h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Perhaps Canada got "that" because of the American Revolution, and wonderful: we're grateful. My point was that what we wanted and got is something very different from what the United States is. That's all. (of course, looking back for causes of historical events is endless: it wasn't the American Revolution that got Scotland it's parliament; it was Britain's attempt to rule the American Colonies from Parliament, etc., etc.

I'm just pointing out cause and effect... I'm not looking for a parade in honor of the US for it. And unlike many people, I can seperate my personal identity from the identity of the culture I was accidentally born in. Some people are such losers that they have to take pride in the Normandy invasion, as if they stormed the beaches themselves.

What Canada wanted and got are different from what the US is, but the US would have been happy to have gotten what Canada got... so in that, the two cultures aren't very different.

Let's leave it at *we're different and that's OK*. Who, when, why is not the issue here. I believe the majority of US citizens recognise that we are independent, and if this current flap is good for one thing, it reinforced that.

I should never have started this thread to tell you the truth. In effect I am seeking reinforcement of aproval by the US when I shouldn't really care. I really should be wondering how the rest of the world thinks of us.

My husband loves to point out that Canada got her independence peacefully. Sorry, I didn't mean my post to be annoying. I guess I was thinking the US and Canada are more culturally similar in superficial cultural ways (clothes for example ... but my only experiences in shopping for clothes in Canada are the west Edmonton mall and John's Menswear in Barrhead, Alberta. And we watch similar TV shows ... I'm sorry you get inundated with bad American television.)

I think I'm too sensitive to argue with strangers about politics and history. Let's talk about the weather. There is something I bet mine is better than yours. We get over 300 sunny days a year! (I don't mean all the US weather is better, just mine!) Ooooh, how American of me to automatically assume mine is better!

Yeah? Well we get more rain than Seattle! (Wait a minute, that's not good is it?)

Well......we have lots of water and you can't have it! (Not actually funny considering NAFTA)

OK then_
We have a desert! Ha!

But I live in one.

We have three oceans? More coastlines than any other country? Better beer?

Oh, I don't know- like I said we are different.

Problem is, most of that coastline is in places where you can step offshore and walk *on* the ocean.

Robin Williams said it best during an outtake on the set for Insomnia.



"Many years ago, our forefathers came to these lands, and their forefathers came, and theirs said, 'It's okay. We'll take the frozen part.' And so we're singing this song today in their honor."

Well, I'm just being a picky, proud Canadian, but if you take the Unfrozen Coasts, we still have you beat. All the lakes and then the fjords on the west coast, add the St. Lawrence and the Maritimes, don't cha know.

btw, we average less than an inch of snow per year where I live.

We average much less than that.

Ironically, the high desert in California, just on the other side of the mountains from me, gets quite a bit more snow each year than you do.

Now that we're all happy again:

Yeah, we got West Edmonton Mall and Barrhead: you can have 'em both!

Wait another ten minutes and global warming will make sure we don't have any frozen oceans. Then Churchill Manitoba will be the most important deep water port on the continent.

And,

I always feel sorry for the places that don't get snow.

Like Britain?

Half a centimetre and our capital city grinds to a halt!

" I really should be wondering how the rest of the world thinks of us"

I think there was already a thread about that which died rather quickly because everyone agreed that they had no problems with Canadians.

It's sadly unsurprising that you haven't got a reply anhaga

response to post#4

I just started reading this thread and came across this. Do not let crap like that bother you. Most of this french, german, canada not with us so their anti american junk is mainly media fill time that has incited a segment of the US population that hate anything they do not understand. These are the same people who watch Jerry Springer, marry their cousins and look on kentucky fried chicken as fine dining. I have not spoken to one person {that i respect} that takes it serious. Every country has it's provincal, brain dead genetic mutations.{you would be surprised how many countrys recieve the jerry springer show and baywatch and reality tv} That is one of the problems as many people get their perceptions americans from what they see on tv. When in truth it is mostly garbage.

I know you and I have disagreed on much but please believe me most americans are of the mindset of the person who made those comments.
I keep telling myself that most people on hootoo are not anti american dispite the many conversations so I am still here

That is typically British and extremely dismissive. I would expect better.

which post are you talking about cl?

Within the past 40 years, Canada has gotten the reputaion as a nation op Peacekeepers, sometimes Fencesitters. People who are reserved in voicing their opinions. Now that we have a government who stande up we are subjected to heavy criticism by the American Government. It's about time we voiced that we are Autonomis. Personally, I'm proud to stand up to the big brother. The political and economical backlasses are and will be far extensive. How petty! I don't want to be pushed around by anybody. So if some Americans refuse to give me gas at the pumps or US government agencies wish to deny us access to security information, It just proves the point the American Government (not necessarily their people) wants to dictate North Americas's views as a whole. On a lighter note, I live on the shore of Lake Ontario, and on a clear night, I can see the lights of Rochester New York across the water. I also view snow and lightening storms in the comfort of my front porch. In closeing, I have many American friends who share my views and althoug I don't support the war in Iraq, I do support the American and British service men and women and hope they will return home safe soon.

>> In effect I am seeking reinforcement of aproval by the US when I shouldn't really care. <<

Well I do care. And I want the average sensible and obviously intelligent Americans here at hootoo to speak out against the bigots and 'patriots' who are making a huge molehill out of this mounting antagonism.

"Blame it on Canada" would never be allowed on the air if you substitute any other national, racial, ethnic or religious group name for the word 'Canada'. We have become targets for America's frustrations. Having turned the other cheek once too often we are running out of cheeks.

Today (on CBC Radio) I heard the Ottawa based owner of a Bridal Shop, - (his shop 'did' the wedding dress and trimmings for the daughter of the US ambassador to Canada, the same US 'statesman' who started this fight by suggesting we were letting down our allies even though he seemed ignorant of US delays in WW1 and WW2 ) - report that:

90% of his business 'was' with American clients because his shop is across the street from the US embassy. It has dried up in the past week, orders have been cancelled. So he tried to drive to New York and Washington to see what was going on. To his horror he discovered that Canadian tourists driving cars with Canadian license plates are being refused service at US gas stations.

Having already endured day-long line-ups and cavity searches at the US border on their way to spend lots of their hard earned 65 cent dollars in warm snow-less places like Florida and Myrtle Beach you'd think they'd at least let us use the washrooms. Even in the deep south the 'equal but separate' blacks were allowed their own washrooms.

Surely Jerry Springer doesn't control all the gas stations? Does he know that the US imports more oil from Canada than it does from Saudi Arabia? And that half of that 'was' Iraqi oil, owned by the United Nations in exchange for food, and refined in Newfoundland?

And (have I mentioned this before?) what about Turkey?
Will the traditional thanksgiving dinner now have to be called "Liberty Bird"?


All Canada did was say 'wait'.

Even Peter Arnett now agrees that might have been a good idea.
And of course they fired him for saying so...


~jwf~

Sad childish behavior equal to the freedom fries. More than an embarrassment. It will have an enourmous ripple effect at this rate. The same or worse is happening to the US citizens that disagree. Without outsiders complaining,the insiders will begin to have no voice. I believe individuals and Nations are always spiraling up or down, rarely stagnant for long. So Yell all you want, and all you can. Please.