The sickness of Canadian Anti-Americanism

Front Page Magazine ^ | 7 Mar 03 | Jamie Glazov

[Fair Go]

The Sickness of Canadian Anti-Americanism By Jamie Glazov FrontPageMagazine.com | March 7, 2003

Canadian anti-Americanism has always been a perfect reflection of the pathological nature of anti-Americanism as a whole. Indeed, in Canada, where I am a citizen and have grown up most of my life, anti-Americanism has literally defined the national identity and culture of this country – and in the most repulsive and embarrassing ways.

Today, Canadian anti-Americanism is preventing our present Liberal government from giving full-hearted support to the U.S. against Saddam Hussein. The Canadian leadership would rather exhibit its “independence” of the Americans than to confront a brutal dictator who equals Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot in their monstrosity.

This reality explains why Mark Kingwell’s recent column “What distinguishes us from Americans,” in Canada’s national newspaper, the National Post, infuriated me as immensely as it did.

Kingwell defends the reality that much of Canadian identity has been built on Canada defining itself in opposition to the United States. He writes, “I have never understood why this is considered inadequate or feeble. If you were the only dissenter in a room holding a dozen people, standing up and saying `I’m not the same as you’ would be a clear mark of moral courage.”

Really?

Suppose this scenario occurs during the Second World War and the other eleven people want to stop Hitler in his tracks and to prevent the Nazification of the world and the mass genocide of Jews. Would exhibiting your “independence” for the sake of fulfilling your little-brother complex be a mark of “moral courage”?

Many Canadian nationalists think so.

The analogy I use above perfectly suits the embarrassing and immoral behaviour of Canadian nationalists throughout the Cold War, especially under the leadership of Pierre Trudeau, when anti-Americanism was seen as being more cutting-edge than confronting and fighting the genocidal Soviet regime.

This psychic illness is founded on Canada’s desperate desire to be “different” than the Americans -- a result of Canada being built on the “counter-revolution.” When the British colonies revolted against their masters in 1776, Canadians became the first anti-Americans. Canada is based on anti-Americanism. Without anti-Americanism -- as one author has quipped -- Canada would cease to exist.

While Kingwell conspicuously avoids the issue of how bearing the mark of “moral courage” translated into many Canadian nationalists engaging in Gulag denial during the Cold War, the historical record stands firmly in place: the Soviet regime was an expansionist and totalitarian regime that exterminated millions of its own people. Consequently, as the de-classified documents from the Soviet archives now prove, the Canadian nationalists who demonized the United States, and exonerated the Soviet Union, in the Cold War, for the sake of anti-Americanism, were completely wrong.

Yet no apologies are forthcoming.

But at least we now understand why Canadian “nationalist” writers and historians, such as John Warnock, Donald Creighton, and James Minifie, wrote interpretations and histories about the Cold War that demonized the U.S. and left names such as Joseph Stalin in the footnotes.

As a Russian émigré, I am not humoured by Kingwell’s assault on historical memory; I am not humoured by Gulag denial just as a Jewish person wouldn’t be humoured by Holocaust denial.

While I was engaged in my doctoral studies in history at York University in Toronto, I would confront many of my colleagues about this issue. Why, I asked them, were they reluctant to face the errors of Canadian nationalists vis-à-vis the Cold War? Were they not aware of how the documents from the former Soviet archives were discrediting almost everything Canadian nationalists had said about the Cold War? My colleagues’ favourite response was to shrug their shoulders and to dismiss my arguments as being too “hung up” on “the past.” The Cold War “was over,” they told me, and it was silly to chase down “old ghosts”. My “obsession” with the Soviet archives, they patiently explained to me, was analogous to “necrophilia.” And these were historians.

The only historical necrophilia they supported, it seems, was the variety that found more sins of American foreign policy and capitalism -- not of socialism.

Kingwell thinks it is a badge of “moral courage” to stand up to the Americans. How about during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, when Prime Minister John Diefenbaker refused to put Canadian forces on an increased level of alert (Defcon 3) in order to show that he wouldn’t be “pushed around” by President John Kennedy? Since Canada had a bilateral defence alliance with the United States for the defence of the North American continent, Diefenbaker’s inaction left an enormous gap in continental defence.

There is nothing “moral” about Canadian anti-Americanism. And nothing logical either. I have always found it humorous how Canadians look down at Americans for loving themselves “too much”, but how they simultaneously swell with a distorted form of patriotic pride at being unlike and better than Americans. Canadian nationalists also always pride themselves on their politically-correct tolerance and "multi-culturalism" while engaging in anti-Americanism -- a disposition, as sociologist Paul Hollander has demonstrated, that is directly related with racism, sexism, and anti-Semitism.

In Canada, of course, it has always been legitimate to be a bigot, as long as it involves hating Americans.

Kingwell refers to how little Americans know about us. He explains that “American ignorance is a staple of our richly ironic strain of humour.” Really? I never found anything slightly “rich” in this humour at all. Growing up in Canada, I was always greatly entertained by the endless and smug complaining about how "stupid" Americans are because of their ignorance about Canada. Let’s be serious: why would Americans in Los Angeles and New York City need to know anything about Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, or about anything else Canadian?

Kingwell ends his essay by saying that Canadians sometimes wish the U.S. “had a little more of what makes us great.” Uh, sorry, but a little bit more of what exactly? Perhaps, instead, it would be wiser for us to focus on giving up on clinging to the ingredients of our “moral courage”, which includes the joke of bilingualism – English Canada’s last pretence of possessing any unique characteristics whatsoever. Let’s admit it, without bilingualism, English Canadians would no longer be able to say, "We’re not like those Americans," without someone else rejoining: "Oh? And how is that?" And there will be no answer, because there will be nothing to say.

If we just manage to get over our little brother complex, then maybe we will also one day no longer have to victimize ourselves with those torturous and emotionally-excruciating conversations about Margaret Atwood and Pierre Berton, in which so many Canadians attempt to show their un-American stripes by discussing novels that no human being outside of Canada has ever heard of, nor would ever read under sane circumstances. And we would also be liberated from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, an entity that it takes masochism to tune into, and that wouldn’t survive five minutes if its life depended on the tastes and desires of Canadians themselves.

Indeed, if we purged ourselves of Kingwell’s mark of "moral courage", Canada’s celebration of mediocrity and, more importantly, its exoneration of evil regimes and mass murderers around the world, would finally come to its long-awaited conclusion.

[Heartofsong83]

I don't think Atlantic Canada will stick it out with Ontario...and even within Ontario, a civil war would break out...

[Fair Go]

The following is from letters to a Canadian newspaper. It is a response to Prime Minister Martin's recent condemnation of Iran regarding statements about wiping Israel off the map. Even the UN condemned Iran on the issue as did leaders throughout the world. It is this type of stuff that Canadians spew out that makes people wonder if Canada is on the verge of becoming a rogue state.
"Iran did a stupid thing.Iran said outloud what they would like to see happen. Not very diplomatic no?I guess for Paul Martin it's not what you DO it's what you say that is important. That is certainly the way he governs.

No one can convince me that Sharon has not thought or said he'd like to see the Arab nations and the Arabs in Israel wipped off the face of the earth. Sharon also ACTS in ways that show the world that is exactly what he would like to make happen. And if he escalates his war there is a certainty Israel does have nuclear weapons and because of that no one can blame their neighbours for wanting them. When the US is building more nuclear weapons rather than pledging to get rid of them anyone that feels threatened by the US/Israel NEEDS nuclear weapons.Infact if Paul Martin really did want to protect Canadians in this bullying world atmosphere he'd be building some for us too.Considering what Rick Hillier said about him and his army going off to kill themselves some murdering scumbags in Afghanistan one could sumise that he hates Afghans.

Our own government puts our lives in jeopardy by supporting terrorist nations that have nuclear weapons."

AND ANOTHER
"How are his comments any worse than Bush's? At least he said what he means, and doesn't sugar coat his words.At least his actions are not violent, like the horrid violence that is coming out of the States and its supporters."
AND AGAIN
"The Canadian Government doesn't really have the best of records when it comes to supporting Israel. My wonder is why it's speaking up now on this one. Why not condemn the bombing that took place two days ago? Why is this issue, one man's rantings who hurt no one, getting publicized?"

[CaptainCanada]

If you knew anything about Canada or Canadians, you'd know there'll never be a civil war anywhere in Canada even under the most extreme scenarios you can create.

[CaptainCanada]

I'm not going to defend Paul Martin. I think he's an ahole and I vote CONSERVATIVE.
That's not the point of this thread.
This thread attacked Canadians, not it's current LIBERAL Gov't..
I think any article, person or persons which state stuff like Canadians are anti-American or Jews are evil and money grubbers or Blacks are criminals or Italians are mobsters or Muslims are terrorists, tend to be unthinking, stupid, ignorant aholes which hurt the conservative cause (assuming that the author or person so stating claims to be a spokesperson for the conservative cause.
Which makes me question if a person who deliberatly hurts the movement is really who he claims to be.
As for the current Canadian Gov't, don't worry, we'll dump their sorry butts at the next election. - and we won't need any help from Russian immigrant professors who claim to hate Canada and Canadians but prefer to stay here versus going 100 south to the Land of the free and the Home of the Brave.

[goldstategop]

I've passed through Western Ontario on the way to and from Toronto quite a few times in the past few years... the first thing a visitor is struck by the province is the attachment to the Mother Country. Names like Windsor, London, Kingston, Peterborough, Essex, Woodbridge and Cornwall all testify to the breadth and extent of Loyalist influence upon English Canada. Ontario is one of two provinces that has retained the old Canadian Red Ensign Flag with the provincial coat of arms in the fly along with the Union Jack in the upper left quadrant. Canada may not be a part of the British Empire any more and it may have repatriated the Constitution but it still refuses to form a positive national identity. The failure to do so leaves anti-Americanism as the only "authentic" means of expressing a Canadian sense of self.

("Denny Crane: Gun Control? For Communists. She's a liberal. Can't hunt.")

[BluH2o]

#1 Canadians generally like Americans more than they do Canadians in other Provinces.

Good point ... speaking as a former Canadian, now U.S. citizen (I didn't sneak across the border ... then wait around for some amnesty program ... all done on the up & up, very legally ... thank you) I would concur. My visits back to Canada, especially when I drive my car with a U.S. license, seem to be appreciated ... as I'm treated as a visiting tourist. Canadians like tourists, particularly Americans, and even in Quebec will go out of their way to be accommodating. This is even more evident in the early summer months while everyone is still bright eyed and bushy tailed ... than later when the tourism thing starts to get old ... which happens in any area where tourism dollars are important to the local economy ... not just Canada. Canadians and Americans will always have differences ... but nowhere on this planet do two neighboring nations have such a long unprotected border. There's mutual respect for one another by both nations.

[Tribune7]

There are a minority of Canadians who dislike America

There is a minority of Americans who dislike America too. In all fairness to the writer his opinion seems to be based on dealings with his fellow academics. He would hear just about the same views at most U.S. universities.

[CaptainCanada]

I understand and agree with your point. The problem is that the author projects those attitudes on Canada and Canadians as a whole and then ignorant people (a small minority in each country, I'm sure) will pick up on it and run with it to foster their anti-Canada rhetoric...
One would have thought that the Conservative movement would be relatively free of such ignorant folks, but I guess not..

[CaptainCanada]

Thanks.
As a former Canadian, you'd be in a good position to know to what degree there is real anti-Americanism in Canada.
My oldest son is now also an American and about 1/3 of our extended family are Americans, so I know these types of articles are horseheit. Unfortunately, there appear to be many here who appear to want to believe that we are a hotbed of anti-americanism and I don't understand the motivation for that..
Any enlightenment in that area would be appreciated...

[Tribune7]

The problem is that the author projects those attitudes on Canada and Canadians . . .

The best solution is to do what you are doing and keep speaking up. Keep the fight.

[Heartofsong83]

Yet many of those areas are represented by Conservatives...

[Fair Go]

Good show. It is an unfortunate that some of the looney left are giving Canada a very bad reputation. They think they are mainstream but they are out of step with the rest of the civilised world. On newspaper sites they recently used the President of Iran's speech against wiping Israel off the map as an excuse to attack the US and its allies. At the same time just about the whole world was condemning Iran. Their words and actions are consistent with being on the side of the Saddam Husseins of this world (Mr Hussein to the looney left in Canada)

[CaptainCanada]

Agreed. The loonie left is the loonie left cause liberals allowed loonies in and the loonies eventually ruled the roost.
My concern is that pure conservative philosophy and ideoloy not be polluted similarly by loonies. Unfortunately, there is lot's of evidence that there are loonies who are trying to hijack the real conservative cause.
Let's not kid ourselves, there are sociopaths of every political strip and they will do whatever they can to jump on the train with their gibberish.

[Cuttnhorse]

Until you're post, it was ironic that I was exposed to more anti-Canadian sentiment in this thread than the total cumulative anti-American sentiments I've ever heard expressed in the past 55 years by Canadians..

I'm not trying to pick a fight, but I don't think you get around much. I'm a US citizen working overseas for a Canadian company and continually hear the jokes, the snooty condensending attitude from Canadian co-workers...especially french-Canadians but not limited to them. I've been treated rudely when crossing the border in northern Washington and got a snide remark from an immigration idiot the last time I flew in to Toronto. Most of the "George Bush is an idiot" email jokes I receive are from Canadians...this from a country that would have the clueless Jean Cretien as their president.

While I suspect you are right that the anti-American attitude "probably" doesn't represent the majority of Canadians, I suspect in the under-30 crowd it does.

[Fair Go]

Haven't you realised? It is OK for Canadians to dish the insults out to Americans and anyone who supports them. However it is not OK when Americans and others start handing the insults back. Perhaps Canada should be renamed WIMPLAND.

[CelticLord]

Canada jumped into WW2 before the United States.
They fought with honour and bravery against the nazi threat. At the end of that war I believe Canada had the
worlds third largest navy. Canada was prosperous and everyone had a job. As in the states the man could go to work and wifey could stay home, take care of the house and
kids and life was good. People could retire and materialism
didn't mean as much as it does today. Canada was on the right track until Mister Trudeau and his maverick ways took over. Funny...the CBC just did a movie about the
"Maverick Trudeau". What the CBC didn't show you and what alot of you don't realize is what really happened when Mister Trudeau took over. Mister Trudeau started putting
half an hour of french in schools for everyone, even though
half an hour of french does nothing and nobody had a choice on the matter. They should have had the choice
for full immersion or no French way back then. Everyone I know who has taken half an hour french throughout their
school days found it a complete waste of time. What
they learned was insignificant and did not make them bilingual. I've not an axe to grind with the French because they founded this country along with the brits but this was kind of a slight to english speaking people.
Talk about a waste of school time. Mister Trudeau also started putting french on all the cereal boxes and everything else in Canada you had to read. Once again another slight shot to english speaking people. Did you know the average non french speaking canadian (the majority by the way) spend half their lives reading the directions on boxes in their kitchens because scientists purposely place the frech directions in a place that right handed people (once again the majority) will always end up reading the french side first. The Quebec revolution took over and since Mister Trudeau the center of the canadian universe is Quebec. I am kind of making a joke here. Having two languages on a cereal box isn't that bad. It shows a sense of culture....but it does once again
like the half hour of french a day in school...waste time. It did not matter in mister trudeau
eyes or in the eyes of his successors what the majority
of Canadians felt, what opinions they had or what suggestions they had. Canada was founded by two nations and the government from that time forward was going to make
sure everything was fifty/fifty. Todays Canada shows favouritism to the individual who is bilingual. Todays Canada trumpets the liberal motto of "we are a nation of minorities". Having said all of that I wish I had the time
and money to learn two languages. They say it helps fight alzheimers and dementia but everyone should have a choice
and there should be no "big social or economic advantages"
for one so fortunate to be able to speak both.
Parents raising kids who can speak one or more languages
are definitely doing their kids a favour. Especially
in Canada.
On another note relative to your points,there is no nation on earth that accepts as many unskilled
immigrants as Canada. They bring them in and take care of them if that is what is required. Free medicine, social
assistance....you name it. This is the under 30 crowd
you talk of and I would have to agree they are becoming
more of a voice every year while Canada continues to let
in a vast number of unskilled immigrants who probably had
an axe to grind with the americans when they fled there
own pathetic country. As to the French Canadian attitude
towards the americans.....that is just a personality thing.
Look at how well France and America get along and it should be no surprise how French Canadians (descendants came from France) perceive and treat Americans. But I can
say americans feel the same way about the French.
You know kind of like an irish/english thing.
So long as the official Canadian TV broadcaster (CBC)
and all the left wing media continue to walk in lockstep
with the Federal Gov't you will have this perception.
The fact is the Federal Gov't is ran by quebec and the
French Element and it has since the days of Trudeau.
Just look at the leaders since then, including him and
the picture should become clear to you.
The bottom line is the attitude the french and the americans have towards each other is harmless. As I said
it is simply a personality conflict like the limeys and
the irish.
Pretty simple if you look at the big picture.
I don't appreciate people who dream up articles like this one over such a simple premise trying to make it look
our two countries are like the arabs and jews.
One has to laugh.

[Fair Go]

So often Canadians are coming across as the defacto supporters of Islamic terrorism and Saddam Hussein. Read the following letter to a Canadian newspaper, for example:

Thomas Bendoraitis from Elizabethville, Canada writes:
It's difficult to be neutral and objective in this Middle East culture clash but we all have to remember that we to are the product of very powerful indoctrination. We are subtlety taught more or less that Arabs are bad and Israel is good in the Middle East. It's not that simple.

There's tensions regarding Iran experimenting with nuclear weapons yet Israel built them against all international protocols of that time and there were no repercussions. The US and Iraq were best friends and Iraq lost countless lives in the Iraq Iranian conflict that was subsidized militarily by American technology.

Bin Laden was a CIA operative when Russia was in Afghanistan creating another hypocrisy. The US government has caused so much death and destruction in the Arab world that reciprocal hostility is simply a natural consequence. What has Iran ever done to America? What has Iraq ever done to America? Now bubbling to the surface is the greatest crime of the new millennium, a pre-emptive strike against an Arab nation without just cause and deliberately manufactured misinformation which mislead an entire nation to sacrifice its sons and daughters and exponentially enrich the personal wealth of the President and Vice President of the United States. American forces are already making provocative raids into Syria proper some by mistake others deliberate. A myriad of articles over the years refer to the US as the country which fights or finances Israel's battles in the Middle East. Indeed, when US foreign policy is scrutinized regarding the Middle East one gets the feeling that dark agents have infiltrated the White House. Concerning Iran's comments about Israel's existence, its careless, irresponsible and just bunk anyhow.

The only solution is an end to American/Israeli military occupation. Bring the American people back to America. The alternative, possibly Armageddon. Some would like that.

[bonfire]

Here's one for you: Americans don't even know who the Canadian PM is but my Canadian cousins can go on for hours abOOt how much he HATES President Bush and republicans. What's up with that??

[Liberty Valance]

Tell me when they cross the border ;o)

[JeffersonRepublic.com]

Didn't this issue get resolved. I thought the Canadians started liking us again...