Why do some Americans think that Canadans hate them?

[JordanTO]

I realise that this isn't a common sentiment on this site, but I hear it said on a fairly regular basis elsewhere. It's not true, of course, but I do wonder why they think so. Any ideas?

[KitchenWitch]

1. I think it may be rooted in the whole "French" thing

It is no secret that some of the French people for years have been less than friendly to US tourists...

[HEyHEY]

3. Yeah, but they hate everyone

[JordanTO]

4. Very true.

They even hate the rest of US!

[NightTrain]

2. Well, the rest of the world does, so we just figured....

:shrug:

[EstimatedProphet]

5. Actually, some Canadians do

I've met my share of Canadians that hate America

[democracyindanger]

6. Maybe because of posts like this one?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2953673&mesg_id=2953673

Personally, I don't think that Canadians hate us.

[JordanTO]

8. That post is not representative of what most Canadians feel.

I'll grant that most of us despise Mr. Bush and his gang, but that doesn't mean we don't like the rest of you. We're mature enough to know the difference.

:)

[democracyindanger]

9. I know

It was a really bizarre thread. I think the OP would have issues in any country.

[RafterMan]

13. It's not really about "most"

Your worst elements speak loudest -- booing a US peewee hockey team during national anthem or the mayor of Toronto turning the confusion surrounding the blackout into a statement on American character overwhelm the silent goodwill of the majority of Canadians.

Of course Americans are subject to the same thing with our worst elements defining others impression of us -- I think it's a pretty universal phenomenon.

[amazona]

7. I dunno I never heard that one

One I have heard -- and it still surprises me -- is any number of people who think "Canada" is one of the United States!

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[blueknight]

10. i dont think so

i have been to canada many,many,times.i was always treated great. i love canada. if it wasn't so cold, i'd live there in a minute:bounce:

[Downtown Hound]

11. I've always loved every Canadian I've ever met

and they've never been anything but wonderful to me. So I don't think they hate us. But if you want to know th truth, it's the beer man. We have better beer than you and it makes you jealous. However, I'd gladly trade it for universal health care and no stupid oil wars. Given the state of this country, I need all the beer I can get.

[JordanTO]

14. You make beer in the US?

So, THAT'S what that fizzy stuf they gave me last night was!

;)

[Downtown Hound]

16. Give me a break!

We obviously don't make anything here in the U.S. It's outsourced to Mexico like everything else. Still, it's not too bad though.

[JordanTO]

18. Just teasing.

:)

[Downtown Hound]

19. I know

Actually, Canadian beer ain't half bad either. Besides who needs store bought beer anyway? It's all about microbrews!

[Kellanved]

17. Do you make beer in Canada?

If so, why don't you export it? :shrug:

[JordanTO]

20. We do, and we do.

We make excellent beer, in fact.

:)

[Kellanved]

21. That's strange

Better than the American invalid attempts, yeah. But the Canadian Brews I had stateside were still far from what I would consider a beer.
:evilgrin: ;-)

[JordanTO]

23. There's a reason for that.

The alcohol content is different for export, because of your laws.

[Kellanved]

27. ah.

That explains a lot, although I wouldn't call them my laws.

:toast:

[McKenzie]

12. we Scots don't hate Americans

Scotland is pretty left wing; we booted every single Conservative MP out of Scotland when Bliar first gained power. That's right, Scotland had absolutely NO Conservative MP's for a while. PR has changed that.

But, we are sufficiently savvy to distinguish between the neocons and decent people. Otherwise, I wouldn't be posting here.

[Kellanved]

15. I think the same is true for Americans thinking that Europeans hate them.

I see it like this:
-Some Europeans hate Americans
-Some Americans believe that all Europeans hate them
-Some Europeans believe that all Americans hate them.
-Some Americans hate Europeans

[JI7]

22. there is a certain type that feels the world is against them

mostly uneducated types and mostly Bush supporters.

that's why the Republicans always bring up the United Nations even when there is no real controversy there. they are trying to energize their base and make them think the rest of the world is attacking them.

the United States is a PART of the UN. but these people see it as some separate anti american thing.

the same goes with individual nations like Canada and especially the French. it was true of Britain also but the Republicans have toned down that area because of Blair's support.

[Tweed]

24. Because they do?

That's just the way it is? Can't I win an argument by stating that?

[JordanTO]

26. I think you can shift the burden of proof, but not win.

:)

[HalfManHalfBiscuit]

25. No, Canadians just think we're crazy

All of my relatives are Canadian - we are the only American branch. We love each other, but they pretty much think we are flat out looney. We just remind them that Canada is not really a country.

[JimmyJazz]

28. Because Bill O'Lielly says that you do?

:shrug:

[Adelante]

29. I never thought Canadians hated Americans

Canada was the one country I never heard an American speak against, either. Also my best friend in New York is Canadian and I was never aware of these national tensions. And 911, God, I cried buckets over those wonderful Canadians who took in all those people from the planes and were so loving and kind.

Then I moved to a part of Mexico where there are lots of Canadians. I was taken by surprise, because, at least the Canadians I know here, definitely say they hate Americans. I say you mean the American government? No, they say Americans. They say Americans are "loud" for one thing. I say, well, I'm an American and I'm not loud. My friends and family are Americans and they're not loud. Stupid stuff like that. You can say some Americans are loud, sure.

They are all up in arms because some Americans want to move to Canada. So I say, you know, millions of Canadians live in the U.S. and always have, so why is that okay? Then they say Americans are "invading" Canada.

Now my neighbor here has a Maple Leaf in her window and I never thought anything of it, but then she tells me about these new American neighbors in Canada of a friend of hers. They were talking on the phone and this woman was complaining bitterly about the neighbors having put an American flag outside on the Fourth of July. So I said, well, you're here in Mexico and you display a Maple Leaf flag, I mean, who cares?

Then apparently there are American soldiers stationed in Canada. I imagine there always have been, but I don't know really. I heard so much about this "invasion" I finally said, if you don't want American soldiers in your country, tell your damned government and leave me in peace.


Finally, I was worn out by it and avoid these people. I'm talking about a fairly large number of people. I do understand I don't know every single Canadian here, so I don't want to paint this too broad. It was just kind of like, wow, even Canadians hate us now. It's pretty exhausting, you know?

On the other hand, the Mexicans I know, who have a lot more reason to hate us than Canadians ever will, are extremely warm and friendly to Americans, in my experience. I know this would surprise some here on DU, but it's true.

Anyway, I probably wouldn't have posted except I have been thinking about this lately and feeling kind of bad about it. I'm glad to hear you say not all Canadians hate us. :hi:

[youngred]

30. our media tells us so

Though I know you don't hate us, you dislike our government and find some of us to be arrogant and overbearing. But I love Canada, and Canadians love me :-)