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This quote from John Manley seems to sum up the theme of this site, and you buffoons who frequent it, quite well:

"I don't think we should define ourselves as being not American. We should be defining ourselves as Canadian and I don't think you need to be anti-American to be pro-Canadian," he said."

classic

When it comes right down to it, you guys need to lose the inferiority complex. (Here's a definition in case you aren't sure what that means)

Inferiority complex: An abnormal mental state due to lack of self-confidence and often resulting in compensatory aggressive behaviour.

I'll be interested to see how long this thread stays alive. So, Chretien didn't censure his PMs who made anti-american statement because Canada is all about free speech? What a joke.

   

And you are who???

   

yes, Canadians ARE known to act in a compensatory agressive manner and invade other countries, boycott products because others won't agree with us, and we have to hide our passports while travelling because other countries don't like us......

Come on RH, he is SO right. /sarcasm

   

Because of our role in the war on terrorism (a quite substantial and noticeable one at that), showign your Canadian passport has less of a chance of keeping you safe than it did before 9/11. Bottom line is, if I were going to the middle east, I wouldn't risk my life by showing the Canadian flag on my backpack.

   

Then how come US citizens are told to hide their american passport and pin a canadian flag on their possessions?

   

...and when your government kills people for a quick buck you reap what they sow.

I feel bad for all the decent Americans out there.

   

Stu's just in shock 'cause he never knew there was such thing as aggressive Canadians.

   

See, I don't define myself as an American. I am Canadian.

I am a Canadian first, and everything else second. What is wrong with that opinion. What is wrong with being proud of where you were born? Or is that something reserved for those south of the border, and everyone above must strive to be more American.

egotism - Excessive love and thought of self; the habit of regarding one's self as the center of every interest; selfishness; -- opposed to altruism.

   

the point of John Manleys quote, which has apparently escaped most of you, is that Canadians define themselves as "not Americans". Your national self-image is based around how your country and countrymen are different and (according to you and whatever data you can find to support your argument) smarter, safer, more ethical than the USA. It's a joke really. A daily affirmation could help, say it with me...

"I'm canadian, I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it people like me" Don't you feel better already?

   

The point that has escaped you, Stu, is that this is but 1 mans opinion. And 1 mans opinion does not a country make.

What is most telling in your original post is how you assume we all feel this way. It would seem that we cause you some angst. Hence the use of "what a joke" in such a deragatory way.

We are impressed with your ability to quote from the dictionary what must assuredly be large words (to you) But never fear, if we (as a country and not individuals) felt this inferiority complex we would have backed and participated in the non-un sanctioned war in Iraq.

   

The part that apparently escaped YOU, is that Canadians are sick and tired of being labelled as anti-American because we have our own thoughts freedoms and culture. Anything a Canadian says that is not agreed upon by an American automatically becomes an Anti-American insult. What MR. Manley is trying to say is that being Canadian, and proud of it is not being Anti-American. It's being pro-Canadian. They are two completely different states of mind.

No one here has said we are better than Americans. We're just different. And we are proud to be that way. On the other hand, you seem quite upset that anyone would even consider being better than an American. As if its wrong. I think thats the joke, and I think thats typical American ignorance.

   

Good point gangrenous I agree. Too many times Canadians are left to feel that way. If "Guest Stu" hadnt started this thread by using inferiority complex we'd be having an entirely different discussion.

   

Hi all...new to the board, but I like what I see...

I recently relocated to the US from Alberta, and have lived/worked abroad. The more time I spend away from Canada, the more I believe Stu's point to be accurate. I won't say he's 100% correct, but we as Canadians are always picking out areas where we are "not American" or "better" than Americans.

If you don't believe it, someone please point me to a post on this board that compares us (Canadians) to Germans, French, Italians, Mexicans, Russians, etc.

I personally love to poke the Americans every chance I get, but continually claiming superiority to any one particular nation does grow old. Comparing ourselves to the US has become part of Canadian culture, like it or not, which leads others to believe that this defines us as a nation.

-m

   

Is it really saying that we are better than the Americans, or just pointing out their errors? They are a large country that is amoral at best. They've pulled all kinds of crap in the last half century or so, and their tendency to do that has been accelerating since the end of the Cold War.

Their actions affect the entire world, yet they are only concerned with themselves. It would be stupid to stand silently by while something like that goes on and not speak out...akin to watching a bully pummel another kid and not saying anything.

   

Hi RB, good post - it resembles how I like to view the Americans. We're not better than them, we are different. We need to be fiercely proud of our own morals, qualities, values, etc...not necessarily proud that we're not the same as Americans.

I think what they are doing in the world is dangerous, and anyone that feels the world is a safer place now than it was 2 yrs ago is kidding themselves. Their actions have greatly increased the feeling of hatred towards the US and the western world, and will result in even more death than the world needs...

Proud of being Canadian, not of not being American...

-m

   

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