I don't see much difference with Americans and Canadians.. other than the accent and the fact they have better health care and a non-existent military. lol.
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What do Americans honestly think of Canadians and Canada.
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Why would you be proud of things such as starting world wars? How is it a bad thing that a country doesn't start wars that killed millions of people and left millions more injured and traumatized? Not starting wars should be something to be proud of.
It's all in jest, however this thread is showing Canadians are sensitive.
Most americans see Canada as a mini-USA. Our basic cultural premises are similar or the same, we're neighbors, and #1 trading partners. We have way more similarities than differences, other than Canada has a Parliamentary system, a French speaking population, and is not a world power.
Canada's health care system is not that great people, there are many things wrong with it. I don't get the better health care line. What, better health care because you don't have to pay a co-pay or pay a bill, that makes it better? I see people that come to the US from all over the world to have medical procedures done. I mean Canada is KNOWN for its cutting edge Medical Science........
Lets not get too serious here. Our American cousins can be forgiven; they don't know that this is a sensitive issue North of the border. To our American cousins... a bit of background.
Our military entered the Afghanistan conflict at the specific request of the US Government. We have lost 125 soldiers. To account for the population difference in the two countries, multiply that by 10. While many of the other NATO allies confined their troop activities to non-combat roles, Canadians have been out doing the heavy lifting.
The US military specifically asked for Canada's help.... not because of the numbers we could bring (as others have pointed out, we don't have a large force) but because we do some things better than anyone.
Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry; part of Operation Anaconda in 2002. Requested by and used by the US command to slog up and down the mountains - because the US doesn't do Light Infantry. (Just calling them "Light" doesn't make them light, after they have been loaded down with all the advanced technologies.) Later in the same operation, 4 PPCLI members were killed by a pilot from the Illinois Air National Guard (later court-martialed). The President tried to bury the incident, but the Pentagon took the unprecedented step of attaching Canadian officers to the investigation (in other words, they made an end-run around the Presidential wishes to cover it up.
Still in Afghanistan: The record for the world's longest recorded sniper kill is held by a member of the PPCLI (Rob Furlong from Fogo Island, Newfoundland). Corporal Furlong took the record away from Master Corporal Arron Perry - also of the PPCLI, who had beaten the record set in the Vietnam war. The distance? 2.4 km, or 1.51 miles. The sniper units were awarded US Bronze medals for their work helping their American cousins.
Canadian Special Forces, JTF2, were specifically asked for as well. We don't know how many and what they are doing - because they are a covert force - and, well, our military actually keeps them secret. It is thought they are equivalent to the US Delta Force, and UK's SAS. We know some of them were awarded a Presidential Citation (we think about 40 members), and we think that they are only foreign units allowed to join the US Tier 1 special operations units in Afghanistan.
This post has already gone on long enough, and I haven't touched on the Canadian Air force and Navy's contribution (suffice it say, Canadian Frigates are the only foreign warships that are allowed to boss around US Navy ships).
So, lets not get caught up in making fun of the Canadian Military, not because we are caught up in idolizing them, but because we have lost too many soldiers (some by friendly fire) doing a dirty job helping out our American allies.
To get the subject back on track...
I think many Americans really have no idea what they think of Canada. I was once, in my youth, part of an exchange down to Cleveland. Where we convinced our Ohio hosts that the penguins had starting to expand their range from the icy north and were steadily moving south.... and that Toronto had had to build a penguin fence to keep them out of the city. Our hosts were horrified, and wanted to know if penguins ate roses (our hosts were prize winning rose growers) or if they would need to put up a penguin fence. We assured them that the Niagara River would hold them back from crossing the border.
Bonus points to my American cousins who understand why this is funny.
UPDATE: Since yesterday, two more Canadian soldiers have died. Seven other Nato soldiers have lost their lives this weekend.
Bonus points to my American cousins who understand why this is funny.
Because they live in the southern hemisphere only?
I think the measure is that Canadians are healthier. I agree that there are problems with the Canadian system. Any system has its problems. We are spending a lot of time and money to try and make it better. But... lets not get too serious.... What do you think about our accents, eh? Or the fact that St Catharines Ontario was once (if not still is) the world record holder for the greatest number of doughnut shops per capita.
Trust me, in a city with a doughnut shop on every corner - diet is not helping people live longer.
I couldn't find fast food in St. Thomas/London when I was up there. I could find Tim Hortons yes, and yes they had doughnuts, and yes the meal is cheaper if you buy one. Weird. But Americans have far more resturants and eataries that are just plain bad. Our diet is the worst in the world.
Notice how the Canadians are merely defending ourselves and our country, while the Americans are hurling insults? How is that being sensitive exactly?
You shouldn't speak about Canada if you don't really know anything about her (or what you do know, you get from wikipedia). A French speaking population? No- only a very small percentage speak French. Not a world power? Canada is in the G-8. Canada is a member of NATO. The only real world power remaining is the US, so I guess you could say the same thing about all other countries as well.
Regarding the Canadian healthcare system: the only major thing that bothers me now that I live in the US, is the lack of a universal healthcare system. It scares me. Yeah, I have insurance, but even with that, treatment can still be denied if they find some sort of loophole or if I go (or am taken) to the wrong hospital. It scares me. When I lived in Canada, I didn't even think about it. I could go to any hospital or doctor and know that I could see them. I didn't have to ask if they accepted my insurance.
No, the Canadian system is not perfect, but it's a good system, and it's better than the system in the US.
I'm sorry but, Canada is in no way similar to the US. Their citizens are thoughtful and educated. Oh- and they care about each other too- very strong sense of community. There is nothing like Canada in the US.
Well..... I wouldn't say that's entirely true either. You've over-generalized somewhat. But, yeah, I see what you're trying to say.
Not everyone is thoughtful and educated- believe me, I've met some really ignorant and stupid Canadians.
BTW Lee, When I lived in Chicago, almost everyone was really nice too (especially the single women
).
Well..... I wouldn't say that's entirely true either. You've over-generalized somewhat. But, yeah, I see what you're trying to say.
Not everyone is thoughtful and educated- believe me, I've met some really ignorant and stupid Canadians.
BTW Lee, When I lived in Chicago, almost everyone was really nice too (especially the single women
Actually- every European I've met who's been all over the US has said that Chicago is the closest thing to Europe in the United States. I'm proud of that. And yeah, I was over-generalizing- but when you go to Canada, you definitely know you aren't in the US. Oh- and everyone is thin. Something I also noticed in Europe.
Actually- every European I've met who's been all over the US has said that Chicago is the closest thing to Europe in the United States. I'm proud of that. And yeah, I was over-generalizing- but when you go to Canada, you definitely know you aren't in the US. Oh- and everyone is thin. Something I also noticed in Europe.
Really? Chicago reminds Europeans of Europe? That's interesting to hear.
Chicagoans that visit Toronto do say that it reminds them of Chicago. I thought Chicago reminded me of Toronto when I lived there. I guess that's why Toronto and Chicago are sister cities.
That's because we are taxed at every level imaginable.
Who has money left for food??
Really? Chicago reminds Europeans of Europe? That's interesting to hear.
Chicagoans that visit Toronto do say that it reminds them of Chicago. I thought Chicago reminded me of Toronto when I lived there. I guess that's why Toronto and Chicago are sister cities.
Yeah- other than Chicago being ultra-modern as far as architecture goes (we can't help that. The whole damn city burned to the ground at the turn of the century, and I do love the architecture here.
), all the Europeans I've met say it's the one place where they feel most comfortable in the US.Ha! But the food is cheap there!
Actually- every European I've met who's been all over the US has said that Chicago is the closest thing to Europe in the United States. I'm proud of that. And yeah, I was over-generalizing- but when you go to Canada, you definitely know you aren't in the US. Oh- and everyone is thin. Something I also noticed in Europe.
As much as I loved Chicago (hint: see my username.
), easily my favourite US city, I must say I found San Francisco to be a tad more European…And everyone being thin? Hummmm. Ça depends…
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Welcome… it's been… quiet…
As much as I loved Chicago (hint: see my username.
And everyone being thin? Hummmm. Ça depends
I'm sorry, but the more I travel outside the US, the more I realize what an obesity problem we have here. It's pretty ridiculous. My first few days in Berlin, I kept thinking something was wrong. I couldn't put my finger on it. Then it hit me- no one was overweight. It was so strange.
it is the World Health Organization that ranks Canada's health care system significantly higher than the United State's system... based on a series of indicators.
I've worked in health care for a long time, and there are flaws in every health care system in the world. According to the WHO, however, the Canadian health care system is considered a superior system to the US one.
You asked what makes it better? The WHO would be a good place to start answering that question.
You honestly think canadians are THAT much better than americans? Since you come from a huge metro area your assertions are WAY off. Small towns in america are extremely close knit but generally Canadians are friendlier (with exceptions of course).
No one is hurling "insults". Its poking fun and obvious sarcasm. Rather ridiculous to be so sensitive. Canada is a very nice country, but to get offended when someone says its not a super power is absurd. Canada has 1/9 the population of the US and does not have anywhere near the cultural impact as its southern neighbor.
Also, G8 refers to 8 of the most industrialized nations, not the top 8 superpowers... China and India are not members.
Btw actual medical care in the US including doctors, treatment times, etc are better than anyone in the world. The main problems are cost and the uninsured. Quality is not a problem, and is a major criticism of nations with single payer or universal health care.