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The Bobster
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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 Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:40 pm Post subject: Conversations with non-Americans about 9/11 |
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I mentioned to a Canadian guy in a bar a few months ago how much I dislike going to the American Embassy in Seoul, or any other country for that matter.
The Bobster : You know they take away my phone? Store it in a box and give me a ticket to retrieve it on the way out. Metal detectors, concertina wire on the walls. Police surrounding the place, 24 and 7 ...
The Canadian : Really? The Canadian Embassy is very mellow, nothing like what you're describing, hey.
(This is actually true. Walked by the Canuck Embassy once and barely noticed it, seemed like any other place. Um, might be a metaphor there, if we look around a bit ...)
The Bobster : Yeah, well, I guess people don't come from halfway across the world just to fly airplanes into your buildings ...
The Canadian : Yeah. I wonder why that is. Ever stop to think aboot that?
The Bobster : (biting tongue hard and trying, just barely succeeding, not to say) Maybe it's because, um ... nobody cares? Look up the word "Canada" in the dictionary - it says, "Move along, folks, nothing interesting or important going on here."
The Bobster : (actually saying instead) Hey, that's a cute little maple leaf flag you got sewn onto your backpack. You know, I visted Canada once and I never saw anybody with a maple leaf sewn on their backpack when I was there.
The Canadian : Yeah, we just do that when we are traveling, so we get treated better when people know where we're from ... hey?
The Bobster : Yeah, it must suck for you that you look, talk, dress, eat, and behave in every way just like people from the most hated country in the world ... good strategy, to have a sense of national identity predicated completely and only upon "We're not THOSE guys." The paradox, of course, is that there is exactly ONE country in the world where just about everyone wants to live if they only could - and it ain't Canada.
The Canadian : Yeah, and right now I'm wondering what made you think you could sit down for a beer in the Rocky Mountain Tavern in Itaewon and talk this kinda bull hockey? Hey?
The Bobster : Yeah, right. Got an appointment, guess I better move along. Hey?
Last edited by The Bobster on Tue Sep 11, 2007 1:09 am; edited 2 times in total |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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Oh to be a fly on the wall at that conversation. Now I know why bugs are so attracted to bug zappers.
Sounds like an unpleasant conversation between two unpleasant individuals. |
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The Bobster
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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I like Canadians. I sometimes get the feeling they just barely tolerate me, however. There IS a certain smugness sometimes ...
Last edited by The Bobster on Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:53 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Big_Bird
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Actually, I think the Bobster handled that fairly well. The Canadian sounded a complete w@nker. Hopefully, just a young lad with a few manners to learn. |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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| The Bobster wrote: |
| I like Canadians. I sometimes get the feeling they just barely tolerate me, however. There IS a certain smugness sometimes ... |
I'm aware of that too, of course.
Maybe all of your vitriol in that excerpt was added after the fact, rather than being present during the incident. You kept your (very very smug) thoughts to yourself which would have been admirable if you didn't post them here instead, thus insulting Canadians who didn't act smug to you.
Probably the Canadian you were talking to had recently met an American who acted smug to them, which left them thinking "Next time I talk to an American I'm going to make a smug comment about 9/11." |
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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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| RACETRAITOR wrote: |
| The Bobster wrote: |
| I like Canadians. I sometimes get the feeling they just barely tolerate me, however. There IS a certain smugness sometimes ... |
I'm aware of that too, of course.
Maybe all of your vitriol in that excerpt was added after the fact, rather than being present during the incident. You kept your (very very smug) thoughts to yourself which would have been admirable if you didn't post them here instead, thus insulting Canadians who didn't act smug to you.
Probably the Canadian you were talking to had recently met an American who acted smug to them, which left them thinking "Next time I talk to an American I'm going to make a smug comment about 9/11." |
It's a vicious cycle. When will it ever end?
Oh, and bobster, it's "eh" and not "hey", huh? |
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xtchr
Joined: 23 Nov 2004
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:56 pm Post subject: Re: Conversations with non-Americans about 9/11 |
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| The Bobster wrote: |
there is exactly ONE country in the world where just about everyone wants to live if they only could - and it ain't Canada.
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Is it New Zealand? |
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jinks
Joined: 27 Oct 2004
Location: Formerly: Lower North Island
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:10 pm Post subject: Re: Conversations with non-Americans about 9/11 |
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| The Bobster wrote: |
The paradox, of course, is that there is exactly ONE country in the world where just about everyone wants to live if they only could - and it ain't Canada.
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One thing that surprises many U.S citizens when they travel the world is the fact that other people are very happy living in their own countries and are actually NOT climbing fences to try and get into the USA. This observation seems to have gone over the head of the OP. Maybe people from sucky, poor countries would like to try their luck in North America, but most countries aren't poor or sucky. Have you been to France lately? Germany? Tahiti? Australia? Ireland? Sweden? The people in these countries (and many, many others) are very happy where they live and far from wanting to move to America, some of them are even a little bit condescending in their attitudes towards the U.S
It's a fact - not everyone (or even most people) who lives outside of the United States is clamouring for a green card - wake up to it. |
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Pligganease
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: The deep south...
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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The Canada vs. America debate...
My girlfriend is Canadian, and we've been together for about two years now. If you read some of my posts from the past (and a few in the present), you can see that same attitude that The Bobster has pop up a few times here and there.
However, I just got back from North America where we spent a week in Canada and some time in the States. I found that the people in Canada were some of the nicest people I had ever met. They didn't give me any crap at all about being an American. It was my first time in Canada and I was impressed.
However, there have been times in Korea when I have wanted to shove that Roots t-shirt down that dirty hippie's throat. Give it a rest, people! Why do so many Canadians in Korea feel the need to lecture Americans about everything?
"Oh, we're loved by everyone around the world."
- That's not love, it's indifference.
"Everyone wants to come and live in Canada."
- Because they can't get the visa to the U.S.
"Your country elects conservative leaders."
- So does yours.
"The U.S. is a major polluter!"
- And Canada provides the fuel.
And then comes the blah blah blah invented the blah blah blah. Do Americans sit around and say, "Oh! That was invented by an American?"
Now that I have been to Canada, I know that not all Canadians are like that. Hell, not even all Canadians in Korea are like that. But, that vocal minority is giving Canadians a bad name. What's worse is that you guys advertise where you're from! Thank God!
I'm so glad that the guy trying to manhandle the bar girl is wearing a maple leaf on his shirt. I'm thrilled that the guy soiling his pants as he's passed out in front of the bar has on a Toronto jersey. I'm pleased as punch that the group of jackasses in the bar singing "Mr. Jones" at the peak of their pathetic voices looks like they all went shopping at the "I Just Graduated From The University Of Windsor" thrift shop.
So, I say keep doing it!
You, the vocal, piss & vinegar filled, inferiority complex driven minority of Canadian expatriates are going to make me have to buy some clothes with American flags on the front so that people don't think I'm Canadian. |
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Pligganease
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: The deep south...
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:20 pm Post subject: Re: Conversations with non-Americans about 9/11 |
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| jinks wrote: |
| It's a fact - not everyone (or even most people) who lives outside of the United States is clamouring for a green card - wake up to it. |
I'd bet more are than aren't.  |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Pligganease wrote: |
Now that I have been to Canada, I know that not all Canadians are like that. Hell, not even all Canadians in Korea are like that. But, that vocal minority is giving Canadians a bad name. What's worse is that you guys advertise where you're from! Thank God!
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I too was surprised when I returned to my hometown a few years ago and all the Canadians were courteous and never said "eh." |
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The Bobster
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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| RACETRAITOR wrote: |
| Probably the Canadian you were talking to had recently met an American who acted smug to them, which left them thinking "Next time I talk to an American I'm going to make a smug comment about 9/11." |
Other countries can be smug, if they want. This is how Americans comemmorate the day. And, yes, I'll be smug all I want about this.
In 9/11 remembrance, a turning to good deeds
Visit the website. Here.
xtchr
| Quote: |
| Is it New Zealand? |
No, it isn't. Guess again.
jinks:
| Quote: |
| Have you been to France lately? Germany? Tahiti? Australia? Ireland? Sweden? The people in these countries (and many, many others) are very happy where they live and far from wanting to move to America, some of them are even a little bit condescending in their attitudes towards the U.S |
Except for Tahiti, I have met immigrants in America from ervery one of the countries you mention, and about a dozen more just in San Francisco. I used to joke to my friends that anytime there's a war or famine somewhere in the world San Francisco gets a new cuisine, when a new restaurant opens up around the corner started by people trying to get out of there. I THOUGHT I was joking. Then Milosovich came along and a little while later ... who knew there WAS such a thing as Croat food?
And being condescending toward America has been a hobby for a lot of people since our country got started. Believe me, we are VERY used to it.
I hear a lot of vitriol hurled at Koreans for the way some behaved after the fall of the Twin Towers, but some of us picked up a more subtle vibe from our so-called friends and allies " "Well, that's what you get. About time, too. Don't you think you had it coming?" |
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Big_Bird
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:33 pm Post subject: Re: Conversations with non-Americans about 9/11 |
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| xtchr wrote: |
| The Bobster wrote: |
there is exactly ONE country in the world where just about everyone wants to live if they only could - and it ain't Canada.
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Is it New Zealand? |
Hmmm, I didn't spot that line from Bobster first time around. Seems he was also acting like a complete w@nker. Some years ago, I was very surprised to find that a lot of Americans actually believe this as fact. Why would someone from Europe or Australasia yearn to live in America (unless they wanted to make it in Hollywood)? Most my life I never thought about living there. I've always dreamed of living in continental Europe myself, and spent a couple of years living in Switzerland and France. I wouldn't be averse to living in the US, if work or a relationship brought me there. I'm sure I would like it. But I wouldn't have realised a lifetime's fantasy.
And secondly, if I were an immigrant from a 3rd world country, I'd probably aim for a country like the UK or Australia where I could get social security until I was on my feet. |
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colonel sanders
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Location: the middle of the middle of nowhere
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Those are some harsh words Pligganease, but I somewhat agree. The rudest and most arrogant canadians I have ever met have been in korea. Maybe that's because all of the other canadians I have met have been so laid back (except those damn french canadians). I think korea tends to bring out the worst in some foreigners. Theres virtually no consequences for treating people like $#!t because either you leave or a new crop arrives. |
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ajgeddes
Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Location: Yongsan
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Except for Tahiti, I have met immigrants in America from ervery one of the countries you mention, and about a dozen more just in San Francisco. I used to joke to my friends that anytime there's a war or famine somewhere in the world San Francisco gets a new cuisine, when a new restaurant opens up around the corner started by people trying to get out of there. I THOUGHT I was joking. Then Milosovich came along and a little while later ... who knew there WAS such a Croat food?
And being condescending toward America has been a hobby for a lot of people since our country got started. Believe me, we are VERY used to it.
I hear a lot of vitriol hurled at Koreans for the way some behaved after the fall of the Twin Towers, but some of us picked up a more subtle vibe from our so-called friends and allies " "Well, that's what you get. About time, too. Don't you think you had it coming?" |
Frist of all, I bet there are immigrants from the USA to all those countries in Western Europe, as well. Just because you met an immigrant from another country, doesn't mean everybody from there want to do the same. I have met immigrants from the States in Canada, so obviously we must be the best place on Earth (just using your logic).
Second, Canadians weren't happy about the twin towers, so watch your mouth. Canada was very quick to respond with help, not to mention there were plenty of Canadians in those towers as well. |
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