man, but at the end of the day Canadians and
Americans are the closest of brothers.
America couldn't ask for better people to
have as neighbors.
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.
Canada sucks. My girlfriend is living there for a year and I am so sick of Canadians I won't go visit her - and she will have sex with me!!!!!!
; )
Last I know (it was from 2002 figures) there are 500,000 New Zealanders (holding NZ passports) in Australia, and I imagine there are quite a few who have tossed out their NZ passports when they become Australian citizens. There is a constant joke saying that Sydney is the fifth largest city of New Zealand (more than Hamilton).
Now 3 million means there are 9% of Canadians living in the Sattes. Assuming 550,000 New Zealanders live in Australia meaning that 12% of all New Zealanders live across the Tasman. That's even more.
In Canada's case, smugness seems to rise in inverse proportion to things Canadians can be smug about. It reminds me of what Churchill once said about Labor Party leader Clement Atlee: "He's a modest man, but then again, he has a lot to be modest about."
Not really. Visit Quebec sometime as an American businessman.
I've spent most all of my life within an hour or two of the Canadian border and I've never seen relations this bad coming from Canadians. Your ambassador has some valid points.
Population: New Zealand.
4,035,461 (July 2005 est.) CIA Factbook
That's a whole lot of runnaways! My calculator says 13.6%
I wonder how long it will be before those five hundred and fifty thousand turn into sexty sex?
I well remember a Canada of a former era -- 50 years ago, when we were truly close neighbors and allies.
One of my close friends in my first naval air squadron was a Canadian exchange officer who was killed on a carrier aviation mishap in 1958.
That said, decades have dramatically changed the political and cultural landscape of the Canadian Nation.
I submit that within three decades there will be three Canadian nation states -- one of course being French; the others comprised of the Western and the Maritime Provinces -- three disparate cultural entities.
Have a great weekend.
Well, can Quebec truly be considered part of Canada? Appearances may NOT be deceiving in this case.
Keep telling yourself that.
;^)
After France, Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia and North Korea...Canada, China and Mexico fight for highest standing on my shiite list.
Wait.
They've been good allies in the past too, but at some point a bunch of 'em musta been really drunk to come up w/that curling thing...
can Quebec truly be considered part of Canada?
Well, Quebec WAS the original Canada. "English Canada" started out as British North America. ;-)
Pretty soon, I assure you. I think it will only take another 2 "Ms Clark" terms, or 4 if Don Brash becomes the Prime Minister.
There are "two Canadas," divided into
a "red" rural heartland and a "blue" east. The rural center heartland "red" could join the USA. That would be great.
Canada has a population of ~33 million
California has a population of ~35 million
Most truck drivers usually are good ambassadors.
I also like them when I have car trouble or as recently when my wife and children had a major car wreck in the desert.
Thanks to those unknown guys and gals who stopped and lent aid by having first aid kits and gave comfort until the ambulance and highway patrol arrived.
Thanks to all those truckers who carry on Americas commerce.
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