Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bulsajo]

[chotaerang]

[laogaiguk]

[jajdude]

I don't get it and never will. Are we all that dumb? Perhaps we should not be teachers if that is the case. Seriously. If one is against an entire nationality, based on.... what? It's just dumb.

Of course we are all dumb sometimes. I cannot blame or hold disdain for millions based on a few bad examples or bad leaders.

Let's end all this nonsense. We're supposed to help each other, maybe? Make life a bit better? Not be full of crap.

[Summer Wine]

To myself I still feel it is kind of like the arguments you have with an older brother or sister or younger. Though not as personal and deep rooted as some may believe, though that is just my feeling and not the result of any study I have carried out.

[Gopher]

[mithridates]

One good place to go to get a good view of Canadians' opinions on matters is www.globeandmail.com though it's more left-wing (though I hate that term) than the other national newspaper. But each article always ends up with comments below it and that's where you can tell what they think. Most of them will be from Ontario though, so you have to keep that in mind. There's as much anti-Alberta as there is anti-Americanism or anti-anything else.

[jajdude]

I have been in Asia for nearly a decade. I remember molson and others.

But whatever else...? News to me.

Anti- (anywhere) is weird.

I am anti Kim Jong Il or the jerks in Myanmar or in Africa.

But how can any intelligent or well informed person be anti- (country)

Oh, yeah I forgot. There are too many poor and uneducated people to preach to.

[rainsong23]

Well I wasn't really so aware of anti Americanism, consciously, until I moved to Korea. I'm Canadian just so ya know. When I came here I met alot of Americans and honestly, most of them were just really nice people. I think people from any country will have skewed opinions of other countries sometime if they never really get to live outside of their own country for awhile to be able to get an outside perspective. I think it's, in a way, easier for me to see not only the good, but some of the bad about Canada in a less biased way if I remove myself for awhile. I think people from every country probably have some quirks that could be, unintentionally, upsetting to people from other countries. But I think anti and country is shortsighted. Because not all people from any country think the same. Even countries with really seemingly oppressive or dictatorial regimes can't represent all the natives opinions. It might seem that way in a country if it's dangerous to voice your true opinions. Having said all that I think we do live in unusually strange times. In all my life I never paid any attention to Americal politics until Bush came along, and not to offend, because I'm well aware he doesn't represent all Americans, but it just scared the hell out of me. And I think that's maybe at the root of alot of what's driving the recent anti Americanism. Alot of people are downright scared. Americans are justifiably scared after what happened on Sept 11th, and all the political things that happened in the wake of that. But alot of people just felt that Bush made it worse. And even thought I'm not American so maybe shouldn't have an opinion on American policies, the fact is that the world is small these days, and what any nation does can affect all nations, and not just what America does. Our own anti Americanism can affect the world in a bad way too. I think when you get scared and worked up about something it takes more self control to look at things objectively, and lump all of a countries people, for example, into the leader or administration at a given moment. But I know way back when the 11th first happened, Bush's reaction seemed to me to be likely to make it worse. So I got scared because in our modern world with the weapons capability we have, we can basically wipe out our entire species. If a nuclear war were to break out, for instance, there would be no winners. If America were attacked, being a Canadian, we would be pretty much right in the line of fire of fallout and stuff. But we shouldn't judge any one country or people with stereotypes. I've always believed that, but realized, after living outside of my country for sometime that I had been guilty of it at times, and not even realized it. So I just look at things different, I think in broader terms, for having lived in another country. It's a great opportunity I think. Not only do I get to try to learn about Korean culture, which can be rewarding sometimes and frustrating other times, but I've really liked the opportunity to meet and learn something about other Western cultures as well, from other expats. I also think, at risk of making a generalization, so get your salt grains out first, that there are, to simplify, two types of foreigners (again oversimplification, but . . . ), those who are really cool and open minded people who are brave enough to pick up and try out a new culture, and who are interested in learning something more about the world, and the other type, those who have gotten into trouble of some kind in their own country and *beep* ups in there own country and are, metaphorically, on the run from something. Maybe burned all their bridges back home so had to leave. So yeah, other foreigners I've met, including other Canadians seem to fall into two really broad categories (remember , grain of salt) really, really cool and interesting, intelligent people, and complete *beep* ups that make be embarrased to be a foreigner when I think that they might be representing me to people here. It's similar with Korean's I've met, some are the kindest and most genuine people I've ever met, and some, well, ya know taxi drivers lol. Ok that's a joke, I've met some really friendly taxi drivers too, but some pretty rude ones. Anyway, I hope in the past that I can manage to be one of those polite Canadians. But I don't think it means I can't have an opinion about something that affects the entire world, whether it be about Canada, US, Iraq, religion, politics, or whatever. I figure we can all try to find a balance between being polite, but not being afraid to have an opinion and sometimes challenge peoples preconceptions either. It's like the Socrates analogy of the philospopher as a gadfly. Sometimes the gadfly that makes people a little bit uncomfortable is needed to try to stimulate discussion and evolution of culture. There will always be popular opinions that need to be challenged, whether it be racist or sexist or nationalistic or whatever 'ist' you can think about. I just hope I can challenge it in myself at the same time I challenge it in others. All in all, I think discussion, even if not perfectly polite all the time, is better than no discussion at all. Verbal pissing contests do kinda suck, but I am grateful when it's a verbal pissing contest rather than and armed pissing contest, and for the most part our whole little American Canadian thing has been a verbal contest. So it's a step in the right direction. Other parts of the world are not so lucky. Too bad Israel and Palestine couldn't be having these kinds of disagreements and verbal pissing contests instead of killing each other and building walls and strapping bombs to each other.

[thepeel]

I'm Canadian, and I adore America (meaning the land, the people, the culture and the idea). That said, I disagree with many of the decisions the American government makes. I also disagree with the majority of decisions Canadian governments make.

Canadians are anti-American because they are taught to be that way. I remember in grade three, my teacher told the class that in Canada, drivers must never hit a pedestrian but in America, if the pedestrian is outside of the crosswalk, she/he is fair game. She then said that "Americans" enjoy hitting people walking outside of the crosswalk. I remember thinking, how could my family (who are majority Americans) be sure horrible people?

And so it goes for the country. Petty, insecure, cynical and platitude-laden Canadians simply do not know anything about the country beyond what they see on the news. Smug to the last, it is our identity.

http://www.google.com/search?q=Canadian+smugness&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_enSG215SG215

Nothing makes my skin crawl like some FOTB Canucklehead starting a long winded rant with the words "In Canada...". It is even worse that "Jesus loves you". Yuck.

[thepeel]

[AbbeFaria]

[W.T.Carl]

I am sad to admit that I, too, didn't think much about Canada until I got to Korea. Yes, I did enjoy Molson and Moosehead, that was about ( or aboot) it. When I did get over there, I met a few. They were good folk, although only one was a "real" teacher. We drank together and complained about the pirate we worked for. As a matter of fact, I loaned 1.3 mil to a guy who had to split to Thailand- it was a long story. Never got it back, but my karma is straight, and he is still my friend. Next time I encountered Canadains was the year I spent teaching in Poland. Again, righteous people, one of whom I still call friend. We may have disagreed about politics, but we still drank and travelled together. But the last time I was in Poland I had the misfortune to meet Canadians again. One , whom came VERY close to being thumped, insisted in attempting to discuss my politcal leanings at about three in the morning after drinking. When I pionted out that both our countries were the product of the Enlightenment, he became irate. The other Canadian female dog was down right rude, when I offered to buy a few rounds on the 4th of July. The leftie Brit didn't mind as did the other Canadian. In conclusion, most Canadians I have met in the past have been good eggs. However, the out of the last bunch I did meet some of the most arrogant, holier-than thou" obnoxious individuals I have ever had the displeasure to deal with.

[Ilsanman]

I think that Anti-Americanism from Canadians is not as prominent as Americans seem to think. Maybe it's Americans being insecure with themselves, thinking they're being hated on so much.

If any American posters on here are concerned with Anti-Americanism, look at Koreans. That's much more serious and much less justified.

[pkang0202]

[quote="ajgeddes"]