The other day, I seemed to provoke outrage from The Tiger In Winter when I
commented on how Canadians can dish it out, but can't seem to take it. I
agreed with him on that point, but then I made some assertions, which he addressed, and I want to respond to his responses.
For the first issue, I seemed to imply that if we don't agree with America all the time, we're Public Enemy No. 3, behind Germany and France. Being ignored isn't an entirely bad thing. They could have been really nasty to us if they wanted, but overall have not been. On the yes-man issue, I believe that feeling prevailed throughout most of the Cold War, and if it is not true about the vast majority of Americans now (I don't believe), it is certainly true about their government, especially if you want to work for them. Thirdly, I made a reference about Canada becoming more Americanized. I won't speculate as to whether the Americans are in any way behind it, in fact, I would maintain my first assertion and look upon it as a positive. As I mentioned in a recent post, the last few governments, both Liberal and Conservative, have been making Canada more American, and I believe that the current PM, Paul Martin, is a lot more conservative than you think. It's almost like they're trying to annex us to the Americans.
Perhaps the tone of my queries was a bit inflammatory, if so I apologize. The last thing I want to do is add to the raving emotionalism and ill-feeling that seems to accompany political discourse these days. In response to the other things you were saying Tiger, I agree that most Canadians are being quite nasty, and in general being very unfair to the USA. I also believe that all those who profess that Americans are a lower form than the rest of us, whether here or abroad, are really ignorant and foolish people, and they need to be set straight about it quickly. You can refer them to my blog.
Look at it from their POV, if America thinks that the rest of the world hates them and can do no right, why should they listen to us, they do have feelings too, they are no less human than the rest of us.
It's not like the Americans have not made their share of mistakes, but I think that being one of two and now just the one superpower in the world, I think that for that reason, we should allow them a larger margin of error, and help try to save America from whom I feel are their biggest enemies, their own people.
And as for our military, I heartily agree that we are in desperate need of one, and the recent record of what little we have is at best spotty, and we need to change that post haste.
For the first issue, I seemed to imply that if we don't agree with America all the time, we're Public Enemy No. 3, behind Germany and France. Being ignored isn't an entirely bad thing. They could have been really nasty to us if they wanted, but overall have not been. On the yes-man issue, I believe that feeling prevailed throughout most of the Cold War, and if it is not true about the vast majority of Americans now (I don't believe), it is certainly true about their government, especially if you want to work for them. Thirdly, I made a reference about Canada becoming more Americanized. I won't speculate as to whether the Americans are in any way behind it, in fact, I would maintain my first assertion and look upon it as a positive. As I mentioned in a recent post, the last few governments, both Liberal and Conservative, have been making Canada more American, and I believe that the current PM, Paul Martin, is a lot more conservative than you think. It's almost like they're trying to annex us to the Americans.
Perhaps the tone of my queries was a bit inflammatory, if so I apologize. The last thing I want to do is add to the raving emotionalism and ill-feeling that seems to accompany political discourse these days. In response to the other things you were saying Tiger, I agree that most Canadians are being quite nasty, and in general being very unfair to the USA. I also believe that all those who profess that Americans are a lower form than the rest of us, whether here or abroad, are really ignorant and foolish people, and they need to be set straight about it quickly. You can refer them to my blog.
Look at it from their POV, if America thinks that the rest of the world hates them and can do no right, why should they listen to us, they do have feelings too, they are no less human than the rest of us.
It's not like the Americans have not made their share of mistakes, but I think that being one of two and now just the one superpower in the world, I think that for that reason, we should allow them a larger margin of error, and help try to save America from whom I feel are their biggest enemies, their own people.
And as for our military, I heartily agree that we are in desperate need of one, and the recent record of what little we have is at best spotty, and we need to change that post haste.
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