I was born in Canada and have lived here my whole life. It seems though that as a country we don't have a really solid identity as a lot of other countries do.
To me it seems Canada is just a weird, awkward clash between Britain and the US. I suppose Canadians are stereotyped as being nice and the whole "aboot" thing. I love living here in Canada but sometimes I feel like our national identity is a joke! I just kind of wanted to see what other peoples opinions are about Canada and its' identity on a world wide type scale. I don't think that Canada is the best country or anything, I think nationalism and patriotism are silly even since we don't choose where we are born. Although that is a different topic all together.
How do you guys (especially non Canadians) perceive Canada?
KelseyC wrote: I was born in Canada and have lived here my whole life. It seems though that as a country we don't have a really solid identity as a lot of other countries do.
To me it seems Canada is just a weird, awkward clash between Britain and the US. I suppose Canadians are stereotyped as being nice and the whole "aboot" thing. I love living here in Canada but sometimes I feel like our national identity is a joke! I just kind of wanted to see what other peoples opinions are about Canada and its' identity on a world wide type scale. I don't think that Canada is the best country or anything, I think nationalism and patriotism are silly even since we don't choose where we are born. Although that is a different topic all together.
How do you guys (especially non Canadians) perceive Canada?
A great friend and one of our greatest allies.
Besides... a country that has a Strategic Reserve of Maple Syrup is cool in my book...
OH! And home of Ice Hockey. We're forever in your debt for that!
Platuan4th wrote: Not a single "eh?" in that whole post, am disappoint.
Also, don't freakin mess with Canada, I know what you guys did in WWII. You're awesome to the max in my book.
I do say eh rather frequently when I speak! When I type though I never ever include it at all. Sort of how when younger people talk they will say like a lot but when they type they don't have all those likes in there.
I didn't see your edit until after I posted, so time to respond to your edit with an edit of my own. I took almost all of the history classes I could in high school. Before then I had never really understood how important Canada was in both World Wars. Not that other countries weren't as important or even more important but when I was younger I had always assumed our military didn't do much because all you hear about is what the Americans did.
Canada is the US-Lite They are the nicer, more sane, civilized and reasonable cousins of the Americans. At least, that is the common stereotype where I come from. Canadians are also addicted to maple syrup and all wear red uniforms. And worst of all, they are way too good at ice hockey, as they always beat us, and everyone knows ice hockey is a Russian sport. They probably use maple syrup as doping.
Platuan4th wrote: Not a single "eh?" in that whole post, am disappoint.
Also, don't freakin mess with Canada, I know what you guys did in WWII. You're awesome to the max in my book.
I do say eh rather frequently when I speak! When I type though I never ever include it at all. Sort of how when younger people talk they will say like a lot but when they type they don't have all those likes in there.
I use like a lot when I'm Texting and Messaging, I'm afraid. Not so much as interjections, but like using examples and stuff like that.
Canada is a loft apartment above a really great party house
But in all honesty I pretty much, and this might sound bad, consider canadians just more Americans. As in our societies are pretty damned similar and they don't sound any different than my family that was from Minnesota. At least that's the way it's felt with all the canadians I've met here in the US and abroad when I was traveling.
I've only been to Canada twice (Montreal and Toronto areas). Both were work trips this past winter.
The people were nice. About what I'd bump into in similar places here in the states.
The food was the same as what I can get here in Northern IL. No Mexican food, unlike what I had in Houston. fething A, I miss that. Better Indian food choices here, though, but I digress.
The music was the same, only with 22% more Brian Adams and Celine Dion.
Actually, it was a lot like my trip to England, only less beer and kick ass museums. Or France, only less wine and cheese and smoking hot chicks. Very similar to what I have here in many ways. At least, on the surface. I didn't have to do taxed up there or go through your DMV or anything.
As for "solid identity", I'm struggling with what to say. I enjoyed the trip, and would go beck there. The people at the manufacturing plants were hard working when it was time to work, and easy to talk to when it was time to relax with a few beers. It was like being in America, North.
Canada is a loft apartment above a really great party house
But in all honesty I pretty much, and this might sound bad, consider canadians just more Americans. As in our societies are pretty damned similar and they don't sound any different than my family that was from Minnesota. At least that's the way it's felt with all the canadians I've met here in the US and abroad when I was traveling.
Oh, except for French Canadians.....they're weird
I totally get that, I feel like I am basically American. We have a few things that are not as American that we may do such as keeping the you in words like honour and armour.
Another silly thing here is a silly media rule by the CRTC. It basically is something like 35% of all media played on Canadian television, radio, etc must be Canadian. A month ago or so I believe an adult film channel even got in trouble for not having enough Canadian material, such a silly way to try to keep us less "Americanized"!
Most countries have an entirely concocted identity that rarely resonates until someone else takes the piss out of the homeland that, if you were to be honest, you really don't care about.
Canada has a reputation for being polite, friendly and filled with extended family in Scotland. It's not the most iconic or bad ass identity, but it's nice and complimentary.
KelseyC wrote: A month ago or so I believe an adult film channel even got in trouble for not having enough Canadian material, such a silly way to try to keep us less "Americanized"!
actually, one of the most common answers to "what is a canadian?"
is "not an american"!
not that there is anything wrong with being an american, but you dont tell a danish man they are just like the dutch, you dont tell the scots they are just like the irish, swedes = swiss, chinese or japanese = chinese.
Our identity is more personal, then national, canada has a real wide spectrum of stuff we get recognition (or at least SHOULD get recognition for)
-ie: we were the original storm troopers, yes, canadian troops were THAT bad @$$ in both WW's. I think the cold weather and enviroment really toughen people up a lot.
-canada has always been a great center of R&D with things like nano tech, robotics, medicine, and so on,
we seem to have a knack for producing more "talent" per capita then one would think.
-for some reason everyone thinks we are super polite, because we are... but heaven forbid you actually upset us (see bullet point #1 above)
I've never visited Canada, but would love to one day.
The thing that always springs to mind about Canada for me is the (far too understated) part they played in the First World War. As part of the British Empire, they were basically dragged into the fight without a choice, but instead of trying to stay out, Canada threw itself in with as much courage and gusto as could be mustered. The fact that they played such a huge part in a war half a world away they had no choice in entering is just amazing (as is the role of most of the Commonwealth/Empire that really had no choice in participating). The Canadian memorial on the Somme in France is one of the most poignant memorials I've visited (I've seen a lot), pretty much for that reason.
And, on a less tragic note, it's also the nation that gave us Rush and Leonard Cohen, so bonus points there
KelseyC wrote: I was born in Canada and have lived here my whole life. It seems though that as a country we don't have a really solid identity as a lot of other countries do.
To me it seems Canada is just a weird, awkward clash between Britain and the US. I suppose Canadians are stereotyped as being nice and the whole "aboot" thing. I love living here in Canada but sometimes I feel like our national identity is a joke! I just kind of wanted to see what other peoples opinions are about Canada and its' identity on a world wide type scale. I don't think that Canada is the best country or anything, I think nationalism and patriotism are silly even since we don't choose where we are born. Although that is a different topic all together.
How do you guys (especially non Canadians) perceive Canada?
A great friend and one of our greatest allies.
Besides... a country that has a Strategic Reserve of Maple Syrup is cool in my book...
OH! And home of Ice Hockey. We're forever in your debt for that!
Don't forget good European style beers. We'll forgive the strange fascination with Coors and British like bad food.
My only trip into Canada is not the best example of what it's like, but there is a big difference in each side of the falls, American side.....parkland, and a visitor center. Canadian side.....'BLING' it's Blackpool upon Niagara.
Other than that, lovely people, they seem more genuinely friendly than Americans, who often 'seem' to have fixed smiles, and forced friendliness.
As for WW1, my Great grandfather died as a member of the Canadian tunneling Corps at Ypres... they went for a better life, a year later, he joined up, and on his death, the family returned to Yorkshire.
We are the younger, saner, more sensible "good son" of Mother Britain While our big brother America rebelled and ran away from home at a young age we stood by Mother and held her hand in moments of crisis, just like our "special needs" brother Australia, bless him.
Fafnir wrote: Don't worry though, Harper's got a plan to get rid of that "saner, more sensible" nature of ours.
That he does. Maybe the flaherty state funeral distraction will help change the news cycle for him, which has mostly been wall to wall scandal.
We have pretty regional culture, part of that is we're a massive country but have a really small population for our size. We're like the population of mexico city spread out over 2/3rd of eurasia.
Fafnir wrote: Don't worry though, Harper's got a plan to get rid of that "saner, more sensible" nature of ours.
Yeah, if we don't smarten the feth up and all get out to vote that miserable snake out of power next election I may just lose (what's left of) my mind.
I actually dated a Canadian for a long time, and I've had the chance to meet several people from up north. All very nice people, and a blast to hang out with.
Except Newfies. I almost needed a translator to figure out what the Hell they were trying to say
Fafnir wrote: Don't worry though, Harper's got a plan to get rid of that "saner, more sensible" nature of ours.
Yeah, if we don't smarten the feth up and all get out to vote that miserable snake out of power next election I may just lose (what's left of) my mind.
Seriously, fellow Canadians.
The problem is that the other two options are even more terrifying...
At least the current Conservative government isn't the never ending nightmare that the current Ontario Fiberal government is.
For as bad as the other options are, you'd have to be a lunatic to think that the conservatives are capable of doing better, especially under Harper. Not only has he bent over backwards for China, he's taken us from one of the largest surpluses in Canadian history into one of our largest deficits, is responsible for loads of unnecessary and (more importantly) fruitless spending while hypocritically claiming fiscal responsibility, and is muzzling our scientists and public media. Not to mention movements towards killing universal healthcare, his environmental record, and that whole 'election fraud' thing.
At this point I'll take the son of a Rolling Stones groupie over Harper, and even I know the son of a Rolling Stones groupie isn't going to be much more than a great haircut and a roguish grin.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Grimskul wrote: It's truly a case of picking your poison amongst a selection of toxic chemicals, whoever wins we lose. :(
I feel Mulcair could be an effective PM. The NDP could use a kick at the cat, it's not like they could feth up any worse.
feeder wrote:At this point I'll take the son of a Rolling Stones groupie over Harper, and even I know the son of a Rolling Stones groupie isn't going to be much more than a great haircut and a roguish grin.
feeder wrote:At this point I'll take the son of a Rolling Stones groupie over Harper, and even I know the son of a Rolling Stones groupie isn't going to be much more than a great haircut and a roguish grin.
So, Liberals then?
Not my first pick, but I'd take them over HarperCons any day.
For what it's worth, Paul Martin did a good job with our finances, and was responsible for the surplus that Harper took credit for, and then ran into our second worst deficit in Canadian history.
Jehan-reznor wrote: They must be communists of course, so much red in their flag!
And clearly they like their weed
We do, but in all honesty you guys are putting us to shame, you have 2 states where it's legal, we're freakin jealous man.
We have mounties smoking medicinal maryjane while busting others for smokin the dope, the cognitive dissonance up here is thicker than the air in a jamaican shower.
My view is that national identity is a personal interpretation and will mean something different for each individual I bet if you asked the average Chinese, US, French, etc person they would have just as hard of a time at defining their country and there would be no right or wrong answer (well
maybe there's a few wrong answers) to what that definition is at it would mean something different to each person (even within the same country).
Whatever you do, don't visit the entire middle of this country.
The combined provinces of Manikatchewan/Saskitoba don't exactly scream excitement.
The rest of the country is pretty damn awesome.
Seriously, it felt like -15 today...its fething mid April.
As for identity, there's worse things to be known for than being polite, having maple syrup and poutine, and drinking better beer than our southern counterparts.
Blacksails wrote: Whatever you do, don't visit the entire middle of this country.
The combined provinces of Manikatchewan/Saskitoba don't exactly scream excitement.
The rest of the country is pretty damn awesome.
Seriously, it felt like -15 today...its fething mid April.
As for identity, there's worse things to be known for than being polite, having maple syrup and poutine, and drinking better beer than our southern counterparts.
Being someone from Alberta, it isn't too great either. Everyone thinks they're a fething cowboy here. And Calgary during the Stampede is just awful.
Being someone from Alberta, it isn't too great either. Everyone thinks they're a fething cowboy here. And Calgary during the Stampede is just awful.
I've spent a few years in the prairies, but never Alberta.
But hey, lower taxes, right?
Actually, its pretty cheap in Greater Manikatchewan. Well at least compared to Ontario. My car insurance in Ontario would be four times the amount it is here. Psycho.
Canada's identity is Bacon, Maple Syrup, and Hockey trying to hold a conversation while an annoying Quebecois is trying to politely excuse himself from the equation. But of course you can't understand him because he's asking in French.
Grey Templar wrote: Canada's identity is Bacon, Maple Syrup, and Hockey trying to hold a conversation while an annoying Quebecois is trying to politely excuse himself from the equation. But of course you can't understand him because he's asking in French.
Being someone from Alberta, it isn't too great either. Everyone thinks they're a fething cowboy here. And Calgary during the Stampede is just awful.
I've spent a few years in the prairies, but never Alberta.
But hey, lower taxes, right?
Well, lower taxes, but only because we never spend a dime on anything not directly related to oil. 'Education' and 'healthcare' can seem like bad words at times.
Well, lower taxes, but only because we never spend a dime on anything not directly related to oil. 'Education' and 'healthcare' can seem like bad words at times.
Indeed. Sad, but true.
Not a fan of any move to even hint at the possibility of privatized or tiered healthcare.
Ah well, move out to BC. The worst part there is just dealing with all the fething hipsters.
KelseyC wrote: I was born in Canada and have lived here my whole life. It seems though that as a country we don't have a really solid identity as a lot of other countries do.
To me it seems Canada is just a weird, awkward clash between Britain and the US. I suppose Canadians are stereotyped as being nice and the whole "aboot" thing. I love living here in Canada but sometimes I feel like our national identity is a joke! I just kind of wanted to see what other peoples opinions are about Canada and its' identity on a world wide type scale. I don't think that Canada is the best country or anything, I think nationalism and patriotism are silly even since we don't choose where we are born. Although that is a different topic all together.
How do you guys (especially non Canadians) perceive Canada?
Canada is a gorgeous country throughout the Maritimes, where half my family came from. I took my wife up through St. John for her first trip outside the U.S. and she loved it. I would happily live in New Brunswick.
Canada is a loft apartment above a really great party house
But in all honesty I pretty much, and this might sound bad, consider canadians just more Americans. As in our societies are pretty damned similar and they don't sound any different than my family that was from Minnesota. At least that's the way it's felt with all the canadians I've met here in the US and abroad when I was traveling.
Oh, except for French Canadians.....they're weird
I totally get that, I feel like I am basically American. We have a few things that are not as American that we may do such as keeping the you in words like honour and armour.
Another silly thing here is a silly media rule by the CRTC. It basically is something like 35% of all media played on Canadian television, radio, etc must be Canadian. A month ago or so I believe an adult film channel even got in trouble for not having enough Canadian material, such a silly way to try to keep us less "Americanized"!
Back in the day, when I lived in Maine as a younster, we used to watch more of the CBC than U.S. channels because the Canadian shows were better.
KelseyC wrote: I was born in Canada and have lived here my whole life. It seems though that as a country we don't have a really solid identity as a lot of other countries do.
To me it seems Canada is just a weird, awkward clash between Britain and the US. I suppose Canadians are stereotyped as being nice and the whole "aboot" thing. I love living here in Canada but sometimes I feel like our national identity is a joke! I just kind of wanted to see what other peoples opinions are about Canada and its' identity on a world wide type scale. I don't think that Canada is the best country or anything, I think nationalism and patriotism are silly even since we don't choose where we are born. Although that is a different topic all together.
How do you guys (especially non Canadians) perceive Canada?
Canada is a gorgeous country throughout the Maritimes, where half my family came from. I took my wife up through St. John for her first trip outside the U.S. and she loved it. I would happily live in New Brunswick.
Canada is a loft apartment above a really great party house
But in all honesty I pretty much, and this might sound bad, consider canadians just more Americans. As in our societies are pretty damned similar and they don't sound any different than my family that was from Minnesota. At least that's the way it's felt with all the canadians I've met here in the US and abroad when I was traveling.
Oh, except for French Canadians.....they're weird
I totally get that, I feel like I am basically American. We have a few things that are not as American that we may do such as keeping the you in words like honour and armour.
Another silly thing here is a silly media rule by the CRTC. It basically is something like 35% of all media played on Canadian television, radio, etc must be Canadian. A month ago or so I believe an adult film channel even got in trouble for not having enough Canadian material, such a silly way to try to keep us less "Americanized"!
Back in the day, when I lived in Maine as a younster, we used to watch more of the CBC than U.S. channels because the Canadian shows were better.
Our resident despot sadly cares not for the cbc, it seems he hates it.
I once met a Canadian and northern Brit traveling together. The Canadian fella was really nice and translated for me what the northern Brit was saying. But I'm from Michigan, we get a lot of Canadians passing through. They seem nicer on average, and the couple times I went north I really didn't feel like I was far from home. Canada is a cool country, and what's wrong with being known as the nice country?
We are the younger, saner, more sensible "good son" of Mother Britain While our big brother America rebelled and ran away from home at a young age we stood by Mother and held her hand in moments of crisis, just like our "special needs" brother Australia, bless him.
I didn't see your edit until after I posted, so time to respond to your edit with an edit of my own. I took almost all of the history classes I could in high school. Before then I had never really understood how important Canada was in both World Wars. Not that other countries weren't as important or even more important but when I was younger I had always assumed our military didn't do much because all you hear about is what the Americans did.
Unfortunately history seems to have been re written to make the ''main'' allied countries a better look and show them in a better light.
The contribution of Canada, Poland (where i am from ), Czechoslovakia and many others is usually ignored in British or American history books.
Of course the British wont even say anything about how without the Canadian and Polish planes they would have lost the Battle of Britain.
Being someone from Alberta, it isn't too great either. Everyone thinks they're a fething cowboy here. And Calgary during the Stampede is just awful.
I've spent a few years in the prairies, but never Alberta.
But hey, lower taxes, right?
Actually, its pretty cheap in Greater Manikatchewan. Well at least compared to Ontario. My car insurance in Ontario would be four times the amount it is here. Psycho.
Living in Ontario is pretty crap...
If you work in the private sector you're dirt poor, but if you work in the public sector you've got it made. And Queen's Park is really just a giant toilet where the Fiberals spend the day flushing away our tax dollars on an even bigger scandal than the last one. (mind you, the OPP are now investigating likely criminal charges over the $1.1 billion cancelled gas plants that 'saved' 5 Liberal seats in the last election...)
But we're going to keep them, because Toronto doesn't want Conservatives at all three levels of government.
Then there's fact that living in the GTA means you have to put up with Loafs Nation. Hell, they're so dysfunctional make GW look competent!
The only person in Canada that I really know is my ex-wife (who is a Texan with a voice like Sandy Squirrel), so I probably don't have the best frame of reference to judge the country.
Born in Scarborough, raised in Whitby. I know all too well. My riding was Jim Flaherty's, and I can't say I was overly pleased with his ideals. I won't speak ill of the dead, but I wasn't a fan of him as a politician. Oh, and he had a huge house in my town.
I plan on spending my life either in Halifax or Victoria, the two best cities in this country.
If I never see Winnipeg again, it won't be soon enough.
"Winnipeg: We were born here, what's your excuse?"
Boggy Man wrote: You gave us Deadpool, Phil Hartman, the Best Friends zaibatsu and Morgan Webb's cleavage. Canada is awesome in my book.
Also, best hockey.
Yep. When Vancouver lost to Boston two years ago and the city burned, cooler heads pointed out that Lord Stanley's Cup would now spend more time in Canada than if the "hometown" team won.
What I find is the most distinctive with us is "accommodating".
I remember sitting in a meeting with a Brit, Sikh, Chinese, Italian, Polish and Japanese (all immigrants not born here) and me a third generation Canadian. Was the strangest and funniest and best ideas meeting I ever had.
When the Brit offered to translate for the Chinese guy saying that "You wear badge of dishonor!" I almost lost my mind.
The Polish engineer shouting (happily) "Thisz isss buoolsheet!, yourrr configuratiooon iz crap! I show you right way!".
The Japanese fellow was looking uncomfortable yet covering his attempt not to laugh.
Then me having to say "So I take it you admire this first attempt at the change!" and much laughter and we got down to "fixing" things.
I love the diversity, funny adversity, the weird crazy ways these people from all over look at things.
Americans have a fantastic grasp of the "politics" of things, French the esthetics, Polish for humor in all things, East Indians for being so sincere, Australians for being our "daft" siblings that are more practical than we can give credit... I could go on forever...
Our culture is that we find the whole lot of the world to be a strange and funny place and find you all at your best in our "neutral ground" tell you to sit back, have a beer, watch a hockey game and ask about all the strange experiences you have had.
Then go out later after getting drunk enough to make some new ones.
Maybe I'm weird but I see more similarities than differences in cultures, I have a hard time putting any of them under some kind of categorical definition but maybe that has something to do with my desire to want to be liked by others so I'm constantly looking for things that are relatable to
Dr Coconut wrote: My only trip into Canada is not the best example of what it's like, but there is a big difference in each side of the falls, American side.....parkland, and a visitor center. Canadian side.....'BLING' it's Blackpool upon Niagara.
Other than that, lovely people, they seem more genuinely friendly than Americans, who often 'seem' to have fixed smiles, and forced friendliness.
I'm not sure when you went to the falls, but if wasn't over 20 years ago you got it all backwards. I should know, I grew up there. The American side has a tiny strip of parkland, surrounded by housing projects and chemical waste dumps. Niagara Falls, NY is a cesspool full of crime with very little tourist attraction besides being in America. Niagara Falls, Ontario on the other hand, is clean, safe, and with tons more to do. Even the surrounding countryside is a lot better on the Canadian side. Way more for tourists and way better than the American side. Canada spent money making their side nice and marketable, while the US side was let slide into a dump.
I really wouldn't say Canadians are much like Americans beyond the fact all the English-speaking former British Empire territories have a lot in common. Growing up on the border and my stepmom having dual citizenship, I've spent a lot of time there and without a doubt Canadian's are a far friendlier people. Getting drunk and lost in Toronto is vastly different from getting drunk and lost in NYC.
Your alcohol prices are criminal though. Almost 40 bucks for a case of Molson last time I was there.
Indeed. The Simpsons was never the same after he died. I know he wasn't in every episode but I definitely think the shows went massively downhill after that. I'm glad they chose to retire the characters rather than recast them. I would have loved to have heard his version of Zapp Brannigan, although Billy West's homage to Hartman in the characters voice is great.
He got a star on the walk of fame in Canada and in America, which is nice.
He was in one of my favourite childhood movies. Playing an sarcastic/cantankerous air conditioner.
Fafnir wrote: Don't worry though, Harper's got a plan to get rid of that "saner, more sensible" nature of ours.
That he does. Maybe the flaherty state funeral distraction will help change the news cycle for him, which has mostly been wall to wall scandal.
We have pretty regional culture, part of that is we're a massive country but have a really small population for our size. We're like the population of mexico city spread out over 2/3rd of eurasia.
I agree. Canada has a very regional culture that Canadians know well, but becomes a mish-mash outside of the Dominion. The things that cross over the regional differences -hockey, donuts, the RCMP, winter, eh, whatever, - are what Canuckistan is known for. But a Maritimer is perceived as culturally different from someone form Saskitoba. Not in any heavy way, but just in outlook, taste, speech and other small nuisances. Even a Newfie is different from a Maritimer, and a Labro ain't a real Newfie, bye. lol
Well, Greece and France have very different cultures, but the distance between those two places is shorter than that of a lot of notable places in Canada.
But a lot more barriers to the spreading of culture, especially when those cultures were forming.
The only real barrier Canada has experienced would be the language barrier between Quebec and the rest of Canada, plus the conscious/stubborn decision on the part of its inhabitants to have their own culture.
Grey Templar wrote: But a lot more barriers to the spreading of culture, especially when those cultures were forming.
The only real barrier Canada has experienced would be the language barrier between Quebec and the rest of Canada, plus the conscious/stubborn decision on the part of its inhabitants to have their own culture.
meh, I would say each province has its own thing going on for the most part. The thre prarie provinces and the territories are a lot alike culturally, but the coasts have a lot of diffent stuff going on from each other and the center.
Grey Templar wrote: But a lot more barriers to the spreading of culture, especially when those cultures were forming.
The only real barrier Canada has experienced would be the language barrier between Quebec and the rest of Canada, plus the conscious/stubborn decision on the part of its inhabitants to have their own culture.
And the vast, vast distances.
But distance isn't as big of a barrier as it used to be.
I have lived in Canada for much of my life now and I can attest to the fact that it is most certainly different from the states. I found that the biggest difference between other countries is the general friendliness that is present. Where I used to live in England often featured mostly grumpy old shopkeepers complaining about the morning frost (try 30cm of snow!) and my brief time in the states left me with the impression that there was a forced kind of hospitality there rather than it being a natural instinct. Obviously not everyone was like this but that was the general impression I was left with in my time in those places.
In all honesty I think Canada has had its own unique identity since WW1, breaking away from Britain to some degree and really making a name for itself rather than just being a colony with lots of trees.
Canada, the sinister oppressors of our French-speaking brothers! Vive le Québec libre !
Just kidding .
Iron_Captain wrote: Canada is the US-Lite They are the nicer, more sane, civilized and reasonable cousins of the Americans.
Pretty much that. As far as I know, they have no perpetual debates on weapons, because they have no, or next to no, mass shootings, they have no religious loonies denying evolution and other religious loonies stuff, they do not invade countries,…
They still require a oath of allegiance to the queen for a bunch of things, including naturalization, and that is definitely not cool. Here in France, we used some very interesting machine to improve from monarchy to democracy, we called it a guillotine. Now, we do not have to pledge loyalty to anyone or anything .
But apart from that monarchy stuff, they are pretty nice.
As far as I know, they have no perpetual debates on weapons, because they have no, or next to no, mass shootings, they have no religious loonies denying evolution and other religious loonies stuff,
No. Since I am pretty sure he did not go into a mass shooting, I guess he must be a religious nut denying evolution, is that it? If so, let me tell you I totally empathize with your pain.
This seems to show an accurate depiction of Americans' views of Canada. The comment at 55 seconds seems just right to me. Also, slightly NSFW due to an F-Bomb.
You guys are also responsible for Bryan Adams (kudos), Avril Lavigne (only reason to love you guys), Justin Bieber (Die in a fire, Canada), and maple syrup (mmm, pancakes). Your national vehicle is also the zamboni and you apologize during face punches. Everything I learned about you comes from Weird Al, South Park and 4chan. I feel like those are all the sources anyone really needs, right? I've always been curious...according to the song...do your heads really flap? Or is Kyle's mom just a big fat stinkin' bitttt-chah!
This seems to show an accurate depiction of Americans' views of Canada. The comment at 55 seconds seems just right to me. Also, slightly NSFW due to an F-Bomb.
You guys are also responsible for Bryan Adams (kudos), Avril Lavigne (only reason to love you guys), Justin Bieber (Die in a fire, Canada), and maple syrup (mmm, pancakes). Your national vehicle is also the zamboni and you apologize during face punches. Everything I learned about you comes from Weird Al, South Park and 4chan. I feel like those are all the sources anyone really needs, right? I've always been curious...according to the song...do your heads really flap? Or is Kyle's mom just a big fat stinkin' bitttt-chah!
I think you can't totally blame Canada for Bieber, he may have been born here but I think it was the States that has turned him in to what he is now.
@OP Don't worry about our culture. I think the main thing about Canada is that it's a "new" country and that's our strength. I'm on the left side of the country which is the newest part of this new country. I was saw an interview with Douglas Coupland where he once described Vancouver as a place with no history. I can't argue with that, but it's not a bad thing. I'm enjoy learning about history but the truth is it often times has a poisonous effect on the region it belongs too. In other parts of the world people are killing each other and feel deep hatred for each other based on history that can go back centuries. I think the great thing about Canada is you can have an Israeli and Palestianian family live next to each other and their children could be good friends and really not give a crap about what's going on in the middle east. Copy and paste for many of the conflict zones throughout the world.
Canada is a fresh start. We are what we are and don't need to worry about forcing some cultural identity.
because they have no, or next to no, mass shootings,
We do. As early as 1984.
they have no religious loonies
Should read on Roch Thériault, a.k.a Moïse. Or the very rich history of racists sects in Ontario and the Prairies.
they do not invade countries,…
Not alone. Which doesn't mean that much anyways.
They still require a oath of allegiance to the queen for a bunch of things, including naturalization, and that is definitely not cool.
For all my hatred of the Crown, it is nowadays nothing more than a cultural artefact.
Oh. You suck, then .
No, seriously, are there really huge debates about weapons in Canada ? Do you have some Canadian organization akin to the NRA ? And is there really so many people denying evolution and all that ? I did not know.
because they have no, or next to no, mass shootings,
We do. As early as 1984.
they have no religious loonies
Should read on Roch Thériault, a.k.a Moïse. Or the very rich history of racists sects in Ontario and the Prairies.
they do not invade countries,…
Not alone. Which doesn't mean that much anyways.
They still require a oath of allegiance to the queen for a bunch of things, including naturalization, and that is definitely not cool.
For all my hatred of the Crown, it is nowadays nothing more than a cultural artefact.
Oh. You suck, then .
No, seriously, are there really huge debates about weapons in Canada ? Do you have some Canadian organization akin to the NRA ? And is there really so many people denying evolution and all that ? I did not know.
Oh. You suck, then .
No, seriously, are there really huge debates about weapons in Canada ? Do you have some Canadian organization akin to the NRA ? And is there really so many people denying evolution and all that ? I did not know.
because they have no, or next to no, mass shootings,
We do. As early as 1984.
they have no religious loonies
Should read on Roch Thériault, a.k.a Moïse. Or the very rich history of racists sects in Ontario and the Prairies.
they do not invade countries,…
Not alone. Which doesn't mean that much anyways.
They still require a oath of allegiance to the queen for a bunch of things, including naturalization, and that is definitely not cool.
For all my hatred of the Crown, it is nowadays nothing more than a cultural artefact.
Oh. You suck, then .
No, seriously, are there really huge debates about weapons in Canada ? Do you have some Canadian organization akin to the NRA ? And is there really so many people denying evolution and all that ? I did not know.
Canada has a fairly effective social safety net, and as such does not require religious nuttery to do that job for us.
Do you have some Canadian organization akin to the NRA ?
The conservative government pretty much fills that role, having issued mass amnesties from 2006 to 2011 to gun owners who refused to register their firearms. In 2011, they scraped the registry altogheter. Weither or not provincial governments can institute their own version of the registry is currently being debated at the supreme court. The cons have already said that they would refuse to give the data inside the previous registry to provincial governments that wishes to set up their own.
And is there really so many people denying evolution and all that ? I did not know.
I've lived in Alberta, where congregational schools are still a common thing. They either did not have a mandated educational program, or they didn't care to teach the biology section of it.
I use like a lot when I'm Texting and Messaging, I'm afraid. Not so much as interjections, but like using examples and stuff like that.
