What is the average Canadian's opinion of the U.S.?

Question

If you consider yourself "average", that is...

I should add that I'm American. I posted the reverse also...asking what the average American thinks of Canada. I got quite a few answers...most were about beer and weather and the fact Canadians tend to say "eh?" a lot. I was going for a bit more insight but what're ya gonna do. Kind of a little experiment. I got very few answers from Canadians. Overall, pretty bitter but admittedly thought-provoking. Interesting.

Answer 1

Canadians do not hate/dislike nor are they jealous of Americans. Maybe annoyed at some of the jokes that Americans make of them like, how Canadians need to rely on them for military support OR like how they never pay attention to Canada or notice Canada,hmmm then why trade so much with Canada or depend on them for water and resources.

True that Canada's economy is good cause of the trading partnership with the States but america's economy is great cause of the rest of the world who buy your goods.Also the current president has really made the world a much more dangerous place.

This is the other thing that not just Canadians but most people in the world dislike about Americans which is America's interference in international affairs without taking responsibility. For example the Vietnam war, supporting Sadam Hussein in the early years of his rule despite the fact that he was a dictator so as to have more control over Oil (On the Oprah show she showed a footage of Rumsfield being buddy buddy with Sadam Hussein), and more recent the Iraq war, so many of America's allies were against this war, i feel the President should have thought that since so many of their srong allies did not think that the US invading Iraq was right that he should not have invaded Iraq.

Of course a lot of American foreign policy is decided by America's leaders and many Americans have no influence over that just like the citizens of all other countries in the world have no influence or say as to how their governments are running their country but maybe now Americans need to tell their Presidents to be more responsible. After all, i read here on Yahoo that a survey was done in which Americans know the # of soldires killed in combat but not the # of Iraqis killed. Just because the Iraqis are not Americans, does not mean their lives do not matter. Hence the negative attitudes to Americans is cause of America's policies and not Americans.

Canadians like most Americans are incredible proud of their country hence when there is criticism or an insulting remark made about them ( some jokes are insulting) they react by making negative remarks about Americans. Americans react the same way just look at some of the answers given by Americans here on Yahoo Answers. Also Canadians do not define themselves just by the fact that they are not Americans and they do not have an inferiority complex they are just patriotic. Just look at some of the questions i have listed as my source.

Americans always describe their country as the greatest but they share this planet with the rest of us and must remember the world does not revolve around them and the rest of us do thnik our countries are just as great as well.

I know this a super long anwser but i hope it does not offend anyone.

Answer 2

We don't hate Americans..... Except for the really smart ones like "BIFF"..... Yeah right.... Of course Biffs comments are either to get a rise out of Canadians or that he is a bit short sighted... Biff come and visit and have a couple beers sometime... BTW, you need to use our colored money or Monopoly money.....

Canadians and Americans are very similar and share a lot of similarities.... Of course at the same time we are two different countries and as a result each country have their own "quirks" if this is what you want to call it... That is what makes each so great of a country....

The biggest problem I have heard on why some Canadians hate Americans is that when some Americans visit other countries, they impose the American ways or beliefs onto the visiting countries and this is really irritating for other countries and not just Canada.... Such an example I have heard " Why do you guys use the metric system ??? It's stupid ???" Every other country has adopted the Metric system, why not the US ???

Of course there are Canadians that hate the US.... Just as there are Americans that hate Canada.... But for the most part, Canadians are pretty liberal thinkers.... Hell we have to put up with Quebec at times.. Damn frenchies..... Joke....;)

Oh yeah.... We live in houses and not igloos for the most part.... I had this couple from Missouri visit one summer and ask that question... Hell it was 100oF or 30oC outside at the time... I had to tell them we put them away for the summer.... I hope they did not believe me...

I have been living in the States for 7 years now and I love it.. I got 3 American sons..... I have no problems living here with the exception of the occasional heckle since I am Canadian.... The USA is a great country but so is Canada.... I miss home since I was raised there and I love the 6 feet of snow in wintertime.... But I do get to play Hockey down here and I work two blocks away from my Tim Horton's coffee shop... Sorry Starbucks a bit too strong and Tim is a Canadian thing...

Anyhow... Have fun, ehhh... If you visit Canada, just show a little respect and you will have no problem...Act like and ***, and good luck...

:)

Answer 3

Well, I'm a Canadian and obviously I had a good opinion of the U.S. because I married an American gal and now live here in the U.S.

I always did have a fairly open mind about the U.S. and that's probably why my destiny was to eventually move here. To be honest, the U.S. is not a whole lot different then Canada.

Yes, there are slight differences when it comes to 'culture' and 'politics' among other things, but at the end of the day, I feel just as home here in the U.S. as I did for the first couple of decades that I grew up in Canada.

I'm well-liked and accepted here in the U.S. just the way I am (some guy from Canada) and I'm treated no differently then anyone else that lives here.

Both countries share many common problems including healthcare issues (Canada's may be 'free' but it's far from perfect and there are problems there....), crime, homelessness, global warming and a retirement funding system that's going to go broke long before I ever get to start collecting it.

I've met just as many arrogant Canadians as I have Americans in being born and growing up in Canada. And Canadians are just as inclined to go buy a SUV and pollute the environment as Americans are. Just because they sold a few SMART cars in Canada means nothing.

I could be perfectly content living in either country for the rest of my life... my only wish is that I was closer to a Tim Horton's now. Somehow a 8-hour drive for a Double-Double seems a bit much for me.

Answer 4

For essentially the most side, the one factor Canadians 'hate' approximately Americans, it is more often than not politics. Having stated that, in a up to date ballot , Obama was once ranked as being extra preferred then our possess Prime Minister. One rationale you'll be able to uncover Bush is hated extra up right here then Obama, has extra to do with the wars that began underneath him. If there was once no warfare underneath Bush, he'd be considered as "simply an extra President". I are living in a border neighborhood so such a lot humans right here get together with Americans relatively good. Any competition that ensues here's more often than not a pleasant one. Unless your making plans on residing any wherein in Quebec or in Ottawa, French fairly is not *wanted* (not ever hurts to study even though). As for the bloodless/snow, relying on wherein you are living, constituents of the USA obtain extra snow and are less warm than Canada. As for hockey. A media pushed factor how each Canadian likes hockey. For myself, I just like the Montreal Canadiens, however not often comply with them or hockey regularly. I'm a far better fan of 'Futbol' (football) and the CFL & NFL form soccer.

Answer 5

My opinion of the United States is the renegade twin brother, that just so happens to be a bit stronger than us physically, but not as righteous or compassionate.

I once heard a quote from a good friend who is American but has lived in Canada for some time now. He told me "The border is like a one way mirror. Canadians know more about America than most Americans do, mostly because of the media and consumerism. But when Americans look up at Canada they simply see a twisted reflection of themselves".

I think this is true. My experiences have been rather frustrating int he United States. I either constantly get labelled a Liberal (which, if you've ever been to Alberta you know we are definitley NOT), or I get asked the most ridiculous questions revolving around very strange stereotypes.

I don't like American ignorance of Canada. And I sadly say that the average American knows nothing about Canada. I find this strange knowing as though we are your largest trading partner and most important ally. I don't like how Americans think we are like "little brothers". I find it rather condescending.

I don't like the stereotypes about Canada in the United States. I find that most of them are very ignorant of our history and our general beliefs. I find most of the time, all Canadians get labelled like we're one big homogenous group. A good example is when someone tells me I have a "Canadian accent". They don't consider that there are several accents in Canada, and it's a little more diverse geographically, politically, and culturally than the United States. I also don't like how Americans think we don't have an army, or we've never fought n a war. Canada has a long and proud war tradition fighting key battles in all the major world conflicts. This, of course, gets ignored in the United States. Most Americans don't know that Canada won one of the most key battles in WW1 at Vimy Ridge... or that we took an entire beach on D-day, and were the only nation participating on D-day to actually capture a town and fulfill our objectives. We are fighting in Afghanistan right now in a war that America started... yet becuase we're not in Iraq many Americans think we're as good as terrorists. This rich war tradition is ignored and flatulated on by the American public, and that often angers me.

Historically, we are from the same. English Canada was begotten from American loyalists in the Revolutionary War. We are simply Americans that stayed loyal to the Crown. Imagine the rebels lost the Revolutionary War, we'd be the result. Canadians know this.... but do you think the average American does? In every sense of the word, we are a split nation, that has evolved differently with time.

Contrary to what Biff says, Canadians don't want to be American. We've fought wars to resist being American. In fact, a large portion of this country is descended from Americans that fled America. We want Americans to accept us for who we are, and to stop being so extremely ignorant of their largest trading partner and most trusted ally. I think all Canadians really want is just a little recognition and respect. Unfortunatley, I doubt that will happen.

Answer 6

Americans tend to say "huh" allot. They don't even realize they say it.

My view on Americans is complex, and I think that is average Canadian. Unlike the average American who we perceive as knowing little about us, and think little about us. I have been to the states a lot. I have been in 15 States, probably more than the average American. I met a lot of Americans back in University, and chat with many on-line. So, they are okay when you get to know them. I go minimum of twice a year (mostly Seattle and Las Vegas) and I wouldn't go if I didn't feel welcome and have fun there.

But it is the trolls on here, and your typical president that tend to give you a bad name. Especially the current president. We don't like it when you push your weight around.

Answer 7

We don't hate you.

We'd just like to know what you were thinking when you re-elected George Bush! Seriously... mistakes are forgivable. But when you re-elected him, I started to fear not only George Bush, but also the American psyche.

And guns. I think you'll find most Canadians feel that guns don't belong in cities. They're meant for catching food, not for pointing and shooting at people.

That's my two-Canadian cents worth!

Answer 8

No offense, not that good. There are good people, yes, and there are a lot of psychos and mean people. I have been to America several times and have been to five states. I feel a lot safer in Canada. It's my home and part of who I am. I could never imagine being American, and I think Americans are too full of themselves (biffnasty) to even be represented as good people. I'm not talking about all Americans, but some. But overall, I'm not a huge fan of America.

No offense again. It's nothing against you personally. Just your country and some of the people in it.

Answer 9

It took 10 minutes before I understood from the backpack patch remark that Biff is being tongue in cheek.

Aside from the prior Answerers comments: The huge amount of influence of the Christian fundamentalist crazies in America (parroted by many of your conservative politicians and talk show hosts) is so scary. Much of what they say you could just substitute "Muslim" for each time they use "Christian" or "Judaeic-Christian) and their words would be identical to the Taliban and Al Qu'iada.

Answer 10

I don’t think the overall Canadian perception of the Americans is much different from the other nations; take your other fellow neighbours for example… It’s not much fun being mistaken for a gr**go.