Originally Posted by CDN71

You know they say about opinions...they're worth what you've paid for them...

I know that Canada and the US are very very very different...that's not an opinion, that is just KNOWING from a born and raised Canadian.

Your opinion is...well...your opinion, but here are some Canadian facts:

Our military is deeply entrenched in our British roots - I know, I served. The Americans do not...

Our government is modelled after the British. Americans do not...even our right wing is still quite left compared to the American system...

7/10 provincial flags have the UJ in it...Americans don't.

We have the second highest standard of education according the UN and OECD as of 2009. The Americans don't value education at all...I know, I took a programme at Cornell...no comparison...

We have universal health care. Americans do not...

We do not have a myriad of entertainment shows...the Americans do...

We do not have gossipy reality tv shows i.e. the real housewives etc...the Americans do...same with the Aussies...

We have strict gun laws...the Americans do not...

According to Stats Canada 13% of Cdns do not have grade 12...over 60% in the US not have grade 12...

the CF recruiting system mandates all recruits must have grade 12 and no police record...the US takes the bottom of the barrel.

Canadians travel better abroad...Americans do not...I know, I've travelled and ppl hold their breath when they hear my accent, until I quickly identify as a Cdn and demonstrate the difference in accents...then they relax...

We're a peaceful nation...we don't want to go and "kick some ass" just to have a war on oil...the Americans do...

We're a clean, friendly nation who cares about the environment...I can speak for BC...the US, any time I have travelled, has been dirty, crowded, and no care or concern for other ppl. AND EVERYTHING IS LOUD!!!!!

When travelling abroad or just living in Canada, I can TELL I am speaking to an American just like I can speaking to an English person or Quebecois. An American can tell I am not American just from my demeanour.

When I go to the US, I do NOT feel at home because it is so different - I can tell that I am in the US.

If we were the same, then Michael Ignatieff would have been PM...but he's not because he lived in the US too long and Cdns were not willing to accept him because of that fact...

I just don't see the similarities...sorry!

Ahh...opinions...

Originally Posted by dbd33

"When I go to the US, I do NOT feel at home because it is so different - I can tell that I am in the US."

How? What is it about Costco that's different there than here, how does McDonalds differ? How are the ancient bands on the radio less tired there than here? Seriously, while eating a wing or buying a pair of shoes, how do you know which of the two countries you're in?

Originally Posted by JamesM

You do raise some good fair points.

But a clean friendly nation who cares for the environment???? Isn't Canada the biggest polluter in the world per head of population???

Also the only reason Canada doesn't fight wars anymore is because their army is insignificant and they know that the big brother in the US will take care of it.

All that being said it's a pretty good place to live but a decent job offer in San Francisco and like Pamela Anderson or any other Canadian who wants to get ahead I am out of here.

Originally Posted by Oink

Canada is like America's poor special needs cousin who follows them around all day long. You just sort feel sorry for them.

Originally Posted by dbd33

I read his book. An awful piece of prose, seemingly mechanically translated from French. There must, I think, have been some excitement in his life, after all he had a nervous breakdown, but his account is like reading the tax code. Yes, maybe, you do want to count him as the definitive Canadian.



First succeeded in Baltimore, later caught on in Canada. Nothing wrong with that but a fine example of their being no border culturally.



Ben Mulrooney. Presenter of tabloid trash on Canadian TV trading on the fame of his father. Entertainment Tonight (Canada) the show's called.

Originally Posted by CDN71

Is that sorta like the UK and what Gordon Brown did for so many years??

How many friends did you lose in Iraq?? Family?

Here in Canada...we didn't lose any...OH! That's because we chose NOT to FOLLOW the Yanks...unlike the Brits...for whom shall I feel sorry for???

Sigh...you know what they say about opinions, Oink!!

Only worth what you've paid for them...but you can't argue with fact!

Originally Posted by CDN71

Is that sorta like the wings I can get in an English pub in Devon, Northhampton? Or the Costco that I can go to in B'ham, Reading or even Coventry? How about the tonnes of KFC and McDonalds I see the English scarfing down? Or what the teens wear for clothing in the UK...it's very American.

It seems, my Canadian hating friend, that England is American Lite, too! Along with Australia and other western nations...just different accents. Your opinions of Canada are based on you living in southern Ontario and that you haven't travelled different pockets of Canada...that seems to be a very American type of behaviour to me not to be open minded and willing to travel but base your opinions on what is within your reach! Or is this typical whinging POM behaviour that you're accused of in NZ and Australia?

Either way, You CANNOT get away from American culture. It's everywhere...Australia very Americanised - I am studying in Oz atm and it's in my face everyday even more so than if I were living on Vancouver Island! Everytime I go to ol'Blighty I see it's being influenced by America...same with Germany and France.

If you don't like Canada, then LEAVE!!! Go to the US!!

Originally Posted by Oink

Living with a bunch of Aussies I don't blame you for being homesick and thus seeing Canada through rose tinted glasses. But its a bit weird to go on a British expat site to defend your country/culture. You're bound to get a different perspective.

Originally Posted by CDN71

Your opinions of Canada are based on you living in southern Ontario and that you haven't travelled different pockets of Canada...

Originally Posted by CDN71

ET Canada? Are you sure...who watches that? Oh...I know...the English chap that I am now responding to...how American of you to watch such tripe!

Originally Posted by dbd33

I rather liked BNL in the Baltimore era, btw. I had their cassette, probably still have it somewhere, though there's no longer a machine to play it.

Originally Posted by Novocastrian

As it happens, I was clearing junk from the garage last weekend (largely because it was pissing down outside). I discovered an old, but on inspection, still functioning, cassette player to which you're welcome if you ever find the Baltimore tapes.

Originally Posted by JamesM

You do raise some good fair points.

But a clean friendly nation who cares for the environment???? Isn't Canada the biggest polluter in the world per head of population???

Also the only reason Canada doesn't fight wars anymore is because their army is insignificant and they know that the big brother in the US will take care of it.
All that being said it's a pretty good place to live but a decent job offer in San Francisco and like Pamela Anderson or any other Canadian who wants to get ahead I am out of here.

Originally Posted by Souvy

Er...........

The CF is active in Libya and 150+ Canadians have come home from Afghanistan in coffins.