Must we Hate America?

[Emancipation 2]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_handler/20080116.html

[*JG* 2]

Seems everyone feels they MUST hate America. I don't see the point. Every country has it's issues.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Amusing and very true.....having decided to jump the fence (so to speak) I immediately started noticing how trendy it was for my freinds and family to come up with all things bad about America when I announced my imminent departure to glorius AMERICA !

I miss Canada and all the little things that are hard to pinpoint, but certainly are different. I like both actually...what I miss most are my family and friends who are 500 miles away...I could care less which country I live in.

I have to agree on the whole political thing...my husband is amazed that we can pull and entire national election together in <2 months. And the fact that religion hasn't played a huge part in anyone's voting decision in years...has it?

[Emancipation 2]

I have to agree on the whole political thing...my husband is amazed that we can pull and entire national election together in <2 months. And the fact that religion hasn't played a huge part in anyone's voting decision in years...has it?

OH you hit the nail on the head here!! These are the SAME things Hubby & I talk about.. us both being "evangelical Christians" and all we COMPLETLY use different factors in picking out people we want to vote for - and we are on completely different sides of the political spectrum! I keep saying that over and over again - i DON"T vote for people based on their religious backgrounds.. only on their trackrecord and how they will LEAD!!!

And. he keeps saying.. yes, but you don't directly elect your leader.. to which i say.. oh me nerves!!!

[*JG* 2]

Amusing and very true.....having decided to jump the fence (so to speak) I immediately started noticing how trendy it was for my freinds and family to come up with all things bad about America when I announced my imminent departure to glorius AMERICA !

I miss Canada and all the little things that are hard to pinpoint, but certainly are different. I like both actually...what I miss most are my family and friends who are 500 miles away...I could care less which country I live in.

I have to agree on the whole political thing...my husband is amazed that we can pull and entire national election together in <2 months. And the fact that religion hasn't played a huge part in anyone's voting decision in years...has it?

Watching Jamaica's recent national election and the bloodshed that it caused, it made me appreciate US elections that much more. All I usually complain about is so much media coverage of the whole darn thing. I never worry that I might die trying to vote!

[Delicia 1]

Having lived in both Canada and the U.S., I can relate to the author and what he is saying. I too find that people (especially non-Americans) like to point at America and illustrate how the U.S. is the root of almost all evils of the world. At the same time, they do not complain when enjoying the 'fruits' of the U.S. and its culture. Some people take it personally and hold individual USCs accountable for every action that the U.S. government has or will undertake. For example, when I was living in Toronto, my husband worked for a LPR from Chile. He was married to a Cuban LPR. That man wouldn't talk to me because I belonged to the evil U.S.A.

To each his own...but I am glad to be back home in the U.S.

[daisy16 0]

Interesting article. I still heartbreakingly miss Canada - and of course my family. We made many mistakes in planning (or not planning well) my move here and setting up our life together.

I get angry at the social injustices here in the US, but I also recognize that Canada has many problems too, they are different though.

I admit, I am a US basher and sometimes it isn't pretty. However, one thing that the US does better than Canada is the postal service - USPS rules over CanadaPost any time!

[bradcanuck 1]

The popular kids is popular, yet the kids who hate him also want to be him deep down. The words they speak behind his back are nasty, but would be taken back if they got to have a day in his body and life.

Jealousy, is normally where that stems from.

[rhymeswithcandi 0]

That's an interesting story... Since I married my American, a lot of my friends tell me I've developed an American accent. I used to get this even before we got married. A lot of Canadians love to bash America and it bugs me... it bugs me when people demonize America. People forget how much money the US pours into other countries every DAY. There are thousands of USAID missions all over the world putting money in the hands of farmers, children and citizens-less-fortunate to help them set up lives and sustainable economies.

People bash America for "budding in" but then get bent out of shape when they don't. A perfect example of this was when I was living in Taiwan during the presidential elections. China was threatening military action against Taiwan if it moved toward true independence. The US (Bush) kept his nose out of it and many Taiwanese media were criticizing the US for not defending Taiwan against China.

No country is perfect but America is certainly not worthy of some of the contempt that comes at it sometimes...

It's funny because I get teased in America for being Canadian and I get teased in Canada for living in the states... kinda makes me get thick-skinned to it from both directions.

[bradcanuck 1]

China I can understand. Not even Bush is that crazy. No one in their right mind would be their army between China and ANYTHING right now, or in the future.

[rhymeswithcandi 0]

China I can understand. Not even Bush is that crazy. No one in their right mind would be their army between China and ANYTHING right now, or in the future.

Oh of course... I totally get that too. I was reading somewhere that the Chinese army is bigger than the population of Canada (that's fully trained army) so it would have been insane to get involved with that. I found it totally wild that the US was being criticized for not getting involved...

[DavidsPrincess 1]

China I can understand. Not even Bush is that crazy. No one in their right mind would be their army between China and ANYTHING right now, or in the future.

Oh of course... I totally get that too. I was reading somewhere that the Chinese army is bigger than the population of Canada (that's fully trained army) so it would have been insane to get involved with that. I found it totally wild that the US was being criticized for not getting involved...

army sizes don't even matter anymore. It's firepower and technology that matter. 1 Nuke > 1 million troops. He probably didn't get involved because he wasn't interested in starting World War 3 ...lots of allies on both sides.

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

Lindsay lives in a VERY small town, so most people know that she's marrying an american. She usually brings home at least one funny story of american bashing every day. It's not vicious or anything, but just silly stuff. One lady told her that the southern baptists (I think I was included in that grouping) were going to brainwash her. People are also lynched if they speaks poorly of Bush, apparently.

This isn't to let americans off the hook. I have a Canadian flag on my balcony while I'm waiting for Lindsay. One of my old friends was asking which apartment was mine. I told him that it was the one with the flag. "I was wondering what faggot had a Canadian flag."

[Cassie 8]

I don't hate America, I just get really aggravated with it.

[bradcanuck 1]

I hate a lot of things about America, but I hate the indifference of Canadians more. THERE I SAID IT! While Americans are blowhard thick headed bastards, Canadians are passive #### talking idiots! BWAHAH!

Honestly though I was studying to get into politics. I wanted to get into the system and make a difference. That was of course until I realized how absolutely hopeless the CDN political system is. Compared to the USA it is horrid. MPs mean nothing. Party lines are followed 99% of the time and if you break a serious line, you won't get your ticket for the next election meaning you are booted out of the party. You're bullied into voting a certain way even if your constituents are FURIOUS about it. So everyone hates you AND you lose your seat how fantastic is that?

This is one example of many, many many things I hate about Canada. I could (and probably should) write a book about this some day.