Waging a War on Anti-Americanism

This is simply a continuation from yesterday’s posting. I’d also like to mention that the purpose of both Part I and Part II of these entries is to challenge those people that have told me that I was overreacting to this phenomenon. Additionally, I was once one of those clueless people, in the past, that had absolutely no idea that Canada (or a rather large percentage of their population) disliked Americans. I didn’t, myself, really “get it” until I saw one rant after another about the internet about how “bad” we are.

I wasn’t too far off when I mentioned in another post that at least half or more of the Canadians were guilty of Anti-Americanism. Here’s a poll and an article that says that over 40% of Canadian teens think that America is evil. And that’s just the teen population. What do the adults think? I’d rather believe that when kids grow up that they become open-minded, educated, become critical thinkers, and lose some of their prejudices. Well, sometimes this is the case, and sometimes it’s not as I’ve heard that some Canadians were brought up by their parents to hate Americans. And this means that mom and dad had/have their prejudices too.

But let’s go back to the article.

In one telephone poll of teens between the ages of 14 and 18, over 40 per cent of the respondents described the United States as being “evil”. That number rose to 64 per cent for French Canadian youth.

Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish was picked up on a boom microphone saying, “Damn Americans — I hate those bastards“. Not only did Parrish not apologize for her remarks, but she later appeared on a television show hosted by alleged comedian Mike Bullard and laughed about the incident. Parrish played to the anti-Americanism of the youthful studio audience by saying that she couldn’t guarantee that she wouldn’t do it again.

Not only did then Prime Minister Jean Chrétien not take any action against his staff or caucus members, he himself engaged in America-bashing. The depth of his anti-Americanism surfaced shortly after the 9/11 attacks when he blamed the arrogance and greed of the West (read the United States) for those attacks.

Here is yet another example of how Canadians feel that we deserved 9-11. Canadian media and education is mostly one-sided, so that explains the hostile “mob mentality” of those Canadians that chose to be brainwashed and hand-fed their thoughts.

Crime committed: Arrogance and Greed

Justified punishment: Death (9-11).

Yes, again coming from the same Canadians who are against the death penalty and claim to be “peace-loving”.

THE CANADIANS SPEAK OUT ON FACEBOOK

The name of the topic is, “What Makes You Proud to be a Canadian” in the group, “Canada Kicks Ass“. (Names removed for privacy sake) Let’s here what they had to say:

(Vancouver, BC) wroteon May 21, 2007 at 4:21 PM

The fact that I don’t have my head up my ass, which is the difference that solely defines an American.

(Edmonton, AB) wroteon May 23, 2007 at 1:26 PM

the fact that pretty much anywhere we go, people like us more than americans. also we have a canadian team in the cup finals for the third year in a Row!!

(Vancouver, BC) wroteon Jun 22, 2007 at 5:27 PM

Hockey,Hotter Women,Better Beer,No Ignorence,need i say more.

No ignorance? Hotter women, even? I wonder how they came to that conclusion?

(Algonquin College) wroteon Jul 25, 2007 at 9:28 AM

the fact that everyone likes canada better than the US and (sometimes) go out of thier way to not kill us when we’re touring in africa and europe is well enough for me. Its the respect, dawg

(Burnaby Mountain Secondary) wroteon Dec 7, 2007 at 3:30 PM

The fact that we actually can properly use the term ”Canadian.” The other day I was in portland and someone asked me if I SPOKE Canadian. I was dumbfound and almost started to laugh. I told him i didn’t know of such a language as Canadian but that i definately spoke English.

Surely, one stupid American ruins it for the other 300 million.

(Stayner Collegiate Institute) wroteon Feb 17, 2008 at 9:56 AM

i can tell u the story of our flag
i can tell u the story of our constitution
i can tell u the story of our law
i can tell u that all of canadas stories tell us THAT THIS IS THE GREATEST NATION ON EARTH
…….and…..i can tell u THAT WE ARE THE BIRTH PLACE OF HOCKEY

Notice the subtle references to Americans in comparison. Well, just about all of these posts are. I also find it entertaining that one of the biggest criticisms that they have against Americans is American Patriotism. Lots of pots and lots of kettles calling each other black, no?

(Toronto, ON) replied to [...]’s post on Nov 9, 2007 at 4:56 PM

diversity! were not a melting pot! and we’re free and one of the most friendliest kind of people out there! being canadian is awsome EH!?

Ok. The concept of a “melting pot” (according to Canadians) is to force every ethnic groups that comes to live in the US to become American - meaning to leave your ethnicity at the door and mold yourselves to become just like us, learn English and etc. This is yet another convenient myth that is believed by Anti-Americans. We do *not* force people out of their identities. Rather, it’s a mixture of the two. We are more like a Salad Bowl.

We were taught that the salad bowl was the better metaphor for us to learn about American and immigrants. In a salad bowl, different ingredients are all mixed together to make one thing, yet each ingredient also retains its own characteristics. They aren’t blended into some bland goo.

And here’s a good example of that:

Go on and ask your grandma,
Hear what she has to tell
How great to be American
And something else as well.

Hat Tip: Danny Sullivan

I came across a group on Facebook called, “I Hate Everyone Who Hates America“. Granted, the title of this group is a bit strong for me, and could have been worded better. And, mind you, there are plenty of arrogant Americans to go around. But there was some bashing going on here as well. One woman thought that she’d do all of us a favor and define Americans as how she saw fit:

[...]wrote (wall post) at 6:35pm

you only have to look at all the groups on here to see that there are hundreds of “hate america groups”. How come it is only Americans who dont know why they are despised. You just have to read the low level trash from people like Matt to see why Americans are so universally loathed. I suggest you go to a few groups to get a general picture of how americans speak. It doesnt take long to see there are idiots like Matt on every single group.Some uneducated retard saying how great America is.It cannot be denied Americans are uncouth, uneducated low life trash that no more deserve life than a cockroach.

Men trying to be so macho it makes you want to puke. And women so dumb and slutty it sets back the feminist movement years.

Why do Americans have no perception of how shitty they are? How can anyone be so fucking ignorant and so arrogant at the same time ?

It is the unconditional pride which is the most off-putting. How can people be proud of such a shameful and immoral country?

[...]wrote on Feb 7, 2008 at 4:47 AM

All Americans are flag waving hypocritic smug moralistic intolerant arseholes!

And in this topic, someone mentions the following:

replied to [...] on Feb 10, 2008 at 1:53 PM

Are you all indoctrinated at birth or is it the fact that you are completely blind to the way the rest of the world views you. Do you not know that you are hated with a passion all over the world. Your president is ridiculed, your last few defence secretaries have been discredited, and you have the greatest number of fraudulent “men of god” than in the rest of the entire world. Your health system is accessible only by the rich, racism is prevalent in the south, the jokes I heard coming out of America after the hurricane hit Louisiana, were far greater in number than the assistance offered. Your obesity levels have risen to over 50%, you value celebrities and pay them ludicrous amounts of money in a week which would be more than anything a doctor or a teacher could earn in years.Your defence lawyers have made a mockery of the word justice.

Your gun laws are made by people who benefit vastly in financial terms from the pro gun lobby.

And there is plenty more where that came from. I see this group struggles to gain members, I can understand why.

In a group called, “Canada vs America“, a young man asks Canadians why they hate America. To save some space, you can read what more Canadians think about us here. Additionally, more Facebook Anti-American hate groups can be found here.

Molson Golden, a Canadian brewing company, had a commercial years ago. It was meant to be funny, and it IS just a commercial. However, it’s as usual, showing Canadian Pride, while giving the US an “innocent” kick in the butt. Watch it here. Is it really necessary to reinforce these stereotypes that Canadians REALLY DO have about Americans? I’ve already found two groups on Facebook that use the following lines (song) as their group motto/mission statement. They DO take it seriously.

If you know anything about Canada at all, you know that we both speak the same. And we’re both the same in regards to diversity as well. I’ve been told by Canadians that they DO, in fact, wear their country’s flag on their backpacks when they travel. But then when Americans show their flags, we get busted. So, there’s some hypocrisy here. And, depending on which province you live in, some people really DO say, “a boot”. But it’s okay. America’s the same in that regard because we speak differently depending on where we live as well. In any event, as “innocuous” as this commercial appears, the message delivered is that of an Anti-American one.

Next, this article, “George Jonas on Canada’s biggest mistake (or at least some contenders): Separatism, anti-Americanism and fence-sitting“, talks a bit about Anti-Americanism in Canada. In the comment section of this article, Ambrose99 said the following:

Anti-Americanism is a sacred duty of all thinking people.

Friends of Canadian Broadcasting posted an article, “Why Anti-Americanism is as Canadian as Maple Syrup“.

Anti-Americanism is a sort of “legitimate prejudice” in a world of increasingly stringent political correctness. “Substitute any other group for ‘Americans’ in Ms. Parrish’s comments – “Damn Palestinians – hate those bastards’ or Damn Africans – hate those bastards – and imagine the firestorm” (National Post editorial, Feb. 28, 2003). The U.S. is a wonderful whipping-person – so large, so rich, so many nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, such a powerful set of widely-shared values, and such a successful exporter of popular culture. What’s not to “hate” (loathe) if one is an insecure Canadian?

Read the full article here.

Now, I’ve mentioned in previous postings that there’s a group on Facebook called, “Canadians Against Anti-Americanism“. The most telling stories of Canadian’s experience of Anti-Americanism is mentioned in a topic called, “Why did YOU Join this Group“. Let’s here what they have to say:

(San Jose State) (Canadian living in the US) wrote on Jun 10, 2007 at 10:17 AM

I used to be one of those people who was anti-american for no reason. When we first moved to the States, all our family and friends in Canada warned us that moving here was going to be a big mistake. It turns out they were wrong, and after adjusting to the change, I ended up loving America. I think its sad that Canadians are so easy to spew hateful thoughts about America in order to feel better about themselves. It’s disgusting that I have to defend my new home to my friends in Canada whenever they attack it for no reason. You can hate the administration, but to hate everyone just cause they’re American is..i dunno…stupid. I guess the reason I joined the group was to let my good American friends know that I’m not an UGLY CANADIAN.

[...] replied to[...] post on Jun 10, 2007 at 10:45 AM

I think many Canadians are raised Anti-American either from family or the media. The idea that to be Canadian is to be be “not American” is a pretty crappy cultural benchmark. But alas, I will admit that in my less informed days I was like many other Canadians swinging my feet as the bandwagon drove over the bumpy trail. However I have spent some time working with Americans, living with American soldiers while in Afghaninstan, and traveling through many states and speaking with Americans and I have found that Americans are often painted by Canadians with the same brush and that should never happen. I will just say that there are a lot of intelligent Americans who are very caring people and want to help other countries. Most Americans I’ve spoken to are more informed about politics and foreign policies than Canadians are and at least when they share their opinion they know what they’re talking about. Many Americans are great people, great neighbours, and an amazing ally and friend to Canada.

(Toronto, ON) wrote on Jun 10, 2007 at 6:44 PM

While traveling in my youth I noticed that fellow travelers from America were treated differently than myself and others. They were often harassed or at least not made to feel welcome. These individuals did not deserve any different treatment than the rest of us and I felt bad for them. Many Canadians wore the maple leaf on their backpacks not as a symbol of pride, but rather as a way to say “I’m not American”. That also felt very wrong to me.As I’ve grown up here in Canada I’ve observed that anti-Americanism seems to have become increasingly acceptable. It has crept into our lives at so many levels that for many people it has become “normal”. Kid’s are subtly fed it in their schools, our national broadcaster treats it as comedy, and our politicians use it to garner popular support. Rather than contributing to my national pride for me it is a source of shame.

Simply put, anti-Americanism is wrong.

(Ottawa, ON) replied to [...] post on Jun 11, 2007 at 1:16 PM

I don’t really have any personal story like the ones above. It’s merely that, I was raised in an anti-American family, and like most of Canada, I was quite anti-American in my formative years. Then I started to think for myself. Once that happened, I stopped believing in God and also stopped believing America was evil.. seems to follow naturally when you actually think for yourself and stop believing everything that’s fed to you.

(Thunder Bay, ON) wrote on Jun 11, 2007 at 2:07 PM

This group and these posts have touched my heart. I am an American who has been living in Canada for the past 25 years. I have heard the anti-American sentiments from friends, family, strangers, the media, etc. Oh yes, Anti-americanism is very hurtful.

I have 4 Canadian/American children and they too have felt the sting of anti-american sentiment at one time or another in their lives.

The absolute worst for us was after 9/11. As a former New Yorker, the attack on the USA and NY was personally horrifying. For many hours and days I wasn’t sure if any of my family or friends had been killed. To see what had happened to my home town was heartbreaking and surreal. Then to hear on the CBC various broadcasts about how the Americans deserved what they got was like rubbing salt in this huge wound.

For years I’ve been telling my husband about the Anti-American sentiment in Canada and he denies its existence and minimizes it.

Gee… I surely can relate to that!

So, to read these entries today validates my feelings and in some way it helps to know that there are others out there who feel it and acknowledge that it is wrong. To all of my facebook friends who read this posting, I hope this group and the sentiments expressed here help you become more aware.

I thank all of you.

(Montreal, QC) wrote on Jun 18, 2007 at 8:39 AM

I’m always shocked to find out that most people I meet who have a negative opinion of the U.S. have actually never set foot there. They know no Americans personally. In fact, it would be quite hard for them to interact with America here in Québec, since most of my fellow classmates back when I was in high school and Cégep only spoke French. All they know about America is what they’ve seen on Canadian/Québec TV.

Some seem to believe that hospitals in the U.S. will let you die if you have no money. Some seem to believe that there is no welfare in the U.S. And these same individuals also often believe that all Americans are fat, stupid, ignorant bastards without even an inkling of a culture and a total lack of class. Of course, you know as well as I do that absolutely none of this is true. But THEY still think that, because they don’t know better. If only they were only hurting themselves… When 80% of what you produce gets sold south of the border, these are not very intelligent thoughts to have. And it’s even more economically suicidal and stupid to say it out loud in the media. That doesn’t stop people from doing it. We should be thankful Americans don’t lavish more attention upon Canada and what we think of them. Gosh forbid they ever start focusing on our media, we’ll be in for a rough ride.

(Duluth, MN) replied to Pamela’s post on Jun 19, 2007 at 6:39 PM

My purpose for creating this group was quite simple. Although I am interested in the sociological aspect of Canadians smelling of anti-Americanism, I had no agenda. Just a personal story and a little curiosity…Like many Canadians, I grew up around anti-Americanism. It’s subtle but everywhere. My father would be the first to admit his hatred. However, having been stigmatized as a young school girl, I learned early that judging on the surface of things is hurtful and usually a wrong assumption. At a young age, I questioned my father’s hatred of Americans because I had been hurt by presumptions, too. What if he was wrong and Americans aren’t the bastards he said they were? And it seems I may have been right….

After graduation from high school, I attended college in Wisconsin. It was there that I realized most profoundly that (“SHOCK!”) Americans are people a lot like me! As I grew to know and love my new Americans friends, the anti-American sentiments I heard when I came home began to hurt. It had become personal.

It became even more personal after I found an American guy I thought was wonderful enough to marry. Going home to Canada is always interesting as I watch my father try to hold back his hateful comment about the States. However, he doesn’t always do too well. My husband, who has been nothing but patient with him continues to endure comments like, “All Americans want to do is kill…” or some comment about how awful Bush is (or any president, for that matter). These comments are indirectly aimed at my husband. (This showed me how it is difficult to separate the government of a country from its people.) My brother once blurted out to him in anger, “You’re just pro-American!” (Just what does that mean?!) I can have respect for Canadians who have intelligent reasons to be anti-American but it is Canadians who are anti-American without thought that confound me.

I have called Minnesota home for the past 8 years. I mentioned in a prior post that I have three children who are dual American and Canadian citizens. I want them to proud of BOTH of their countries. However, if they experience the same stigma I have when I come home to Canada, I doubt they will feel as welcome there as they do in the States. We can politicize it all we want and argue socialism versus capitalism but when it all boils down Anti-Americanism is a deeply personal issue.

I took 9/11 personally, too. As I watched those planes fly into those towers, I was shocked and angry. For the first time, I was really for the Americans. I was ready to fight for them. And yet, shortly after the attacks, I heard Canadians joking about it saying that they deserved it and using it for comedy. It was disgusting to hear. For the first time, I was actually embarrassed to be a Canadian.

When I visit home, I have a Minnesotan license plate. I was driving through Winnipeg shortly after 9/11 when a fellow Canadian drove by and gave me the finger for no apparent reason than perhaps, I was American? This just made me realize how disgusting we can be.

I am now an American citizen as well as Canadian. Because of this, I have American I.D. It is always an experience for me when I have to show my I.D. in Canada. I consciously think, “Should I show American I.D. or my Canadian I.D?” I consider this because when I show American I.D. I am treated shortly and sometimes rudely. However, when I show Canadian I.D. I get a more friendly response. This is my fun experiment whenever I get to come home.

My assumptions continue to fall to the wayside as I learn to think for myself about America and its citizens. I have learned that most Americans are proud and patriotic, not arrogant. I have learned that they fight for peace and have made many positive changes in the world. I have gained a deeper appreciation not only for Americans but for the many, many good things about America as a country.Not only did I create this group because of my personal connections to the States, I also created this group out of curiosity. Was I alone? Was I the only Canadian who was tired of the anti-Americanism? How aware of it are we? Slowly, but surely, people began joining the group and I must say, I have been encouraged.

I created this group to create discussion and visit about how we can impact our Canadian culture for the better.

I can’t imagine anybody needing any more proof than this.