what caused canadas and americas relationship to deterioate to the point of hatred on both sides?and is it for

Question

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0716-11.htm this is one of many news and media as well as goverment anti canada anti states reteric that has been going on the last five years there is also alot of people talking on both sides due to this.my question is quite valid although maybe hate is a little strong there is some massive hard feelings on both sides and if its not address by us the people of these countries this will contnuie untill it is hate but how did this happen and i agree the states and canda used to be real close now its not like that and you can say 9/11 but this started before that my question is why?

Answer 1

I think the deterioration is mostly just limited to the US right-wing element. The great country of Canada, our closest ally, is right to protest the policies and direction of Bush and his right-wing cronies, just as all other nations should.

In general, the US is far too patriotic, which can cause a kind of blindness that prevents the US populace (and even it's political leaders) from listening to other nations. I think this comes from some kind of screwy idea that the US is the savior of the world. I think that it could be a kind of beacon of freedom for the world, but instead it has become an arrogant 600 pound gorilla.

US citizens rarely listen to or read foreign news or opinions. The US populace would begin to see things more clearly if they considered other perspectives. The citizens of many other countries get news from all over the world - their nation is not the end-all and be-all like it seems to be for the US.

Bush's approach has been to ignore other nations and go his own arrogant way. And you can see this same approach in the rest of the right wing. They don't talk to other nations or consider their concerns, until they hear criticsm and then they get extremely defensive and begin name-calling. There is no attempt to listen or understand. The attitude is that - if other nations don't follow and support the US, then to hell with 'em. It's the "ugly American" but on a national political scale.

Bush's foreign policy (if you could even call it that) has been a complete disaster.

Answer 2

Yeah I'm canadian, and like the person atop me stated we do hate some of the policies of the United Sates(or rather the administration in the US) that is leading the world towards an arms race, environmetal disaster,destruction of the morals of realistic and true democracy. The increased military budget of the Bush administration, which sums to all of the military budgets of all other world nations combined. Threats and the new strategy of pre-emptive warfare, threats of pre-emptive warfare leads nations such as Iran and North Korea to seek deterrents such as Nuclear Weapons. The policy to not resolve the conflict in the Middle-East by continuing to blindly support Israel, which creates new generations of jihadies. To declare the stategy to control the major energy centers of the world to hold leverage and veto power on the other industrial nations, which results in the competition for oil, now especially with China. The hatred of communist, the US has already had conflicts with almost all of the major communist powers, Soviet Union, Vietnam, Cuba, and soon China, stop this hatred of communism, try to work with these governments. Improve democracy and not have to bipartisian parties that have almost practically alike foreign policies, and fail to adress differences upon the major concerns stated above, many of these issues leads to sour relations not only with Canada but the world alike.Enviromental disaster because the Bush Administration fails to implement the Kyoto protocal that will efficiently and greatly reduce the threat posed by global warming and many other environmental problems.

Answer 3

Canadians do not hate Americans nor do they hate us.Just study up a bit on this before you make such statements.Nova Scotia honors the U.S. every year for the help during the Halifax explosion. Look what Canada did for America when 9/11 happened. Whenever Canada has ever been in need the U.S. has been the first one there and likewise for Canadians as best we could. There is always the rivalry in sports etc. but make no mistake...when the chips are down our neighbour is there.

Answer 4

I hardly think relations are that bad.
There was a bit of frost between Bush and Prime Minister Jean Chretien for his refusal to go to Iraq, but as far as countries go, the U.S. and Canada still enjoy one of the best relations in the world.
-Canada and the U.S. share the longest undefended border in the history of mankind.
-Canada is the U.S.' largest trading partner.
-We share most core values, including free speech, democracy, market economy, equality before the law... (Although Americans tend to think bilingualism, nationalized health care and gun registries are, for the least, a little quaint).
-We share a great deal of culture - a lot of American actors (Michael J Fox, Jim Carey, etc..) are actually Canadian. Most top shows watched in Canada are actually American.

Maybe you've encountered hatred, but I hardly think it's widespread. You can always find somebody to hate something.

Answer 5

I don't believe it for a moment, America and Canada have always been good neighbors, allies and friends. I like Canada very much, I can't believe that there is any hatred between Canadians and Americans.

Answer 6

I'm not sure where you're seeing this hate, but I have no hatred of Canada, and when I was there a few years ago, in Quebec, I detected no hatred toward me, and they all knew I was American because my french is horrible. They were very polite and welcoming to me.

Answer 7

We DON'T hate you. We don't like your president, but it's fast becoming clear that you don't like him either. Want some things that have pissed us off in the past few years? How about Ann Coulter saying that we're lucky you don't roll over and crush us (or something of that ilk: I'm not wasting my time looking up Ann Coulter). How about the Bush presidency failing to honour trade agreements with us? How about you blaming 911 on Canada's immigration policy (my father was actually confronted by a redneck in Missouri who was quite threatening regarding this pathetically simplistic viewpoint). In short, we love Americans, but we don't like your Rightwing redneck minority. (Please, God, let it be a minority).

Answer 8

I don't think that's the case. Now, between Canadians and Quebec, there's definently bad blood.

Answer 9

Didn't think it had deteriorated that much.
Canadians risked their lives to get some of my fellow countrymen out of Iran back during the hostage crisis....and I love Canadians to this day.

Answer 10

Where the heck did you get that idea? I live near the border of Quebec and everybody's happy.