Posted on 03/15/2004 8:04:42 AM PST by albertabound
Mar. 14, 2004. 04:02 PM
Canadians call U.S. best pal - Yanks pick Brits: Poll
MONTREAL (CP) — The best-friend relationship that Canada and the United States once enjoyed might have become more of a one-way affair.
While 50 per cent of Canadians in a recent Leger Marketing poll said the United States was Canada's "best friend," only 20 per cent of American respondents in the same survey felt likewise about their northern neighbour.
Britain, which has forged even closer political ties with the United States in recent years, topped the best-friend list for 62 per cent of Americans.
Twenty-five per cent of Canadians chose Britain as their country's best buddy.
The poll also suggested that 68 per cent of Canadians thought the two countries were very different, while 29 per cent believed they were very much alike.
Among Americans, the numbers were reversed — 61 per cent said the countries were very much alike, compared with 31 per cent who said they were very different.
The poll of 1,501 Canadians and 1,035 Americans was conducted Feb. 17-22. The Canadian numbers are considered accurate within 2.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, while the margin of error for the U.S. sample is three percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
One keen observer of Canadian-U.S. relations said he wasn't surprised at the findings of the two questions because Canada is not on the radar screen of the average American on a daily basis.
"The average American hears about Britain all the time," said Harold Waller, chair of McGill University's North American Studies Program.
"He hears about (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair, he's aware of the fact they fought the war together in Iraq, that they've been allies for years and years."
Waller said Canadians know a lot more about their southern neighbour than Americans do about them.
"Americans know almost nothing about Canada and Canadians," he said in an interview. "They simply assume that things are pretty much the same here.
"They don't see any Canadian TV. They don't see any programs about Canada. Canada only makes the news in the U.S. when something big happens like an election or disaster.
"Canadians on the other hand, because they know about the U.S., they're more sensitive to the differences between the two countries."
An American who follows the relationship admitted that "U.S. knowledge of Canadians is little bit limited."
But Christopher Sands, senior associate with the Canada Project for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Canadians may have been doing their patriotic duty in emphasizing the differences between the two countries.
"Scratch the surface, I think we're fundamentally quite similar but that's a very uncomfortable answer for a country that's sort of searching for definitions of itself," Sands said from Washington, D.C.
As for the friends angle, Sands said there is no surprise that Britain was way out in the lead among Americans.
"The American public has accepted that, post-Sept. 11, allies have to be looked at by what they do, not what they say.
"And suddenly, there's this sense that when we were in a crunch, when we needed people, Britain could be counted on."
Sands also had an interesting take on his compatriots' general knowledge of the world.
"If you did a Family Feud-style poll and you said `Other than the United States, name countries,' the average American could probably get to 12," he said. "Britain's definitely one of them. But if you ask them England against Scotland, you start puzzling them."
It is beyond insulting, imo, for you to continually come onto this American site and tell us what to think and feel. Your silly notion that Canada and America are joined at the hip and that if we don't put up with your insults and betrayals that we are helping terrorism is patantly absurd.
America is fighting terrorism. Canada is not. You are either with us or against us. You would better serve your country to change your government than to keep coming in here and telling us off. For me, you are just making the case that Canadians are European wannabes and no friend to us.
Your elected government officials(all of them), do represent exactly how Canada regards the U.S.. You know this. Accept a little responsibility, for once in your spineless life.
Of course, you can continue the fashionable route of "blame America first". (remember when Canada was part of America?)
No, I am sure you given us your all!
Once again, you're a credit to your skool.
For decades Canadian politicians and elites, in order to cobble together a national identity, have depicted America and Americans as "The Other".
They have depicted "not American" as being the morally-superior position to take, and the majority of Canadians have bought into that way of thinking.
The UN is controlled by a bunch of thugs and crooks and everybody — including Canadians — know it.
As the old saying goes, you pays your money and you takes your chances.
Canada's government has played a double game, attempting a straddle between the U.S. and the Canadian electorate.
That's your right as a sovereign country.
But what is not your right is the esteem of the American people.
Dear Samesong change the record. No Canadian on this thread is insulting America. Hit the abuse button and if the admin mods agree with you let them ban us all, otherwise STFU.
Quid , There are too many dead from the Royal 22 Regiment , too many from Le Regiment de la Chaudière , Le Regiment de Maisonneuve , Le Regiment de Trois Rivieres and other regiments to let you get away with that . And as you said , all were volunteers , they didn't have to be there . And whether you like it or not, they helped pay for your freedom just as much as any other WW2 dead .
"It is beyond insulting, imo, for you to continually come onto this American site and tell us what to think and feel. Your silly notion that Canada and America are joined at the hip and that if we don't put up with your insults and betrayals that we are helping terrorism is patantly absurd."
And I repeat -- it is beyond insulting for Canadians to continually come onto this American site and tell us what to think and feel.
I wonder if you understand what I am saying? Canadians are on this very thread telling us Americans, on an American site what to think and what to feel. And Albertabound is being particularly rude to Americans on this thread.
Perhaps you could benefit from a few moments of thinking yourself kanawa. Why do you and other Canadians think you have the right to come onto this American site and tell us off?
Just you hold it right there!
what I said was absolute fact.
French-Canadians were in the main opposed to Canada entering WW II and this is why, when Canada finally did institute a draft, the draftees were by law exempt from being sent to serve outside of Canada.
Sure, That's how these regiments and others found themselves at places like Dieppe , Juno and Ortona . They volunteered and were as brave as any when it came to killing and dying .
And if you knew anything about Quebec you'd know that it wasn't the Canadien that objected , it was the Catholic priests who knew they would lose influence and ultimately , as happened in the 50's , their political power over the people . After the U boats entered the St Lawrence and when burning ships and floating bodies started to washed ashore right on their front doorstep , they damn soon changed their tune and came running to Ottawa .
Later some conscripted did go overseas , they volunteered to go.
This article was posted by a Canadian. And as you say, Canada discredits Herself anyway.
"At any rate, the forum is open for conversation. If we want to come on here and present our side, be it tongue in cheek or not, that is our privilege."
This Forum is open to Americans for discussion about furthering conservatism in America .
How are you honoring the purpose of this site?
You're trying to tell me that Catholic priests determined national war policy for a country which was predomiently Protestant?
I was born at night — but not last night!
After seeing it reposted by you on every thread having to do with Canada-U.S. relations I think I have a pretty good idea of what your saying. I just don't understand why your saying it. We are not trolls come here to insult the United States. We come because we find kindred spirits here, we learn, we share, we leave and go about the business of improving our nation. If we see over-the-top Canada bashing can you fault us for standing up for the truth and our country? Would you do any less if the roles were reversed?
I've looked over albertabound's post on this thread and if you find them 'particularly rude' then your skin must be pretty thin.
Why do you and other Canadians think you have the right to come onto this American site and tell us off?
Why do you suppose that I or any other Canadian here think we have "the right" to come here? My presence here is "a privlege" granted by the owner of this site. If that privlege is conditional upon not disagreeing with any statement made by an American and not freely expressing my thoughts and perceptions in a civil manner then I do not want to be here.
If you want to take umbrage against some particular Canadian or Canadian politician or segment of the Canadian population then the more power to you. But if you or any other poster wants to make insulting sweeping generalizations against Canada or Canadians then as long as I have the privlege of posting here, I will confront you.
Where did I say that? Perhaps you had best read about what has been called the "Quiet Revolution" which took place in the 50's and early 60's in Quebec. Up until then the Catholic Church controled everything in Quebec. Religion, education, and politics . Quebec is not predominately Protestant. It's Catholic
And being born at night is no excuse for being in the dark.
Mixed bag.
Western Canada and the Maritimes are extremely friendly to Americans.
There are Canadian soldiers serving in Afghanistan.
And if the US military accepted Canadian volunteers, many Canadian soldiers would have joined the US troops in Iraq.
You probably know several Canadian young men itching for the opportunity to kick terrorist butt in Iraq and elsewhere.
If I recall correctly, there is a Canadian freeper who has tried repeatedly to volunteer for the operation Iraqi Freedom and has been turned down by the US military.
On the other hand, the Canadian media are definitely biased with anti-American stories, and many politicians in also anti-American liberals.
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