Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Nowhere Man]

[Gopher]

[deleted]

[capebretoncanadian]

In a word ....NO. I'm proud of who I am and where I come from. Canada is a great country....a wonderful place. Is it better than the US? NO. Is the U.S. better than Canada....NO. Some of the coolest folks I've met in Korea have been from the states. Some of the biggest A-holes I've met in Korea have been from Canada. It also applies the other way around. We're so similar and intertwined as countries. We're probably the two closest countries on Earth in terms of mutual backscratching. We're so similar that the petty carping on small issues is what seems to define this debate.

[sundubuman]

exactly, that's why we should just do away with the border and Canada, or should a I say the provinces, should join the Union. (or at least the individual provinces should be allowed to join)

Canada could become like what 6-8 new states (hey that means you'd have more power proportionatelythan existing US states) the red/blue balance is restored, paperwork is diminished, we all have total freedom to roam the better part of a continent, and America finally learns how to deal with the French, n'est-ce pas?

Whole Canadian beach communities develop on the Gulf Coast and in New Mexico, Tim Horton's goes global, and curling becoomes a major American sport.

But in all seriousness.....it's much easier for (many) Americans in Asia to get rid of their lack of knowledge of Canada than it is for (many) Canadians to get rid of some inexplicably gargantuan chip on their shoulder.

[gypsyfish]

[Sooke]

As a Canadian, the word "American" has always meant 'a person from the USA'. "America" has always meant the USA.

The continents are named North America and South America, although I guess 'America' could be applied to both continents, although the last time someone referred to North AND South America as "America" was, like what, the 17th Century?? I have heard them called "The Americas", but never have I heard the two continents referred to as "America".

I remember travelling through Europe, and I was with my buddy, an American, and when asked by a Spaniard where he was from, he replied "America".

Well, the Spaniard was all hoity-toity and was like "My friend, America is a continent, but I asked you 'which country are you from'". The replies:

American (polite): Oh my goodness, I hadn't thought of it like that before. My apologies friend, I am from the United States.

Canadian (Itaewon-esque): What are you...an idiot? American means the USA! Tool.

Mebbe yer book lernin' tells you diff'rent, but in my book, 'America' means 'USA'. It may not be true, but it feels true...and that's good enough for me.

As far as the anti-American thing, I think that is a bit played up, especially overseas. As it is difficult for a non-Canadian observer to acurately realize a Canadian's nationality (without the back-pack flags). This may be very grating to a younger (age or thinking) Canadian. As a defense mechanism, many Canadians play up the anti-Americanism-either as a joke to 'take the p!ss' out of Americans, or to assure others they are not American. I often find it is the less-travelled or dumber Canadians (ie:Ontarians) that revert to this more often. As well, considering the global unpopularity of the current US administration, this has been rather easy to do lately.

Furthermore, many Americans have been brought up in a culture where American greatness/dominance/all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips-ness is constantly re-enforced. If you don't believe me, just watch current American TV programs of any genre. In most instances, unless it is central to the plot, most countries are referenced to only as the butt of jokes. Whether this is done with irony (simpsons, south park, the family guy, daily show) or without (almost every other program on TV), the effect is pretty much the same. As well, many movies and TV shows kick out stuff like "Of course we're gonna fight back, we're American!", or some such nonsense. (A line like this couldn't be used in Canada, unless dripping with irony.) Seriously, next time you watch a mass appeal movie, look for this stuff.

Anyway, I can imagine their shock, as they must feel that all countries feel the same way they do. Upon hearing some vaguely negative comment about the US, possibly for the first time in their lives, many Americans over-react, and start cranking out ignorant crap like "Well, you should be thanking us for your freedom to say that." Seriously, there is no way to heat up a conversation by implying that a nation or group of people cannot defend themselves to a member of said nation. In some cases this may be true, but in most cases it is not. America has been riding on its world-saving effort in the Second World War and the early Cold-War. While a European of 30 years ago could rightly and justifiably thank America for his freedom, the same thing today rings a bit hollow. To paraphrase Janet, (Ms. Jackson if you're nasty) "What have you done for us lately(America)?" If you want the street cred, you gotta keep hooking us up, know what I'm sayin?

Another problem may be the media in the States. While travelling, I met an American who seemed to have only watched FOX News. This person, in late 2005, was still saying "Saddam bombed the WTC. The French sold him bombs!" Most people outside of America believe this is not the case, and that the Bush Administration's motives in the GWOT are less than honourable. Whether or not this is the case, the impression remains. (Keep in mind that that American was a rarity, 95% of Americans I met held views similar to mine-ie: Bush et al. are knuckleheads.) We even busted a few dudes pretending to be from Canada "Oh, I'm from Montreal. You're from Toronto? That's in Ontario, isn't it?" No Canadian would ever ask that question.

Anyway, that's how I see it. Some Canadians are overly sensitive about their nationality and play the "Yankee-go-home" card, and then some Americans get overly upset at what often amounts to be poorly thought out 'diatribes' against the US.

And I'm not even goning to get into the natural rivalry between the two countries in sports, entertainment, economics, etc, etc. Again, think of your own families, and you can probably find two brothers or cousins who, while being family, pretty much have an intense rivalry which crosses all endevours.

Well, that was about as mature as a response as I'd ever give to a Canada-USA thread. The bar will definately be lowered after this.

[Gopher]

[deleted]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[laogaiguk]

I won't bother pointing out the obvious there are stupid morons from all areas of the Earth, and I am sure there will be stupid aliens too. Once Asia gets over the whole "We hate Japan" thing and decides world domination is more important than stupid nationalism, the West will be in trouble. Personally, I would like to see the entire continent as one country. I don't believe any of the three countries are ready for that. Take the good things from Canada and America and help Mexico turn into a first world country (don't worry, there would be plenty of slave labour a bit more south) Still, this is obviously impossible now.

[Gopher]

[deleted]

[laogaiguk]