraq before war came, then they started reading about it.

Your point? At least we read about them. How does it benefit me to know anything about Afghanistan, especially before we went to war with them?

If world politics is an interest of yours, that's cool. But I personally don't care if other people don't share my interest in, say, cars or computers.

My point is that maybe you should know something about these countries BEFORE your government drops bombs not AFTER. Most Americans think these countries are the worst thing since Hitler, yet they know nothing about them. Why because Bush and Rumsfeld and the rest of the government say so.

It sounds like you're saying you read about them, then in the same sentence you say how does it benefit you, well it benefits you because it opens your eyes to different things in the world, which you apparantly don't want. You might actually learn something, if that interests you.

Maybe the word self centered should have been used instead of ignorant.

I am interested in world politics, you don't want to know what I want to happen in Iraq. I too don't care if other people share my interests, but it is nice to open someones eyes to something they may not have seen before, and maybe help them to see your point of view.

First off as said before are China and Spain attached with the longest undefended border in the world? Are they neighbours? Are they close allies? Find countries that can actually compare to the relationship between Canada and the US.

I don't know anything about Cuban refugee status but I do know something about Cuban cigars. Don't know anything about the Gettyburg address. But Nascar history? I do know that the last 4 words in the Star Spangled Banner are,.. Gentlemen, start your engines.:D :lol:

Niiiiice! LMAO!

very nice!! LMAO

oops

America is not the only country that doesn't know much about Canada. Neither does the rest of the world. It is Canada that makes it this way, by being the quiet kid in the back of the class. Don't blame America for your...unpopularity? insignifigance? or whatever it is you're complaining about.

The tone of most of the responses here sounds something like "we're not ignorant of Canadian culture...you're just beneath notice!!!"

What an arrogant attitude. Let me just say that not all Americans are quite so prideful in their ignorance. Does it really hurt that bad to say, "no, I don't know enough about Canada" (they are cultural cousins on our border).

Addendum: Also, stop speaking for all American's with your statements! For instance:

Speak for yourself.

I'll tell you what's ignorant and arrogant: Someone saying I'm ignorant to what's going on around me simply because I'm an American.

You have no idea what you're talking about. There are people like this all over the globe; it is not an American trait. Just because you may have met some less-than-educated Americans in your life, that doesn't make your mass-generalizations even remotely accurate.

I'm curious, Silent Jay.

Without looking it up first, can you tell me off of what coastal nation lies Trinidad and Tobago?

What is the highest mountain in Ecuador?

In what island chain is the Bikini atoll?

What is the capital city of Liberia?

What are all the US island territories in the Pacific?

Etc.

My guess is that unless you are a geography major, you probably don't know the answers, so to demand that the average American does strikes me as more than a little unfair.

Can you even see the irony?

While I don't disagree, I think no one could argue that Canada is a larger and more influential nation than the first four nations you listed(well, three and Bikini Atoll, and the only reason anyone might know that would be a knowledge of early nuclear tests), and if an American could list all the US island territories in the Pacific off the top of his head, he would be wasting his brain, unless his job or education called for such knowledge. I doubt I could name all the state capitals anymore, because I don't need the knowledge, but I certain don't have even a passing knowledge of Canada.

And I don't disagree with you either that few would need such knowledge on a daily basis, but Silent Jay expanded his rant to include how Americans knew next to nothing about Afghanistan and Iraq until we were at war with them.

I also can see both side's points regarding Canada; that the US should know more about its closest trading partner/ally and also that because of the relative importance of Canada on a world's scale, that many Americans know more about countries like Russia and China than Canada.

I think that since Lebelle began using TFP he has learned more aboot Canadians and Canada then he ever would have dreamed he would have.

;)

You would be incorrect.

I'm not your average, ignorant American, Boo-Boo! :D

Ya I don't know the answers, oh well, ya got me. But hey I guess the average American would have. Why is it that people read so much into my location, jesus, I guess being patriotic is wrong but oh well Canada is still the greatest and no Lebell I don't see the irony

Just in case you missed it... the irony is that you are sounding a lot like your definition of an "ignorant" American.

This is no upside to this discussion.

The Americans are culturally dominant worldwide. Around the world people have a general knowledge of America through the various media (film, television, literature, etc.). America is the great cultural exporter (some would argue cultural imperialist but that's another discussion).

English Canada, as an English speaking nation on the border is inundated with American media. Most of our knowledge of America comes from the media... don't kid yourself saying that you studied it in school (even if you did it is only a fraction of what you think you know about America).

This forum is of interest only in pointing out that there is a cultural difference between the US and Canada. Beyond that it is just a bunch of whinning...