I AM....not American
I read this in the mailbag over at FoxNews.com:
Kate S. in Toronto writes:
I don't advise anybody to refer to Canadians as "Americans" — no matter what continent we share. You're liable to get a hockey stick across the back of your head if you so much as suggest that They are Us. The most deadly insult you can offer a Canadian is to mistake him or her for an American. Trust me, you want to forget this multi-culti idea tout suite.
There seems to be every Canadian Stereotype in this little write up, but at the same time, what Kate said is all true. We never want to be seen in the same light as Americans. Canadians think that Americans are arrogant because (we think) they believe they are God's gift to the world and are the best at anything and everything.
The truth is, Canadians are more arrogant because we look down on Americans, we think we are better than them. In hockey, in cultural matters, world issues etc... We take pride in our socialist policies and our perceived 'culture' (that only seems to be how we are different than our American neighbours). And many of us truly believed we are more evolved than our neighbours because of our multiculturalism and federalism.
I think as Canadians we should eat some humble pie.
Bon Appetit!
Kate S. in Toronto writes:
I don't advise anybody to refer to Canadians as "Americans" — no matter what continent we share. You're liable to get a hockey stick across the back of your head if you so much as suggest that They are Us. The most deadly insult you can offer a Canadian is to mistake him or her for an American. Trust me, you want to forget this multi-culti idea tout suite.
There seems to be every Canadian Stereotype in this little write up, but at the same time, what Kate said is all true. We never want to be seen in the same light as Americans. Canadians think that Americans are arrogant because (we think) they believe they are God's gift to the world and are the best at anything and everything.
The truth is, Canadians are more arrogant because we look down on Americans, we think we are better than them. In hockey, in cultural matters, world issues etc... We take pride in our socialist policies and our perceived 'culture' (that only seems to be how we are different than our American neighbours). And many of us truly believed we are more evolved than our neighbours because of our multiculturalism and federalism.
I think as Canadians we should eat some humble pie.
Bon Appetit!
posted by Spitfire at 9:46 PM
1 Comments:
I left the idea of mindless patriotism in grade 8 where it belongs. I'm still awed when people - supposed adults - bring it up like that. It never ceases to amaze me how the most progressive, tolerant people have such an anal preoccupation with labels of nationality. Strangely deterministic, non?
Post a Comment
<< Home