Job Discussion Forums

[ntropy]

To all the Americans on this forum who've recently mentioned they pretend they're Canadian when they're embarrassed by their country or countrymen, may I respectfully suggest next time it happens you choose the Turks and Caicos, Vanuatu or Burkina Faso instead.

Or, here's a thought, take credit for who you are and actually tell people you're American. Since you don't represent what you're ashamed of, you can collectively change that nasty impression of "America."

Canada's ours and we can screw up our world impression without any help from you

[denise]

Well said. I've never pretended to be Canadian (or anything else), because I don't think I am what I think they think Americans are.

d

[johnslat]

deleted double posting

[johnslat]

Heck, I've been embarrassed by some things I've done, but I've never pretended not to be me.
Likewise, I've been (and doubtless will continue to be) embarrassed by some things my government does*, but instead of pretending to be of another nationality, I've always told people overseas who asked what nationality I am and then explained why I (also) disagreed with what my government had done.
And, for those who've pretended to be of another nationality because they think that'll lessen their chances of getting shot, well, guess what, guys and gals - the people doing the shooting don't especially care what country you're from, as long as you're a "Westerner" (and, in many cases, they don't even care about that). As a non-USA "Westerner", you're only advantage is that you might get shot second or third, rather than first.
Here's something that supports that claim:

"The account continues: "We entered the compound, checked the identities of the occupants, spotted a Swede, then Nimr" - one of the attackers - "cut his throat. We left the body at the main gate for others to see", it says.

"We killed Filipinos and Hindus", says the account.

"We went to the hotel on the compound, ate breakfast in the restaurant and rested. We then entered the first floor and killed more Hindus" - meaning Indian workers.

The account claims the attackers had time to conduct a live interview with an Arab TV station before beating back a police attack, then killing an Italian."

From:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3780523.stm

Regards,
John

*P.S. Just out of curiosity, has anybody from any country NEVER been embarrassed by something his/her government has done?

[Lanza-Armonia]

Yeah, I'm embarrased by the fact the UK didn't join the EU single Currency. If you look at the official reasons for and against, the cons were something like... 'Well, we don't wanna' and a pro was 'it would save the tax payer 56 million GBP (85-90 Mil USDs) a freaking day' 'cept I added the freaking. The feckin I think is getting a little strong (said with halo around head!

[James_T_Kirk]

[Jolly]

[Roger]

Actually, what annoys me sometimes are the many, too many, too ostentatious Canadian flags on display on backpacks all over the world - Paris, Prague, Moscow, Peking, Hong Kong, Manila - please, please: I don't hate any North Americans, but I do hate ostentation. Flag-waving ostentation for example!

[ntropy]

Not only that but the self-righteous smugness of those flag-bearers that they're somehow superior and their contempt for all Americans in any form when they don't even know the individual in front of them.

[garbotara]

I have been with Canadians and they have commented at times that people do not know where Canada is or that it exists.I am not put-off by the Canadian flags at all.
When I was in Moslem areas after 911 I was tempted to say I was Canadian.I do not support the Bush regime .I found it better to say I was American and tell them I do not support Bush and Co.Often they were pleasantly surprised .It also gave them a chance to see that not eveyone agrees with the war in Iraq and what is happening in Afghanistan.

[Will.]

I remember being in direct sales in the early eighties and meeting some Canadians with Maple leaf lapel badges. I asked them where they were from in Canada and they replied: "Southern Canada" which sort of defeated the object of wearing the badge as an identification. this was not an isolated incident, it seemed to be a confessional type behaviour as though it needed to be excused to non-agressive- safe nationalities.
Strange.

[ls650]

[johnslat]

Dear Is650,
But, but - I always thought the USA WAS Southern Canada.
(Hmm, or was it that Canada was the Northern USA?)
Regards,
John

[Lee_Odden]

An American pretending to be a Canadian??? That's very funny.

I hand-counted ballots in West Palm Beach for President Bush during the 2000 election. And I am proud of that. That is not to say I agree with all of Bush's policies or the entire Republic Party platform; I don't (for example, like Barbara Bush, I think abortion should best be treated as a religious and not a political issue). But I see no need for defense of what is, undeniably, the greatest country in the world.

And despite what some American detractors have stated on this forum, it�s not our affluence alone which attracts foreigners to our shores. It's our Bill of Rights, our Preamble and The US Constitution and what they stand for, that makes America the greatest country in the world. As my close friend in China constantly tells me "I want to go to America - I want to be free."

It's the only country in the world where equal opportunity truly exists (in practice), irrespective of who your parents are or how much money your family has. Where else in the world can a professional body builder and wrestler, with no more than an associate's degree from a community college, become Governor because the people of his state liked what he had to say? Whether you agreed with Ventura's politics or not, his victory was democracy in action - that is America at her best and that is truly why Chinese (and other) citizens are willing to pay thousands of dollars applying, time after time after numerous denials, for US Visas. It's like they're playing the lottery; one day they just might win and their dreams will come true.

America, because it is the greatest country in the world, will always be the target of insults and criticisms; founded or not! As patriotic Americans, we need to learn to grin and bare it and bask in the warm glow that comes from knowing you are an American. We will never convince those who hate us, whether that hate is motivated by jealousy, envy, fear, ideological differences or whatever, that we are correct in what we say and do. But the really wonderful thing about being an American is that we don�t need to worry about world opinion (which is not to say we shouldn�t consider it). After all, if Americans really cared about the world�s view of us, if the strong viewpoints of foreign countries really mattered to us, we would have continued to pay taxes to the British over two-hundred years ago and we never would have become an independent country. Rugged individualism - as a people and as a country - that�s what we are about. And I am very proud of that.

I grew up in a quiet, suburban town in Connecticut in an upper-middle class neighborhood on a long block which ended in a cul-de-sac. The house at the end of the cul-de-sac was the richest in the neighborhood, situated on an oversized plot (about 2 acres) that bordered a large stream. The house was enormous - it was a beautiful, sprawling custom-built colonial home that was the envy of every family on the block and in the neighborhood. We would often see many strange cars driving by during the day just to visit what was becoming a famous site in our community. But I also remember how critical the neighborhood women were of the owners. It seemed that there was always a committee of two or three housewives huddled in conference as they found something to criticize about this breathtakingly beautiful home. They didn't like the color of trim. The custom-built columns were too small for the archway; the picture-windows were too large and over-done, etc., etc.

This is precisely what is going on here on this forum and in the world. The truth of the matter was, there were other homes on the block that needed major housecleaning and internal reorganization, external repair, not to mention some desperate landscaping - FAR MORE SO than the house in question EVER did (should we start mentioning names?). But no one seemed to be nearly as critical of those home owners as they were of the owners of the most highly coveted home in the community. Maybe the columns were too small. And, yeah, I kind of thought there were too many large windows myself. But so what? Commentaries about what was right and what was wrong with this awesome mansion were simply a matter of personal taste and opinion and also, to some degree, the prevailing standards of fashion and interior decorating at the time - which, of course, change over the course of history.

America � my country; right or wrong!

Lee

[waxwing]