Do American people live in a bubble?

Question

It seems to me that when I go into the US either to shop, business or travel and talk to citizens, it blows me away. They don't seem to know anything about Canada and we are their next door neighbours. Bush had no idea what language mexican people spoke and they are also your neighbour. I knew people in NY and they thought Canada was a big mountain. How can Americans be so racist, yet they don't know anything about anyones culture but there own. Don't want to help any other, except when it benefits them. I'm not saying all Americans are like this but there sure is alot. I'm from Canada and things Americans say to me just blow my mind and these are business people, well educated. Well apparently not.

That is my point! We don't say eh after every sentence. I know alot about the United States. Try this link http://www.unitednorthamerica.org/simdiff.htm You might learn something

I have read from some people here that "canada doesn't have freedom of speech"... since when? We did come and help the US after 9/11. Bush even thanked us http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1101932883323_97342083?hub=Canada

Ya well the French Canadian tends to be a little hot headed. As for Canada fight wars. Yup, believe it or not we have come and fought in the same wars you have. Hell, Canadian troops were bombed by a American plane. We were helping you.

Answer 1

I could not agree with you more and I have generations of family here. The problem is that when you try telling an arrogant group of ppl this, they get defensive and won't listen to you. They will immediately attack you and everybody else. I haven't even read any of the answers yet but I'm willing to bet this.

I was wiring money to Sweden yesterday and the girl behind the counter doing the transfer whispered to me, "Where is Sweden? Is that a state here?" I swear to you that happened. I just politely said, "no honey it's a country."

That's what you are dealing with here. I wouldn't even bother trying to give Americans constructive criticism because they are so consumed with false self-glory that they will never hear you. I'm afraid it is going to be to our perile though. Our arrogance is catching up with us with the rest of the world realizing we are nothing but a bunch of uneducated prejudice morons.

Answer 2

Aww, it makes me sad that you feel this way. I understand where you're coming from because some Americans are like that, but not all of us. Some of it I think depends on who you talk to and where in America they're from. But anyway, I know I'm not like that. Not every American agrees with Bush or is as stupid as him.
As for not knowing a lot about Canada, that's not true either. Personally, I plan to go to university in Canada and maybe even live there when I grow up. I think it's a very nice country, and although I can't say I'm an expert on Canadian history or anything but I'm always happy to learn more.
Anyway, I hope you meet some smarter Americans next time you visit. ^_^

Answer 3

We know Canada is up north, we have to go through it to get to Alaska, Toronto is a great partying town, you guys like hockey, you all make terrible beer, Wayne Gretzky is from there, the Blue Jays won 2 world series, the Expos moved to Washington, half is French, half is English, the whole 'A' thing after every sentence...

Then again, some people don't know a thing about Canada. As long as Canadians know about Canada, isn't that good enough? I hear this from Canadians all the time and have to wonder why they even care what we think. We really don't care what other people think about us for the most part. It'd be great if they loved us, but in the meantime we got bills to pay and work to be done.

Answer 4

Look, this my country, I was born here and raised here. I have been to Canada 12 times in my life. I have been to Spain, France, Germany, England and Mexico. I do not live in a bubble. I repeat...I do not live in a bubble and for you to say that Americans do is not good. Are you willing to jump in and make a difference if you see things wrong? I don't think so. So stand down. I was in the U.K. and there I was verbally assaulted by a Canadian! Can you get that! She was talking to me as if Canada was the supreme place and the U.S. was her back yard. It caused feeling to rise up in me to want to get tanks and roll across the border and show her whos back yard was whos. I have nothing against anyone or Canada but don't start laying this stuff out there about Americans. There are people in Canada with the same problem. Go look in Montreal will ya!

Answer 5

Don't feel bad. Alot of people from the U.S don't even know about the U.S. Some people don't even know the states that border them, much less other countries.

Americans do live in a bubble. If we didn't, then we might not be able to sleep at night knowing the horrors going on in other places, or the horrors going on in our own backyards. If we didn't live in bubbles, we might realize that there are things that our government is doing wrong and that other governments do right. We might demand change. Wouldn't that be awful for our government.

So yes we do live in a bubble.

Canada is NOT a big mountain! You sure?

Answer 6

Well, I am Canadian and I really don't agree with you on this one. Or atleast not your generalization of it as an American issue.

I think that there are people like this everywhere, including Canada. It's tough for people to see beyond their own little world, and really, isn't our immediate world always going to be our first concern, and everyone else second?

If you meet Americans (or anyone else) who don't know things about Canada or have false stereotypes, then politely inform them. Help to expand their image of us, in a positive way. This is how I try to handle the situation. I know or have met plenty of Americans as well, and have found the majority of them to be educated as well as courteous. Many of them didn't know things about Canada (such as the correct usage of eh! lol!) but they were all happy to learn! :)

The tactic you're using here is abrasive and puts people on the defensive. Try some love and compassion for our neighbours. Treat them as you would like to be treated. Love thy neighbour! They don't have to love you first.

Answer 7

No most Americans do not live in a bubble. You have to take into consideration when you speak to Americans that we all know that we are not well liked by the rest of the world. Because of this we just dont care about what anyone thinks or care to be concerned with much else going on but what has to do with our personal life. As far as not knowing much about Canada that isn't true either. Most Americans know a great deal about Canada. You just happened to run into some really immature Americans who need to grow up. Not all Americans agree with Bush or the republican government (I am one). However, most of us are sick and tired of being ridiculed because of choices our government makes that is beyond our control. Second I think most the rest of the world takes for granted what the American people have done for them. They all seem to forget that the United States is almost always the first nation to help them out in a time of need. But, when our trade centers were attacked and all the terrorist activity was going on here who was here to help us? NO ONE! And that is fine because we are a strong enough nation that is wise enough to stick together to get OURSELVES out of any crisis. For all those who are simple minded and judgemental towards Americans I laugh at you because when you nation is in trouble it is the United States where your government turns first for help. You people who hold all Americans responsible and treat us poorly and call us names because of one bad seed are just as simple minded and pathetic as those terrist who threaten to try and destroy our country. Lets not forget that if it wasnt for the United States we would all be Nazi Germans!

Answer 8

I would like to say i am an AMERICAN soldier stationed overseas. with the army i have traveled to many countries. I like america the best. I am also from NY and i know about Canada i have been to montreal many times. Doesnt quebec want to leave canada and be a seperate country? look at your own country first. I have seen more in my life than you can imagine and i am only 22. So as far as my bubble goes its pretty big

Answer 9

bush had no idea what language mexicans spoke.......Are you stupid???? He lived in Texas.....Texas for crying out loud. Anyone living remotely south....actually ANY american who sees a latin looking person automatically assumes they speak spanish. A texan, someone who sees about as many mexican people as they do in california, knows that they speak spanish. Where do you get your facts from??? Why do you think that everyone needs to study other people beside their own? If you are going to live in america all your life and have only small brushes by with international people, why should you bother learning more about them other then what you already learned from what other people say (gossip) and what you learned in school? It makes sense. Its not racist either.....it's called stereotyping, which is what you are sort of doing by making this assumption about americans. Although canada and mexico are on our borders, we only know as much about them as we are told or allowed to. Canada, from what I hear, doesn't want anything to do with america other then to sell low cost drugs to us. Mexico has so many problems of their own so their citizens that are close to the border and not far away from the Us, try and cross the border. That is as much as I know about them. I don't plan to visit either one of them anytime in the future so I see no point in researching any more about it. Unless canada starts shooting us or affect the us in some major critical way, I don't care what they do. I have enough problems and worries of my own to think about, I don't need to worry about another country that I won't visit. You may say its stubborn, but if a country can't support themselves, then that is their fault. Now I may help them a little if I feel the need and am generous, but I will not try to fully support them and fix all their problems. I don't see how you find this hard to understand. If you are educated it seems like this would be common sense considering I have not heard about canada trying to do anything with anyone other then themselves. You never hear about canada reaching out to other countries.....why is that. I mean I'm sure canadians do reach out...but hmmm.....makes you wonder huh? i think it is because news channels would rather focus on something that is about their home country first and then worry about everyone else. This is why most people aren't internationally news savy. You worry about what goes on in your home country first, then whatever interest you next, and then you check to see what is going on in the rest of the world. That is how most americans prioritize things.

Answer 10

A bubble ... No

For the most part Americans just don't care. How much does Canada care about us? Not that much. They rarely have anything nice to say about the US. So how much do you care about people who don't like you? Probably not that much. Also Canada is a smaller nation population wise, and not to much happens there. So Americans just don't think of it.