Why do many Americans (USA) show animosity towards Canadians?

Question

Have the Canadians done something wrong or is it jealousy?

Answer 1

It's both. The Canadian government has done something, and we're jealous about living conditions and rumor.

Most Americans have not been to Canada and know very little about Canadians, but we're told things like "everyone gets free healthcare" and "there's less crime and everyone is nicer" etc. We rarely hear anything bad about Canada, and as such are jealous.

As for what the Canadians have done wrong, we expect (don't ask me why) our neighbors to the north to support us (on everything) in the UN. They get news time when they don't, so it's begun this sort of feeling that they're "no better than the French". Whether or not thats really "doing something wrong," it pisses off some Americans, and thats how you get your answer there.

Also, you may not realize that many people in every country in the world just hate foreigners. A lot of people in this world simply look for reasons to hate other people, and "they're an outsider" is a pretty easy one to grab onto. It lets you make up all kinds of claims about "those people" that will quite possibly never be checked up on.


Hope this helps you,
Wicks

Answer 2

It's almost like Athens and Sparta.

America, like Sparta, is more of a violent, warlike country, whereas Canada is more peaceful like Athens. They both mock each other, but if it really came down to it Americans and Canadians would help each other out.

You do have to realise that Canada is a culture so close to America in so many ways that some feel that the only way to differentiate the two is to make snide boasts about how one country is better than the other.

The only real animosity comes from idiots who don't get that it's not a real rivalry, and blindly hate because it's the "trend."

Answer 3

I lived in White Rock near the Peace Arch border for 10 years. I think the problem is the US has a much higher international profile than Canada and it is easy to mistake the accents. Abroad most Canadians would be mistaken for Americans. The US is also a lot more prosperous than Canada as a whole. Canada is far less developed than the US. However, I have a sneaky feeling that Americans would like to own Canada, if they could. I know they wanted British Columbia to be part of America at one point. Canada is also an obstacle to getting hold of the oil in Alaska, it would be so much easier if the whole of the west coast was American!! for the Americans that is.

Answer 4

It isn't that we Yanks harbor animosity toward Canadians but that most 'Americans' know next to nothing about Canada, except that there is snow in winter and everybody's mad about ice-hockey. Canada, in fact, is a vibrant country whose embrace of democratic principles, some of which we Americans seem willing to throw away at the drop of a hat, is constant and embracing and expanding. Toronto and Vancouver and of course the great city of Montreal are among the stellar cities of North America.

Answer 5

I don't think the statement is true. Most don't think about Canada much. I've heard more Canadians trash the USA. I guess it's easy to sit in the shadows of the international scene and second guess.

Answer 6

Neil Young? Joni Mitchell? What's not to like??
I get the feeling that many of us Yanks hold animosity towards everything we encounter! Why, who knows. Plain selfish ignorance is my guess.

Honestly there are times I'd like to move to Canada but I don't want to go any further north!

Answer 7

Frankly, I only see the animosity online and it's typically backlash to canadian trolling.

Answer 8

I am a Brit who now lives in the States and have never come accross this in 15 years. They occasionally tease about the difference in accent, but no more than a northerner/southerner thing in the UK.

Answer 9

jealousy. the canadians have a higher standard of living than the u.s. along with norway, switzerland, austrailia, etc. the u.s. is moving down in world power.

Answer 10

I don't know about animosity - - - I think it similar to sibling rivalry, you know, the older brother picking on the younger brother (or the younger brother pestering the older brother).