A European view of Canada vs. the USA
Previous 1 ... 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 ... 21 Next
Johnnybgoodaaaaa @ Sat Apr 03, 2004 4:38 pm
Layne Layne:
THis past summer my wife and I spent about a month in Russia. Half in Moscow the other in Siberia. Our translator was a very young girl and our coordinator was a mle 30-35yo. Both had a very keen interest to hear about the US, they wanted to know about every aspect of our society. I asked the translator why choose english, she told me they are taught that French is for people in the arts, English is for people interested in business. She jokingly said French translators are poor, the english translators are much better off.
Eventually Canada came up and they assumed Canadians as Americans with heavier coats, I proceeded to tell them differently. I explained to them my experiences while growing up on both sides of the border. I told them aobut some of the famous actors/muscians from Canada. In general I told them that Canadians are more polite and in GENERAL not as self-absorbed as Americans. I hope I left them knowing more about America, but even more about Canadians. The bottom line is the Canadian population is so much smaller than the US, (not a bad thing) and when was the last time a Canadian movie was a blockbuster?
Suffice it to say Canadians are the quiet cat in the corner that lives in the same room with an 800lb (289k) gorilla, people just don't notice the cat from a distance. (get it?...the gorilla is a an overbearing, load and obnoxious, often irritating impossible to ignore behemoth)
Eventually Canada came up and they assumed Canadians as Americans with heavier coats, I proceeded to tell them differently. I explained to them my experiences while growing up on both sides of the border. I told them aobut some of the famous actors/muscians from Canada. In general I told them that Canadians are more polite and in GENERAL not as self-absorbed as Americans. I hope I left them knowing more about America, but even more about Canadians. The bottom line is the Canadian population is so much smaller than the US, (not a bad thing) and when was the last time a Canadian movie was a blockbuster?
Suffice it to say Canadians are the quiet cat in the corner that lives in the same room with an 800lb (289k) gorilla, people just don't notice the cat from a distance. (get it?...the gorilla is a an overbearing, load and obnoxious, often irritating impossible to ignore behemoth)
How nice of you to leave the impression that Americans are not polite and are self-absorbed. Sure, there's Americans that are, but why pass on stereotypes and such to people who don't live in a country so that they can have a bias towards people. It's not like you know every American or Canadian....
AbeLincoln @ Sun Apr 04, 2004 8:50 pm
I once saw a gorilla named Coco playing with a little baby kitten quite nicely. And all I could think was "How cute it was that the gorilla had a new little friend." True Story
I hate analogies of the US and Canada. We're elephants, you're mice. We're gorillas, you're kittens! It's so stupid.
We're two countries side by side. ones small, ones big (and i ain't talkin' geographically) It's just the way it is.
northerngurl0712 @ Tue Apr 06, 2004 11:36 pm
I am Canadian, and I recently travelled to Europe (France and Holland). It was a great time, and although I suppose I can't say that it's always like this, but I found that perhaps in France it was better to be Canadian than American, although in Holland I found it made little difference. In France people seemed to like Canadians, mainly because a lot of them know French, and that's kind of well known. Also, I had a few vendors tell me about rude encounters they've had with Americans, but I don't think that it was just because they were "American," as we all know there's rude people from both countries. And of course there's been political France-USA issues.
I think that it would be rather easy to seperate Canadians and Americans in your mind. Canada is a small, nearly defenseless nation with one history, while USA is a huge, extremely well defended nation of a completely different history and a very well known government. I think that when you'd think of Americans you'd be led to think of all that power, and when thinking of Canadians just think of a small, peaceful area... Wouldn't that make sense?
Johnnybgoodaaaaa @ Tue Apr 06, 2004 11:44 pm
northerngurl0712 northerngurl0712:
I am Canadian, and I recently travelled to Europe (France and Holland). It was a great time, and although I suppose I can't say that it's always like this, but I found that perhaps in France it was better to be Canadian than American, although in Holland I found it made little difference. In France people seemed to like Canadians, mainly because a lot of them know French, and that's kind of well known. Also, I had a few vendors tell me about rude encounters they've had with Americans, but I don't think that it was just because they were "American," as we all know there's rude people from both countries. And of course there's been political France-USA issues.
I think that it would be rather easy to seperate Canadians and Americans in your mind. Canada is a small, nearly defenseless nation with one history, while USA is a huge, extremely well defended nation of a completely different history and a very well known government. I think that when you'd think of Americans you'd be led to think of all that power, and when thinking of Canadians just think of a small, peaceful area... Wouldn't that make sense?
I think that it would be rather easy to seperate Canadians and Americans in your mind. Canada is a small, nearly defenseless nation with one history, while USA is a huge, extremely well defended nation of a completely different history and a very well known government. I think that when you'd think of Americans you'd be led to think of all that power, and when thinking of Canadians just think of a small, peaceful area... Wouldn't that make sense?
I think that makes sense. I just want to say though that hasn't the whole french/american feud gone on for years? Even before the political issues I always thought that Americans thought of the French as being kind of arrogant and the French thought of Americans as below them. I could be wrong, but I just know that in the US, when the French are mentioned, the people never seem to be really happy or to like them that much and they are usually made fun of and considered rude. I know that not all French are like that, and not all Americans do this, but I have noticed it a bit before....
1Peg @ Sat May 01, 2004 5:16 pm
nonrev nonrev:
IWasYourCity IWasYourCity:
Hmmm, I think my original point has been lost (partly my fault.)
I loved Toronto, but I get sad when I think of Canada as a whole. It's like I should be pround to say where I'm from; like the Irish, Italians, Russians, Portuguese, Central American, etc people I grew up with. But I'm not. It's like a joke. Ugh.
I loved Toronto, but I get sad when I think of Canada as a whole. It's like I should be pround to say where I'm from; like the Irish, Italians, Russians, Portuguese, Central American, etc people I grew up with. But I'm not. It's like a joke. Ugh.
$1:
This is what I'm talking about: I made this post and made it clear that I told you the truth about what I've heard, and you act like I made a post that simply said "CANADURR SUCKS!"
Yes well, if you read the smarmy self-righteousness in your first quote, I would say your second quote is EXACTLY what you're doing.
At first I was taken in by your initial post and gave it some thought before contributing, but it's evident now that its simply a malicious slur couched in what you think will be taken as "Canadian politeness".
Don't fret - your point has become abundantly clear... Sorry, pal - no sale!
I'm sure you'll tire of "putting up" with us Troglodytes soon - it was so kind of you to grace us with your presence ....
B-I-N-G-O
RoyalHighlander @ Sun May 02, 2004 4:02 am
hockeyguy3399 hockeyguy3399:
If Europeans HATE us so much then why is 90% of our population's ethnicity from Europe?
Where else would they be from??? LMAo
SeaLynx @ Wed May 12, 2004 1:14 pm
I care about Canada, because my mother was born in Markham/Ontario.
I like cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa...
As much as I can, I am travelling to Canada, specially Markham, to visit my grandparents and friends in Toronto.
Since George W. Bush is president of the USA, I don't care about the country, because Bush is the stupiest man alive. KERRY FOR PRESIDENT. Bush ruins the USA.
(1) Bush to the New York Daily News, February 19th 2000 => "I understand small business growth. I was one."
(2) Bush at Oprah's talk show, September 19th, 2000 => "I am a person who recognizes the fallacy of humans."
(3) Bush in Bentonvill, November 6th, 2000 => "They misunderestimated me."
Any questions? 
If you want more, just let me know.
BlackIvy @ Wed May 12, 2004 6:22 pm
I can see where you might think that Canadians are thought of as Americans. We are! The United States is IN America. So is Canada! We share a contenent. That's what Europeans see. When I think of Italy, Germany, France, etc., Europe comes to mind. I know that Every country is distinct over there. I give them the respect for having the same common sense. Yes, the States is our Big Brother, but I am Canadian! And that means something!
AdamNF @ Wed May 12, 2004 7:10 pm
Well some friends of mine are backpacking through Europe right now going to all the battlefields in which Newfoundlanders shed blood in both WW1 and WW2. So ill ask them what people though of them when they get back.
GreatBriton @ Tue May 25, 2004 11:28 am
I think Europeans like Canadians much more than they like Americans. Americans are perceived as loud, brash and arrogant, whereas Canadians are seen as polite. There is a HUGE wave of anti-Americanism sweeping Europe at the moment, but there is no anti-Canadianism. That's why Americans, when they go abroad, pretend that they are Canadians because they know that they will be made more welcome if the people thought that they weren't Americans.
The standard of living in Canada is also far higher than that in the US. Canada was the best country in the world to live in for about 3 years in a row according to the UN, and Vancouver is the world's best city to live in. American cities ranked low in the list of quality of life - the highest ranked American city was Atlanta which was ranked about 35th.
SeaLynx @ Tue May 25, 2004 11:37 am
GreatBriton GreatBriton:
There is a HUGE wave of anti-Americanism sweeping Europe at the moment, but there is no anti-Canadianism.
I can confirm that.
GreatBriton @ Tue May 25, 2004 11:51 am
electricbuford electricbuford:
Almighty1 Almighty1:
All I know is that I love Canada and being Canadian. Thats just me. Im still trying to figure out why most of you halfwit idiots are on a Canada Kicks Ass website if you hate the country and/or being patriotic? I come here to read good things about my country and discuss its greatness.
It bears repeating.
Canada isn't insignificant. It has the world's 7th largest economy. It has been on more peacekeeping missions than any other nation. Its population of 30 million is larger than most EU countries.
GreatBriton @ Tue May 25, 2004 12:22 pm
Johnnybgoodaaaaa Johnnybgoodaaaaa:
The US lost 6x as many people as Canada, yet Canada was doing a good deed, and the US was just looking out for it's own interest. GO FIGURE! Damn those Americans, what right do they have to lose 6x as many people as Canada in World War 2 for their evil deeds. Damn those Americans for helping build France, Japan, and Germany back up. What a bunch of evil doers those Americans are. I mean I understand they do a couple good things every now and then, but everything is just plain evil, and world war 2 was all just about they own interest and not helping anyone out.
Per capita DOES matter. It is the true way to measure something.
The US lost about 295,000 men and Canada lost about 45,000. Altogether, the US lost more men, BUT the US has a population ten times larger than Canada. So, Canada lost a higher percentage of its population in WWII than the US did. Also, because the US is ten times larger, if both countries had a population that is the same size then Canada would have lost more men altogether. So, 45,000 x 10 = 450,000. So, if both countries had a population of 300,000,000, then Canada would have lost 450,000 men out of 300,000,000 but the US would have only lost 295,000 men out of 300,000,000.
wujood @ Mon Jan 17, 2005 12:49 pm
I have been reading the messages in this post and I can't help myself posting my opinion as well, especially from the perspective of a soon to be canadian immigrant.
I have been living here in US for about five years. I did my graduate studies and worked for a while here before deciding to move permanently to north. After visiting Canada few years back, I found the relatively slower pace of life more suitable. Don't get me wrong... I am not against American people. And having lived here for 5 years (Mid west), some of my best friends are Americans. And I have leaned so much from this country to say anything bad about it. To me, it has proven to be a land of opportunity indeed.But to be honest, things have changed from how they were, say 10 years ago, even 5 years. There are some very great differences regarding how Canada is compared to America around the globe, especially in present day.
In my opinion, its not the American people, rather American politics that creates a non-friendly outlook on US from international community. For example, in my home country (South Asia), the US embassy regularly issues alerts to US citizens to either evacuate the country, or advising against travelling, or be very watchful while living there. I mean, what kinda life is that when you feel so threatened any where around the world and in constant state of shock and horror? I think, that the US policies have made americans less safe and created a very negative image of the country as whole than the ordinary americans.
Canadians on the other hand are mostly known for the humanitarian aid, relief efforts around globe, and BANFF national park (tourism per say). So, being a low key nation and keeping friendly relations with everybody plays in the interest of Canada.
You are free to voice your opinion, though I hope I have not offended anyone.
mountygrl @ Mon Jan 17, 2005 3:42 pm
[font=Comic Sans MS] [/font]
Hey Gang...i'm new here and i think this is a very interesting subject. (by the way, i'm french so if my sentences sometimes don't make any sense, i apologize in advance)
I go to this other forum (actually, it's a horsepeople forum but they have this non-related horse topic) and 90% of the poeple on there are american. So..being the curious one that i am, i asked them their opinion on Michael Moore's documentaries such as Bowling for Columbin and F/9-11. Surprisingly, some of them agreed to Moore's arguments. but most of them said " oh god! give me a break! he's just full of b***sh**! how can all that be true! " well, you know, maybe he does exagerate on some stuff but statistics don't lie and most of the stuff he presents are facts, not just made up stories.
Anywho....... my point is that if you have seen these documentaries, you can probably figure out how different americans and canadians are. And the best part is that Moore is american himself...so obviously, there's a problem with this country (usa). I sure am proud to be canadian even though we have our own problems , they're inevitable. If Moore had to produce a film on Canada, i wonder what he would say...
cheers 
Previous 1 ... 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 ... 21 Next