As you can tell from my locale and tagline, I'm not too far from the Mexican border. That nation is populated by people who hate America -- but they swarm across the border to take advantage of our largess, all the while waving their Mexican flags and speaking their Spanish. They don't adapt to our culture or our values.
The anti-American mindset of Canadians is a harder puzzle to crack. We speak the same language, are mostly descended from the same culture and much more than the Mexicans, share the same values. Yet, like you, I've detected a smugness on the part of many Canadians when I travel there. Sure, we'll have regional (and national differences), but Canada ought to be thankful to have a truly good neighbor like the United States.
It’s like the little brother who is jealous of his big brother.
“I’ve detected a smugness on the part of many Canadians...”
I see that around HERE - in the U.S. “Canada has this, Canada has that, in Canada we do it...” Once in awhile I ask them (knowing the answer) - “Well why don’t you move back to Canada?” “I couldn’t get a job there that would pay me HALF of what I’m making down here.”
“So - the U.S. isn’t ALL that bad I guess?”
>>Canada ought to be thankful to have a truly good neighbor like the United States.
Time to play that hit “Americans” from ‘72 or so (a Canadian praises America, etc.)
Some Canadians may make fun of US, etc. In 2000 the Can. TV show This Hour Has 30 Minutes fooled then-Pres candidate George W. Bush by saying “Prime Minister Poutine has endorsed you” and they yukked it up (poutine is a dish)
I suspect at least part of it is a repressed inferiority complex. It displays as an oppositional mindset.
It’s the French influence.
The anti-American mindset of Canadians is a harder puzzle to crack.
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I lived in Vancouver for 20 years. The anti-American feeling is more of a reflex response to a sense of inferiority or helplessness as a country of one-tenth as many people.
They tend to hold on to the idea that their medical care is better, and their social welfare system is better, and their manners are better...
Ninety percent of Canadians live within one hundred miles of the US border. They shop and use American hospitals regularly. They winter in Arizona and Florida by the millions.
Their attitude is best ignored.
There’s some weird competition thing going on in their mind. I sense an uneasiness to the power and influence of the United States in its short existence. They’re just really sensitive about it and reflect it with their constant jabs at the US. It’s definitely there and they aren’t as ‘nice’ as they are supposed to be. But then the anti-American sentiment has moved everywhere, Europe, you name it. They’ve all got that vibe going on and, of course, they couldn’t have been happier with the 0bama election and our own downfall. They’ve always loved their Demonrat presidents because they are all apologetic about being American. This whole world is just sick. We were the last holdout, but now 0bama has changed that. Now where’s the refuge?!