Will do and it doesn't take much. The US Government was nearly 100% behind Bush in the days following 9/11 and he had free reign to do pretty much anything he wanted. It's not hard at all to imagine a charismatic leader being elected to office after a national tragedy with promises and hope only to turn to tyranny.
Why do Canadians look down on Americans?
- Thread starter CurseoftheGods
- Start date
- Status
Will do and it doesn't take much. The US Government was nearly 100% behind Bush in the days following 9/11 and he had free reign to do pretty much anything he wanted. It's not hard at all to imagine a charismatic leader being elected to office after a national tragedy with promises and hope only to turn to tyranny.
For the same reasons Americans from the North East look down on southerners, southerners look down on Mexicans, Americans look down on the French, Quebecers look down on the rest of Canada and vice versa, etc. To feel better about themselves and cultivate a false sense of superiority.
zer0blivion
Member
More often it's the rational people being shouted down with chants of USA USA. I cringe any time I hear it.
Quality Social HealthCare + social education + poverty aids without shame. Yeah. What a tyranny. Poor Canada, almost North Korea level now!
Come on pal, you see how american "freedom" has the country upside down in social issues.
It's a good thing we have so many systematic guarantees that prevent leaders like that from having free reign. 9/11 was a special circumstance, but I doubt even that would have empowered the President to the extent where he was politically capable of committing genocide, or black bagging American nationals en masse.
...but I guess we could continue to let the most unlikely and paranoid of scenarios justify policies that result in hundreds (thousands?) of unnecessary deaths a year.
Nope, been here my whole life and I've seen more of what he's talking about.
85% of the USA chants I've heard were sarcasm.
I think from the outside looking in, patriotism/nationalism in the US [media] is just weird and unnecessary, and on a whole other level of passion and pride.
No, it only enabled him to invade 2 countries. No biggie.
Night Hunter
Banned
Well, can I give you an example in that order? No. But we are not talking about fascist regimes here but democracies.
But I guess fucking over millions in a financial crisis, not selling medicine to poor countries, backing african warlords for money, hampering the development of new technology for their own gain, etc. qualify as examples much worse than Guantanamo.
And look, we are effectively talking about choosing between Scylla & Charybdis here. But I am certainly uneasy thinking about the day when corporations can do whatever the fuck they want.
Here's an article on this topic.
http://www.thecanadaguide.com/anti-americanism
It goes into much more detail if you follow the link.
PS. Let me wander on over to my fridge here eh? Wait! What's this! Milk in superior packaging?!?
http://www.thecanadaguide.com/anti-americanism
It goes into much more detail if you follow the link.
PS. Let me wander on over to my fridge here eh? Wait! What's this! Milk in superior packaging?!?
rudieboy77
Member
Damn I thought this was a joke thread until I read the comments.
Robot Pants
Member
Cause Bush ruined our image worldwide.
... and America's right to bear arms protected them from this tyranny, how?
Was there any effort to remove him from office? Didn't a sizable chunk of the population support the wars?
Angelus Errare
Banned
After the eugenics movement was well established in the United States, it spread to Germany. California eugenicists began producing literature promoting eugenics and sterilization and sending it overseas to German scientists and medical professionals. By 1933, California had subjected more people to forceful sterilization than all other U.S. states combined. The forced sterilization program engineered by the Nazis was partly inspired by California's.
Upon returning from Germany in 1934, where more than 5,000 people per month were being forcibly sterilized, the California eugenics leader C. M. Goethe bragged to a colleague:
"You will be interested to know that your work has played a powerful part in shaping the opinions of the group of intellectuals who are behind Hitler in this epoch-making program. Everywhere I sensed that their opinions have been tremendously stimulated by American thought . . . I want you, my dear friend, to carry this thought with you for the rest of your life, that you have really jolted into action a great government of 60 million people."
Eugenics researcher Harry H. Laughlin often bragged that his Model Eugenic Sterilization laws had been implemented in the 1935 Nuremberg racial hygiene laws. In 1936, Laughlin was invited to an award ceremony at Heidelberg University in Germany (scheduled on the anniversary of Hitler's 1934 purge of Jews from the Heidelberg faculty), to receive an honorary doctorate for his work on the "science of racial cleansing". Due to financial limitations, Laughlin was unable to attend the ceremony and had to pick it up from the Rockefeller Institute. Afterwards, he proudly shared the award with his colleagues, remarking that he felt that it symbolized the "common understanding of German and American scientists of the nature of eugenics."
We really didn't need a Hitler like person as our President in order to commit similar atrocities.
Tyranny still exists on Earth. One of the most profound realizations of the founders of the American Republic is that they were aware of the tendency of republics to revert to tyranny, it's why they created checks and balances, the ones you consider to be outdated. The idea that becoming apathetic towards government would destroy liberty dates back to the greek republics of antiquity, which did eventually fall into tyranny. Who do you think would've predicted at the time that Athens, at its height, would become a tyranny, and a monarchy again?
I think they'd point out how government restricting semi-automatic weapons, when both foreign and domestic standing armies have tanks, fighter jets, and nuclear submarines is a bizarrely unsubtle attempt to further pacify the citizenry.
You say it's silly to use resistance to tyranny as a defense of the right to bear arms, and I agree with you, in the sense that today, the government has the citizen so far outgunned, more than at any other time in history, that even with automatic small arms, it'd be a pretty futile affair. To be clear, your response to this is to give them more power, trust them with that power, and believe that everything is guaranteed to end well, because of all the achievements of the 20th century, changing human nature was apparently the greatest one.
Government is force, every law is at its very root, a reason for the government to take away your freedom. What you're saying is the opposite of what is true. Government can only create freedom in so far as it chooses not to restrict it. In other words, government cannot give people freedom, it can only take it away.
Agreed. I just want to clarify that I wasn't saying this...and I definitely don't hold that view
Your post is well reasoned, though. I appreciate the response.
yeah, holding the door open for someone is not a strange occurrence in the States. Maybe Detroit is different.
Goldenroad
Member
I don't think they do...at least I don't.
Masquerader
Member
I always thought it was the other way around. Still, i've never been on that continent before.
Night Hunter
Banned
... which is the most naive thing I ever read. Sorry, but what the fuck are you talking about? I mean all this BS sounds like it's coming from a 17th century book or I don't know. But we don't live in a world where these ideas are actually feasible. To break it down for you: We live in a world where a lot of actors have a lot of power. And saying that government is bad because they could possibly abuse this power and then ignore everyone else who could fuck you over?
The sad truth is I'd rather hitch my horse to someone who restricts my freedoms but also restricts other people's freedoms to do bad fucking things to me. And no, those people don't come out of leftist fairy tales.
As a Canadian I definitely noticed this growing up. It honestly didn't seem like a 'thing' until 9/11 and the anti-Bush mindset kind of swept the world. I have friends in the states I used to talk to on MSN and it really changed my perspective on how similar my province and their states were. Then you know, I go down to the states a few times and honestly, everyone there (washington) was so incredibly nice - some cases felt more polite than Canadians I knew. Anyway, yeah, I try not to look down on Americans, but I see where the attitude comes from. There's even that joke that everyone here knows, about how when Americans travel abroad they'll put a Canadian flag on their backpack/luggage. The worst vitriol I've seen for the states however, was always from the foreign exchange students who came abroad and just shit talked the states so hard. Especially the German students. Media depictions and all that.
That said. I hate this idea that Canada or Canadians don't have their own culture. I truly don't believe that at all
That said. I hate this idea that Canada or Canadians don't have their own culture. I truly don't believe that at all
Seriously?
Having 10% of our population and subsidized military budget boads well for many countries in the world, not just Canada. Perks of being our neighbor and a descendant ally of the british empire.
It's snobbery. The same kind in Europe. But deep down inside they know who controls the international markets and sets the military agenda.
Having 10% of our population and subsidized military budget boads well for many countries in the world, not just Canada. Perks of being our neighbor and a descendant ally of the british empire.
It's snobbery. The same kind in Europe. But deep down inside they know who controls the international markets and sets the military agenda.
criesofthepast
Member
I'm Canadian and I do believe many people in the country have a big superiority complex. You can even see it on GAF sometimes when a thread has even the smallest passing mention of Canada and then Canadian posters will come to derail the thread saying how great we are.
This may be a new change in culture in recent years as Canadians are usually in the past known to be modest and quiet/pushovers. I think its good we are more proud but need to know the limit.
We aren't really that different.
This may be a new change in culture in recent years as Canadians are usually in the past known to be modest and quiet/pushovers. I think its good we are more proud but need to know the limit.
We aren't really that different.
In my experience growing up, I found that the reason for it was because of Canada's perception to Americans(at least in media), as that 'other' country with weird rules, weird accents, etc. pretty much stemming from American media's depiction of Canada as a sort of joke country if you will. Through that I think some people just got annoyed by it and developed a little bit of a superiority complex towards Americans. Of course ad campaigns like 'I Am Canadian' back in the late 90's early 2000's did a lot to help fan those flames as well. Add in the fact that the US is a lot more right than us when it comes to certain social issues and there you have it. This perception of course changes when they actually meet an American, just as I assume the same when an American actually meets a Canadian.
And bagged milk is fucking awesome.
And bagged milk is fucking awesome.
America is massive. It's such a diverse country, where pretty much any of the states could be their own country. States like California are so big, that the north and south aren't even the same (very different kinds of culture and people). So yeah, while American's share some things culturally, and our government/laws have some very negative aspects, it's unfair to lump all Americans into one group.
Every time I have a friend from another country stay with me, they are always blown away by how different their perception of America was, vs how it actually is. Of course, there is some things that are accurate (and are really bad). But America is going to be like any country, where it's made up of people just trying to get by in life. I would think that if you went to any state, and lived in any random city, you would see that those people are a lot different than the overall perception of what "Americans" are.
Yeah I can believe that. It's like how I think of West to East Canada. Each province is so different, it just doesn't make sense to have a generalized view of the populous. Like, bagged milk I didn't know existed until I heard about it from my American friends asking me lol.
I do get the hate though. On some level, it's sad that Americans don't DO MORE to fix their problems. I don't know if there is a valid excuse (ie. the system is so fucked up, there is nothing that can be done etc.), but I can understand the frustration around the world people have towards Americans and their apathy.
Especially when our government plays a big role in effecting other countries. But I think when it comes down to it, people are people in any country. I wish people could see that aspect more often. Oh well. Also to be clear, I'm not saying Americans are perfect when it comes to judging other countries (or looking down on others). People certainly do that here. I'm speaking for everyone when I say I just wish we could all see each other as people (with more similarities than difference).
PaperFlame
Member
I'm from California and so far I have never met a person that acts like that unless it was sarcasm or joking around.
RiccochetJ
Gold Member
I bet you're sometimes embarrassed at the people from your country who somehow make it onto tv and pretend that they represent the majority as well.
Yeah, if anything I think Americans have become more negative about their country. Again, not to sound like a broken record, but from 2000 to now, the majority of Americans I speak to are very negative about their county. Not saying every American feels that way, but I don't really hear too many people boasting.
But you know those kind of people exist. lol I just don't think that's the majority. But what do I know. My experience here doesn't = the majority of the country either. Something to keep in mind.
GameAddict411
Member
Its actually the other way around, canada have always lived in the US shadow. It always cold and depressing, everything is just...smaller? Less vast...etc. The only thing that i might find superior in canada is the health care.
AtomicShroom
Member
Because:
- Violence
- Gun culture
- Crime
- Inflated egos
- Patriotism (along with the "you're with us or against us" mentality)
- Religion
- Pledge of Allegiance (along with dissent being frowned upon. Fuck if I'm going to be forced into pledging allegiance to anything ever.)
- Bullies of the world
- Obesity
- E-Z everything
- Lawsuit frenzy
- Horrible healthcare
I guess that about sums it up. It's quite a shame because there are genuinely many good things about the States.
- Violence
- Gun culture
- Crime
- Inflated egos
- Patriotism (along with the "you're with us or against us" mentality)
- Religion
- Pledge of Allegiance (along with dissent being frowned upon. Fuck if I'm going to be forced into pledging allegiance to anything ever.)
- Bullies of the world
- Obesity
- E-Z everything
- Lawsuit frenzy
- Horrible healthcare
I guess that about sums it up. It's quite a shame because there are genuinely many good things about the States.
ReplacementPelican
Member
Americans and Canadians arguing over whose beer is better? Hmm.
Hey, very nice and well reasoned post! Though I would point out that Canada is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. There are something like 200 countries in the world at the moment (give or take), and Canada is in the top 20 for ethnic diversity, placing it in the 90th percentile or top 10 percent.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...-most-and-least-ethnically-diverse-countries/
Is this ethnic diversity or cultural diversity? There's no way Russia, with its myriad of ethnic groups and cultures, is less diverse than Spain.
I think this sums it up. Many good things about the USA, but at the same time it's also associated with some negative things. Personally, Canadians I've met have only been quite polite and complimentary.
Storm Chamber
Banned
why wasnt this the first post
What's E-Z everything? Sorry, dumb Ewwro here.
And more on topic, I think the US, along with North Korea, is the only country where their leader refers to it as the "greatest country on earth". This also upsets quite a lot of people.
Dark Octave
Banned
This is how I've always seen it as well. The US is the world power and first at everything while Canada reaps the benefits of being next to us.
Could Justin Bieber, Micheal J Fox and Jim Kerry been as big or anything at all without the US? Would Canada have been taken over 20 times over by other nations had they not been bordered with us? Would they be a third world country? Would they even have shoes?
I'm about to let a little known secret slip. Under the shadows and deep in the Pacific ocean, Seal Team Six saved Canada from from a Mothra attack.
You're fucking welcome, Canadia.
I mentioned it a bunch of people at a party last week and they all just went "Yeah who the fuck does that? I've heard that 'Canadians and bagged milk thing' and it made no sense. When the fuck did that become a stereotype?" If it's a thing, it sure as fuck isn't common.
I look down on anyone that doesn't share my loveof glorious bagged milk.
Mmm...
Also, I think they're called douchebags, the people who are condescending and snooty I mean, not my love of bagged milk. And you find them everywhere... douchey people... not the rare bagged gem of the great multiracial north, bagged milk.
Mmm...
Also, I think they're called douchebags, the people who are condescending and snooty I mean, not my love of bagged milk. And you find them everywhere... douchey people... not the rare bagged gem of the great multiracial north, bagged milk.
ReplacementPelican
Member
37th at Healthcare, below average in Mathematics, Reading and Science, 35th in life expectancy, 34th in Infant mortality, etc, etc...
You are number one when it comes to incarcerating your own population and, of course, gun deaths!
But I guess that's just the fault of all the poor people that you guys don't care about, right?
Unless you're joking then nevermind
- Status