Yikes, when did this thread get hijacked?
Last time I compared Canadians to Americans, I got flamed by papalovesmambo, so I better be careful here. I see he's pulling out that "muslim woman" example again....for goodness' sake, let go! (And I don't see how you can criticize Canada and still make a case of Bush, but I digress.)
To answer Broadwaybaby614: most Canadians are very critical of Americans (then again, most Canadians are critical in general, but that's another topic). A lot of the things Canadians cherish about their country are in conscious contrast to the US: public health care, bilingualism, multiculturalism (without the melting pot, that is), etc.
Of course, Canada's not perfect, and it's hard to talk about Canada as a unified whole because every region is very different - culturally and socially - from each other. That's the main issue in Canada: no unifying national identity. But I think it lends to an ongoing awareness and critical thought of our actions and how we are perceived.
So how do Canadians perceive Americans? These are generalizations, but they're understood across the country:
- Americans are seen as self-interested and self-centered
- Sensationalistic
- Religious puritans
- Fiscally and socially conservative
- Power-hungry and monopolizing
- Unfriendly and paranoid
- Motivated by fear
Again, not everyone believes these things, and they're constantly debated. Whether or not people believe them, though, they still constitute a well-known and understood view of Americans.
BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner
HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."
Updated On: 6/24/04 at 02:46 PM