February 22, 2010 @ 12:18
I received the following e-mail from my good friend John Ellefson who grew up in Buffalo but now resides in Washington D.C.
Hi Freddie:
Hope all is well with you and the family. Gotta say, a little bothered at the new dose of America bashing on the blog. Seems like every time an American, even an ignorant one, disses Canada, our entire population become the "ugly Americans."
I had hoped you knew better than this.
I have known you for many years. I have lots of friends in Canada; matter of fact I consider some of them my closest friends. For many years, we have bantered about the differences in countries, both good and bad. At the end of the day, we do not make sweeping generalizations such as those on your blog.
Should I tell you about the time I walked into a pub in the Big Smoke, and greeted by the bartender with "How can you stand to be American?" I was also given a bunch of sheit at a Blue Jays game once, just because I had New York tags on my car. Oh, and I had a Jays hat on. Didn't seem to matter, though. So it goes both ways my friend. Are there ignorant Americans - you bet. Does the ignorance exist north of the border as well? Don't kid yourself if you think not.
I could easily offer a rebuttal to your comments about Canada being better from economic, health, and standard of living perspectives. I could even throw in something about Quebec. But this American will take the higher road, thanks.
For all the public America bashing that comes out of Canada, I am sorry to say that I don't see the same down here. I can honestly say that I have never met an American that has spoken of Canada in a negative light. Frankly, I can't see why we are so very different, when 90% of Canadian population lives within 100 miles of the US. Guess I am just ignorant too.
You are still invited to visit anytime you would like.
John
Category: Friends | Stuff
February 22, 2010 / 17:34
JohnE,
Good point. If you're ever in Brantford look me up, I'll buy you a beer and it doesn't need to be a Canadian. - - - Ed.
February 22, 2010 / 19:43
Very well said on all points, John. As a Canadian I seldom feel more embarrassed for my fellow countrymen than when they are crapping all over Americans with all the smug self-righteousness they can muster. Pathetic.
Props to Freddie for printing the e-mail though.
February 22, 2010 / 20:18
Maybe put down the Pepsi and stop selling all those exports to the Americans too.
February 22, 2010 / 21:27
I've met as many ignorant Canadians, I deal with Americans everyday in our industry and never ran into one that was the stereotype you hear of. Have the same concerns about family, work and the economy we all do. They just are a little more comfortable in their skin to be more over the top on sports etc., than Canadians are. We are just alittle more timid to act the same way.
February 22, 2010 / 22:05
He makes good points and that is the problem with generalizations that it lumps everyone together...but that said..there is a reason why we have become so politically correct that we are supposed to ignore ignorance.
lets face it..are their ignorant americans, yes,,ignorant cdns...yes..but in my travels there are waaaaaaaaaaaay more ignoratnt americans..there i said it..crucify me.
I once travelled quite a bit in the US and to different states and it happened so regularly that ignorant things were said..that people thought it snowed yr round in all of canada, that we all skate, that we have wild animals running thru every state.
I had some boston people argue with me that the entire canada is north of them (the US) ..and that guaranteed all of canada experiences worse weather than them..
when i tried to explain that the border is not a nice easy straight across level line..that it curls up a bit near boston so that parts of mass are above parts of canada and toronto..they looked at me like i was drunk and that said it all.
no they are not all the same, but the reason stereotypes start to grow..is because an above avg number of things start to happen....i still argue that on the whole..we know so much more about the US, their politics their weather, their states..vs so many i meet that dont know the first thing about cda.
February 22, 2010 / 22:10
Danny Williams thinks the Americans do just fine.
February 22, 2010 / 22:45
I say this with a completely straight face. One of the reasons most Americans don't have many bad things to say about Canada is that they don't know enough about the place to say anything, good or bad, about it. Canadian politics, geography, culture - all of it is just a big black hole to most Americans; so it's pretty difficult to have an opinion, good or bad, about a place you know absolutely nothing about.
February 23, 2010 / 08:17
Well Written guest post John and I was surprised as well. Didnt really know how to take it but played along.
February 23, 2010 / 10:10
Where's Canada?
February 23, 2010 / 13:09
Good letter. I think he's right. When Canadians bash Americans it sometimes reaches a point where we come across as petulant and ignorant. It's not very becoming of us.
Realistically, I think there are basically the same percentage of idiotic Canadians as there are idiotic Americans (some of whom seem to comment on this blog).
I think the only difference is that our idiots sit in bars, drink beer and watch hockey games, while their idiots occasionally become governors of states like Alaska.
February 23, 2010 / 15:37
Yes, ease up Fred and all you other anti-Americans.
One of my co-workers has just returned from the Olympics where he spent all of his time watching curling matches which go on day and night. Whenever the Americans played, the boos were deafening - something that they don't show on tv.
It made my friend cringe and he couldn't help but wonder what the reaction in our media would have been if it had been the US booing us.
I guess we can ask the Toronto Star...
February 23, 2010 / 16:16
Sadly, far too many Canadians fall into the Hate America mode only because they listen to the CBC, Toronto Star, liberals, Jack Layton.....you get the picture.
The Americans are our cousins. They have the bigger car and the bigger house and the nicer weather but they are family. They may see us as not significant on the grand scale of life but over all, on an individual level, there is very little difference between us. Collectively, that's a different story. They are the worlds caregiver and cop and we are so bloody fortunate that they live where they do.
I always say, if they weren't there, who would be filling their spot?
August 3, 2010 / 17:49
U wilt geld lenen zonder BKR toetsing? De opties hiervoor worden groter, kijk verder en ontdek hoe u wél geld kunt lenen, snel & eenvoudig.
August 8, 2010 / 16:44
Hoeveel kan ik lenen? (hypotheek). Wat worden mijn maandlasten? (hypotheek) ... Hoeveel hypotheek heb ik nodig? Hoe hoog is de boete die ik nu zou moeten
August 16, 2010 / 19:22
You’re talking about actions. If the ACTIONS taken at the mosque violate the law, they should be punished. At this point, “conservatives” want the government to restrict speech. That’s wrong, and it will backfire.
August 17, 2010 / 10:44
Wonderful to read!
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