Sunday, July 13, 2008

Canada

I have mentioned on occasion what a good image I have of Canada. This article has, if anything, enhanced it.

10 comments:

Lone Chatelaine said...

I totally agree with him. I'm the same way about thinking Americans go overboard...just way overboard in general.

Rach said...

Even I, as a Canadian, learned a lesson or two from that article. I never realized truly what the Americans thought of us .. and I'm glad this writer saw the good (because there are alot of poor qualities too, like with anything else).

Cerulean Bill said...

Americans? Overboard? The bestest bydarn country in the wurld? Surely you jest....

And Rach -- I don't know as Americans *have* a collective opinion of Canada... I never see anything that suggests it. I think people like it but know almost nothing about it. No one's yet figured out your plans for global domination -- those are still safe.

Rach said...

hah .. global domination? You're so kidding! You guys outnumber us :P. I kinda like to think we're friendly neighbours rather then playing Pinky and the Brain.

Faye said...

Bill, this is a great article and good to know how someone, other than a Canadian, sees us :P

Cerulean Bill said...

Well, as you're a nice person, I won't tell you the analogy I heard about Canada and the US, the other day, being prison cellmates...let's just say that if it were real, the US would sleep with one eye open. And hey, its the quiet, passive/aggressive ones that you have to watch out for. Or so I've heard.

It is nice to know how others view us. The current state of world opinion isn't one I like at all. We can't always be liked, and there are some who will never like us, but this state of affairs is literally disgraceful. I'm hoping that the regime change goes as planned in January, and that the new guy starts to turn things around.

STAG said...

Amazing.
When Pierre Burton was asked "which country has the most influence in the development of Canada" he replied "The US, of course. You [Canadians] may not like it, but it is true. An awful lot of people left the US for various reasons, and made Canada what it is today". He went on to mention groups as diverse as the United Empire Loyalists, the Fenians, the Sioux Nation, right up to the Vietnam draft dodgers, all of whom did not find a comfortable home in the land of Manifest Destiny.

There are many things these people brought...a possibly misplaced trust in the government of the day, a dislike of armed rogue "defenders", and a serious and demonstrably NOT misplaced mistrust in religious leaders, examples would be Bishop Straghn and the Family Compact of Toronto. (Think Tamany Hall with a churchy edge...grin!) Even now, in Quebec, anything about the church is a curse word.

The result is that a lot of people took the phrase "America, love it or leave it" at face value, and left it, and came to Canada.

Google all the above....its worth the study. And it explains a lot.

As a Canadian, I am a little nervous that the conservative (oh who am I kidding....ANY flavor of American political thought) elements of the US will suddenly discover us, and decide that we are too dangerous to leave intact. So we'll just keep a low profile for now.

Tootle 'oo


Bill

Cerulean Bill said...

If by dangerous you mean that our 'leaders' will suddenly realize the resources that you've got, yeah, I can see that as a reason for deep concern. Better start beefin' up the Mounties, I think.... just in case.

Oh, and I hear the Canadian government's taking a much harder line on US deserters, these days...

STAG said...

Oh, its not just the resources, its the Abortion on Demand, the Homosexuality, the legalized marijuana, the lack of guns, all of which make us "bad influences" and ripe for a regiem change.

Cerulean Bill said...

Well, we'd bring our own guns, and use that to enforce restricting the AOD, not to mention, eliminate the marijuana availability. The homosexuality is okay, though. And you can keep the Cuban cigars.