Toronto the Intolerant (A Democrat fumes over Canadian anti-Americanism)

The Toronto Star ^ | October 15, 2003 | Jacqueline Swartz

[albertabound]

"Canada is barely on anybody's radar screen. Despite the bravery, hard work and intellect of it's citizens, Canada just has never really stood for anything. Even in WW1 & 2, Canada's participation was seen more as a duty to England, rather than a desire to further freedom"

Tell that to my Uncles and ancestors pushing up daisies over in Europe. Also, as your biggest trading partner, we must stand for something. Finally it was kind of nice not being a blip on your radar screen and judging by your comments, we still don't register.

[Snowyman]

Candadians are WHINGERS

No they're not. Some play goal , some defence .Only 3 whingers on a team, Ya know.:)

And I thought the writer of this foolishness was an American. Why is she whining so much?

[XRdsRev]

I think you totally missed my point.

First off, I am not trying to cast any doubts on the honor, sacrifices or motivation of your ancestors who died in Europe during the 2 World Wars, however, historically it is widely recognized that Canada's participation was a direct reflection of it's close ties to Great Britain as opposed to it being an unbiased 3rd party who got into the fight because of ideological reasons. While individual Canadians were often motivated by high principles of promoting freedom, the Canadian government was largely supporting it's ally Great Britain.

Secondly, being a trading partner of the United States doesn't stand for anything. You trade with us and we trade with you because it is in our mutual self interests. If Canada would benefit from increased trading with Iceland at the expense of the US, you would do so and you would be justified.

225+ years ago, Canada had a choice to make, you could throw off the yoke of British colonial rule like the US was trying to do, or you could stay the course. Canadians chose the latter and remained just a satellite of the British empire.

For a good part of the 19th century, your future was decided as much in London as it was in York. You relied on British Armies for your defense. British business interests controlled trade in your country almost into this century. Quebec is even worse, since they haven't gotten over the fact that the British threw the French out in the 1740s and they still long for French masters over English ones.

Unfortunately for Canada, many have seen you for a long time as just extensions of British and French influence in North America. Canadians have had a terrible burden of overcoming this and standing out on the world stage as an independant nation devoid of foreign influences.

There is a reason so many immigrants came to the US instead of Canada in the last 200 years. The US was recognized as a place where the individual could fail or prosper devoid of any other interference. Canada on the other hand always had a shadowy hand of Colonialism hanging over it. It was a place where Royal title and priveledge still carried weight 100 years after we got rid of that crap. For people trying to escape the monarchies of Europe, Canada didn't offer a complete break, the United States did. For too long, Canada was just Great Britan west. Geez, you even put the Queen on your stamps and coins for crying out loud....nothing against the Queen but could you suck up to Great Britan any harder ? You didn't even mint all your own money until 1908, you had it minted in England.

Even today, you seem unable to decide if you are English or French.........here's a concept, why don't you all become Canadians first.

[gcruse]

French  Canadians... are nowhere near as bad (or as anti-American) as the lefties in Ontario.

Zattafact?  You might tell that to the frogs who attacked the bus of American soccer kids and attacked the kids themselves at the game in Quebec.

[DTA]

>>>>>>Others, whose families and careers have taken root here,....

There is 'Merican name for An American in Canada: DRAFTDODGER

[gcruse]

I spent most of the 1970s as a landed immigrant from the US operating the Canadian subsidiary of an American company. This followed a four year tour of duty in the US Navy. Stick your draft dodging up with the rest of your insights.

[headsonpikes]

...why don't you all become Canadians first.

It's exactly the misguided devotion of the Liberal Party to that goal since the Pearson/Trudeau Revolution that has screwed our country!

Canada was doing fine before these traitors assumed power, without an official national flag or anthem, and with less socialism than the States.

Now, I advise my own children to emigrate.

[js1138]

Maybe they got tired of being called the retarded giant of the north. (he said, without apology)

Seriously, I've worse insults traded over baseball teams than the ones bitched about in the article.

[usurper]

Please do not fall into the trap of assuming Toronto liberal elitists represent Canadians in general. The majority of us love and respect Uncle Sam.

That has always been my general impression as well as I visit British Columbia often. The Canadians I know reserve their hatred for Ottawa and the French.

[armed_in_sydney]

The truth is that people who hate America,will do so whether there is a democrat or republican in office.It is an inferiority complex.

Most people around the world would have no clue that Clinton and Bush were from different political parties.

[kanawa]

Better to face reality and see things as they really are.

March 2003....Toronto....during one of the worse storms of the winter....

[what's up]

Thanks for the great pics!

[IvanT]

Unfortunately, part of the anti-American sentiment is rooted in our English heritage - Canadians, being part of the commonwealth feel they identify more with that, unfortunately, it can make some of us behave like the Brits with regards to our attitudes towards Americans. Believe me, you want to hear comments like, "That's so American", go to England.

[IvanT]

Actually, just to add, if I may, Liberals in Canada and the US are Anti-American, America only has friends up here in Canada amongst our conservative minded populace.

[IvanT]

Toronto is a vile and disgusting city. It has devolved from a vibrant and clean city to a repository of third world scum and is now a magnet for criminals, immigration shoppers and fraud artists worldwide. With the highest foreign born population of any city in North America, the whole multi-cult thing will blow up in their faces real soon. I would advise American tourists to avoid Toronto at all costs, there is nothing to see. Go to Chicago, it is a far better tourist destination

Being born and bread a Torontonian, I have witnessed in the last 30 years the devolution of my city, and it's happened in direct proportion to the floodgates of immigration being opened. What used to be a clean city has garbage strewn allover it by immigrants who don't value civic cleanliness (just look at our chinatown, it's a disgrace). The rest of the city is turning into crime infested crapholes. The only areas that are still good are the areas where our traditional immigrant base have strongholds (British and european backgrounds). In those areas, new immigrants are simply priced out of the market for the homes there, they simply cannot afford it, so they shack up downtown, and help contribute to the decay.

[machman]

I listened to something on NPR last night (I know, it was a mistake) about Germany and their feelings about the US. Its much worse over there, some are even longing for the old ways of the old East Germany.