Posted on 06/03/2005 7:58:49 PM PDT by NorthOf45
McKenna tells Canadians to stop being smug when dealing with U.S.
June 3, 2005
OTTAWA (CP) - Frank McKenna, Canada's tough-talking ambassador to the U.S., has some advice for Canadians dealing with their powerful neighbours to the south - stop being smug and take the chip off your shoulders.
Americans are offended when Canadians attack them and endlessly moralize about what they should be doing differently, he said Friday.
"In short, a self-righteousness that isn't very flattering," McKenna told The Canadian Press annual dinner, a gathering of journalists and power-brokers.
McKenna, fresh from media tours in the U.S. where he tried to correct false American impressions of Canada, turned the table on his Canadian audience, calling on them to have a better understanding of Americans.
The world changed dramatically for Americans on Sept. 11, and dealing with the shock and fear of the next attack "trumps all other issues and all other relationships," he said.
"As Canadians, we intellectually acknowledge this reality, but we do not comprehend the full depth of the emotional scarring caused by that extraordinary event."
"It has changed America. Americans are consumed with the need to protect their physical security and economic security."
McKenna said that Ottawa's increase in spending for the military and foreign aid budgets have been well-received in Washington.Traditional diplomatic fights such as softwood lumber and BSE remain.
But fear of terrorist attacks is behind the latest diplomatic spat.
The recent move by Americans to have all foreign carriers register their passenger lists if they fly over the U.S. is causing trouble around the world.
Americans are also preoccupied with social security reform, soaring oil prices and being reliant on external markets for the majority of its supplies.
The growing economic might of China has given rise to an increase in protectionist rhetoric in the U.S., he added.
"Although Americans respect us and like us, they do not think about us very much," he conceded.
To raise Canada's profile, McKenna is looking to support from a fifth column - "the Canadian diaspora."
There are up to three million expatriate Canadians living in the U.S. and McKenna said he's looking to marshal them so they can help Ottawa on issues of importance to Canada.
Ping
Who Cares?
You'll find that with most of our business people IMO. It's the politicians who are not Conservative that you have to look out for ... and those who truly support them.
Smart guy!
Which means, of course, they'll completely ignore him.
Well, smugness is not how I would describe the attitude. Arrogance is how I would describe these Canadians. Just like NZ looking down Australia.
The Canadians are among the worst of all back-seat drivers: they are incapable of driving at all...unless it's to drive their county into the ground, in a single generation.
Good for him! Bump.
Canadians are cool.
Canada is insignificant.
Hey, you always know if you are doing well when the neighbours find nothing but fault with you!
Three million Canadian expats live in the US? That sounds like an awful lot - let me check if I can find how many New Zealanders have escaped to Oz - about half? LOL!
Uh-huh ... I see.
And they are lousy tippers.
Other then that they are O.K. I vacationed there last summer and everyone was super nice.
“Canada is insignificant.”
…And the moral supremacy of their government is widely ignored by people in the United States who don’t give a damn.
But being bleedingheart liberals gives us licence to be wankers!"
The world changed dramatically for Americans on Sept. 11, and dealing with the shock and fear of the next attack "trumps all other issues and all other relationships," he said.
"As Canadians, we intellectually acknowledge this reality, but we do not comprehend the full depth of the emotional scarring caused by that extraordinary event."
At last someone seems to get it. When you see people jumping out of buildings to land splattered on the sidewalk when terrorists steal your own planes to destroy a massive building it has a way of forever changing you internally. At least it's alters most rational people. moveon.org isn't rational. Our MSM is not rational. the leaders of the Dem Party are not rational. Nor is a Rep Senator that cries on the Senate floor about world opinion. But the majority of Americans DO get it, are still furious, still want vengeance, still want to honor the fallen and still will fight to the death to protect this country and our families whatever it takes.
I suppose telling the Canadians "Mind your manners, our s**t is bigger than you" might be considered a bit rude.
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