Canada not viewed as a real country?

Question

I've heard it but I don't understand, we are a member of G-8.

Why so many references (typically by Americans) to Canada not being a real country? Is it that our head of state is (symbolically only) the Queen of England? Is it that our population density is smaller?

Not trying to stir up trouble...I have to admit when I heard it on South Park I laughed.

Why so many thumbs down? Is it a bad question? I heard the references so I thought I'd ask.

Answer 1

I think most of it comes from your customs, your odd accent (although IMO, I'd rather listen to a Canadian accent than a Southern [esp. where I live, in North Carolina] one - at least you guys don't take 15 syllables to say a 4 word sentence), and the fact that you've been our neighbor for the past 230 years and a lot of Americans don't even know you exist, metaphorically speaking. Also, a lot of Canadian tourists that I meet (I work in a hotel, and we get a lot of Canadian motorcycle riders) aren't really open about themselves - they tend to be very tight-lipped, and maybe that bleeds over into Canadians as a whole. I don't know, really; the only Canadians I know from Adam are celebrities, and nearly all of them have been living in the States for so long you'd never know they were Canadian. I refer you to the song "Canadian Idiot" by "Weird" Al Yankovic, off his latest album, 'Straight Outta Lynwood'.

Don't wanna be a Canadian idiot/Don't wanna be some beer-swillin' hockey nut/And do I look like some frost-bitten hose head?/I never learned my alphabet from A to Zed/They all live on donuts and moose meet/And they leave their house without packing heat/Never even bring their guns to the mall/And you know what else is too funny/Their stupid Monopoly money/Can't take 'em seriously at all/Well maple syrup and snow's what they export/They treat curling just like it's a real sport/They think their silly accent is so cute/Can't understand a thing they're talking aboot sure they got their national health care/Cheaper meds low crime rates and clean air/Then again well they got Celine Dion/Eat their weight in kraft macaroni/And dream of driving a zamboni/All over Saskatchewan/Don't want to be a Canadian idiot/Won't figure out the temperature in Celcius/See the map they're hovering right over us/Tell you the truth it makes me kinda nervous/Always hear the same kind of story/Break your nose and they'll just say sorry/Tell me what kind of freaks are that polite/It's gotta mean they're all up to something/So quick before they see it coming/Time for a pre-emptive strike

Sorry for being a bit long winded (I'm a HUGE Weird Al fan), but you get my drift - the song illustrates pretty much the sum total of knowledge that the average American has about the average Canadian. Beer, hockey, "hoser", Zed, moose, currency, maple syrup, cold weather, curling, "aboot", free health care, Celine Dion, Kraft Dinner, Saskatchewan, Centigrade/metric system, and politeness. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Don't think anyone views us as not being a country, its just that we do things differently here than south of the line. Once you go south, past the first state, people don't really know squat about us. We're near Alaska or something. Don't get upset. It doesn't really matter. Although I think South park and their Blame Canada stuff put us back 100 years as far as understanding.

Answer 3

I've never heard that either. I always considered Canada as being a friend and good neighbor of the USA. In fact a lot of americans have roots in Canada.

Answer 4

ummmmmm, that's like the biggest stereotype I have ever seen on Yahoo! Answers. I live in the USA and I was never exposed to something stupid like that. There might be a few movies where they make fun of Canada, but in the history classroom there are no jokes. I want to move to Canada one day before USA becomes a big crater....They have a better government!

Answer 5

I'm an American and I consider Canada a real country, and a great one! I never heard anybody say it wasn't real or talk as if it wasn't. Now, if you would only give those Frenchies a canoe and wish them "Bon Voyage" to France. . .
: ^ )

Answer 6

because we have a huge land south border protected by usa west border an ocean north border to cold east border has vicious newfies our leader is an idiot with a silver spoon still sticking out of his mouth our last riot is on tape from the sixties and that is only kept on tape as proof we have a temper so if you upset us we can send tim horton coffee to you and if you make us real mad we will do nothing for years WE ARE THE SHEEP CaLLED CANADIANS bah bah ok.

Answer 7

It's typical that Americans wouldn't consider you a real country. The rest of the world,especially those of us that dislike Americans,think differently. I think they're jealous because you're the second biggest country on the continent next to them,but you're more well liked. :-)

Answer 8

I've seen that phrase on YA, and it's just ignorant ppl trying to make themselves feel better.

Answer 9

I have never heard that, are you just trying to stir up trouble?

Answer 10

What the heck..I've never heard of that.