[PJB]

Are we, as Canadians, so insecure that we have to please everyone? Can we not stand up to any other nation and not feel bad about it?

[Regina]

I think we've done this one to death before.

[PJB]

The problem is we have not come with any kind of viable answer. Plus I just love jumping of some posters nerves. hahahahaha

btw...Can any military buffs help me out. My son has joined the Navy league and his corps is named after the HMCS Margaree. Just trying to do a bit of research on her and so far I have found that she sank in 1940 and a newer ship was named the Margaree. What is the protocol for such a re-naming?

[Tman1]

Why do Canadians have to create threads like this to ask why Canadians care what Americans think about Canada?

I don't care what Americans think about Canada and I'm sure most Canadians don't either.

[PJB]

Because it get's other Canadians attention...hahahahaha

[ziggy]

PJB PJB:

The problem is we have not come with any kind of viable answer. Plus I just love jumping of some posters nerves. hahahahaha

btw...Can any military buffs help me out. My son has joined the Navy league and his corps is named after the HMCS Margaree. Just trying to do a bit of research on her and so far I have found that she sank in 1940 and a newer ship was named the Margaree. What is the protocol for such a re-naming?

I think there named after towns or cities. I was told it had something to do with how many war bonds were sold in certain areas. We have a corvette named after the town I live in. I could be wrong though.

[Zoraja]

I personally dont give a flying fuck what americans think of me, b ut on a national level. Eventually it is going to become a problem that we are a country of such vast natural resources and no army. If we are not friends with them then they will probably just conquer us. ALthough that will probably happen anyways at least this way it might be a little more pleasant.

[Damien]

So, I guess you voted yes to the paranoid thing

[Yank-in-NY]

Why do Canadians care about what Americans think of us?

A) Because many Canadians have an inferiority complex. I have no idea why, but that's the way it is.

B) Because many Canadians have a moral superiority complex. I have no idea why, but that's the way it is.

C) Because many Canadians distinguish their national indentity by NOT being American. I have no idea why, but that's the way it is.

This sums it up;

"If America was trying to keep the bubonic plague out of its hemisphere, Canadians would import it just to show their independence of American foreign policy."

-Canadian Author Barbara Amiel

[YankGreat]

ah...interesting thread :^)..

well uh, basically what I think is that the Canadians are pretty much discouraged by the American pop-cultures and huge American influence(Military, politics, etc)

Currently I am in Canada and what I think is that this country is not bad if I only think about some good people in this country, but well, when it comes to the culture thing, I still have no idea what can be recognized as the true Canadian thing. And that connects to the 'lack of identity', and eventually the fear of becoming 51st state emerges.

But do not get me wrong, I am not trying to discourage the people here, all I am saying is that that's the feeling I got.

[ManifestDestiny]

give in to the dark side luke!!!!

[WolfSinger]

PJB PJB:

Are we, as Canadians, so insecure that we have to please everyone? Can we not stand up to any other nation and not feel bad about it?

I don't think we're insecure at all, PJ.

The way I view us is, we are a peaceful nation, and we just want for everyone to get along. Because of our rather unique position in the world, we can see where other nations (specifically - and at the risk of getting tomatoed - America) are making huge mistakes, which allows us to learn from those mistakes without actually making them ourselves.

Canadians are peacekeepers, PJ. We don't like conflict, and we try to stay out of it whenever we can. And when we can't, we try to find diplomatic ways of encouraging peace.

If we feel badly about standing up to other nations, that's news to me. As far as I know, I make no apologies to anyone from any other country for standing for what I feel is right and just. If they don't like my position, that's not my problem; it's theirs. So, there's nothing to feel guilty about, right?

And I've just lost my train of thought, so I'll leave it at that until I find the train again...

[YankGreat]

WolfSinger WolfSinger:

The way I view us is, we are a peaceful nation, and we just want for everyone to get along. Because of our rather unique position in the world, we can see where other nations (specifically - and at the risk of getting tomatoed - America) are making huge mistakes, which allows us to learn from those mistakes without actually making them ourselves.

Canadians are peacekeepers, PJ. We don't like conflict, and we try to stay out of it whenever we can. And when we can't, we try to find diplomatic ways of encouraging peace.

I do not understand by saying that the other nations are making huge mistakes, which allows Canada to learn from those mistakes.

And well, if the Canadians are peacekeepers, the British and the Americans are invaders? And I would appreciate if you could give me some examples that support your statement that "And when we can't, we try to find diplomatic ways of encouraging peace".

thanks.

[WolfSinger]

YankGreat YankGreat:

I do not understand by saying that the other nations are making huge mistakes, which allows Canada to learn from those mistakes.

And well, if the Canadians are peacekeepers, the British and the Americans are invaders? And I would appreciate if you could give me some examples that support your statement that "And when we can't, we try to find diplomatic ways of encouraging peace".

thanks.

[align=justify]Hi, Yank. Okay, let me be more specific. The American governement is making some very big errors in the way they're doing things. To some, the way they're doing things could be construed to mean that they're actually trying to take over the world. Look at what the U.S. government has done to Iraq, and what they're now trying to pull in Iran. If that isn't a huge error in judgment - not to mention the perception of invasion for control that these decisions can create - I don't know what is.

Canadians see those mistakes, we watch the fall-out that inevitably comes as a result of those mistakes, and we learn how NOT to do things. Does that make more sense? If we can't make peace through obvious means, then we strive to at least hold discussions about how we can achieve a compromise that all can be happy with; if we can't avoid a conflict - for example, having to go to places like Afghanistan on peacekeeping missions - then we do what we can to bring that conflict to as positive a resolution as might be possible, not by killing with words and sanctions and the like, but through a genuine exchange of dialogue with whatever government is involved.

Of course, this is just my own personal opinion, and it's probably very likely that many people will disagree with it. But that's okay, too; I'm always open to learning from others. [/align]

[Arctic_Menace]

ManifestDestiny ManifestDestiny:

give in to the dark side luke!!!!

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I'LL NEVER JOIN YOU!!!!!!!!!!!