Archive through September 09, 2002
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TV ClubHouse: Archive: Let's talk about Canada: Archive through September 09, 2002

Shoofly

Saturday, September 07, 2002 - 05:38 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
OK, here goes:

1. Gossip rags come mainly from the your country. We follow all of your entertainment stars because our TV is your TV except for the 'state-run' one which is rather ...well, let's say it is rather state-run and paid for by taxpayers, whether they like it or not.

We love the scandals and political battles and mud-slinging. We are as familiar with your key players as we are with ours. That may be the difference up here. In my age-level anyway.


2. Serial Killers: Wow! Yes, we sure do. In fact, there is a current investigation going on in the Vancouver, B.C. area that is huge; involving potentially 50 some women.

The Green River story is said to have connections across the border in our country as well. No one here can forget the Bernardo and Homolka killings in Ontario; brutal tale of a wife and husband selecting young teens for their amusement.

And we will always remember the many young children who were killed for one man's, Clifford Olsen's, pleasure as he moved around British Columbia in the west.

3. School shootings are not happening, yet, but, one man killed 14, (if memory serves me), women at a technical college not many years ago. But that was a disturbed man who had an issue with women, obviously.

We have an escalating problem of youngsters being bullied by same-age groups in the schools and out. There is a penchant for putting the boots to the head when the victim is already down. One well-known case here had a gang of mainly girls, attack, brutalize, and then drown one fellow student.

4. Studying the history, commerce, geography, etc., of the United States was given a lot of time; as was Europe, Africa, Asia, what used to be the Soviet Block, and so on. We had to know the ancient empires, like Rome and Greece, Middle East cultures, when they were in their prime.

I am dating myself, but, history was tied into current events; teachers tried to show us how the events of the day didn't simply appear out of thin air. I don't know if such a good job is done of it today; my kids are long out of that stage.

The world wars were carefully laid out, as were the battles that your country went through in its quest for independence and freeing of the slaves. In fact, Canada in its youth did have a few battles against your countrymen. Won some or else we could now be a part of your nation. Just one of those times when the two clashed.

The people of the Maritimes have many ties to the people of your upper eastern states. They were kind of hustled from one region to another and given a terrible kicking financially from both ends. Some Canadians were part of the organized group to come to the aid of 'slaves' as they tried to find freedom, providing 'safe' houses and such.

Many descendants to Canada, who settled in the farming regions, came first to the northern states of Dakota and Montana. We have ties that weave in and out of our combined histories. Families still have relatives in both of our countries and the bonds remain.

5. I cannot say why our tastes are like your in the entertainment arena; they are though. The political types pull their hair out trying to get the public to really, really like what the government media wants to keep producing. The public nixes it, even after paying for it.

But, as I said before; many of our backgrounds ARE the same. It could have something to do with that.

Many of our best actors become the stars of your shows, Michael J Fox, Celine Dion, David Foster, Wayne Gretzky, well, you get my drift. If we want to see them, we get to watch the same shows you do. We do not mind sharing them, BTW.

I do know that Canadians are NOT so 'rah, rah', about being Canadian as you folks are about being 'American'; we do know you are keen to let everyone know where you come from.

In our own way we are as well; it might be subtle, but, sometimes, in some countries, we feel safer to be Canadian and let them know it. The little tiny flag we wear sometimes is to make that distinction. Some places and people really have it in for Americans and because we can be mistaken for you all, some 'put' our flag out there. That is not being cheeky toward you, Whit. It is how we go with the flow, kinda soft and slow, until we really have our feet under us.

That you feel different when you come to our country may depend on where you are visiting. Even as I travel about our country, I feel different. Heck the central part of our country is more than eager to be putting us in our place! That is where you will see the dander being raised!

I will say that in our personal business, we have tourists from The States regularly. They are able to spend some time with us and we love to talk with them and get an idea where they are from, and if they have been here before.

I love it; they are all so different; just like here. They are well-travelled most often and interesting to listen to. We usually have a TV on with news or sports and we get to talk to them, knowing at least the basics of what they know. They get to fill in the details; makes it all a worthwhile, enjoyable experience.

For us, it will always be thus. Eh:)

Whit4you

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 04:33 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Fascinating response which leads to a bunch of other Q's but it's late - for right now I'm seriously wondering about possible propaganda here at least back in the 70's when I learned U.S history.

I say this because - after your comments about us having a war with Canada I was really curious - went to try to find some info on it - I see one (the War of 1812) but even your (Canada's) history on this keeps mentioning the brithish... and trust me unless I'm totally confused - we (I'm talking those of us raised in the 60's 70's - can't answer for anyone else) WE were lead to believe our wars were with British not Canada - I'm wondering if this was propaganda to ensure peace between neighbors??

Ok here's an example there's a song - uh don't know how mucb of it I can remember 30 years later but it goes like this

"In 1818? we took a little trip down the ? to the mighty mississip - we fired our guns and the british kept a coming - we fired once more and they began to run........."

This song and the history I remember learning in school in the 70's were all about war's with the British. Now to ME personally - and sheesh don't think I'm uneducated - I was once addicted (literally) to the library and read half of the non-fiction section of it. I just never read about Canada per-say because welp - like I said I've never concidered Canada or Canadians any diff then myself - I grew up 12 miles south - do I think my neighbors 12 miles north were DIFFERENT then me?

But anyhow - honestly - and any Americans reading this who grew up in the 60's or 70's correct me if I'm wrong - did we not learn history where these wars were with the British (you know that country across the ocean) LOL.

I'm really wondering now though - if Canadians think of it as THEM against us? And if so - if I'm mistaken or if WE were fead some serious propaganda growing up (to keep the peace with the neighbors) OR if YOU were?

I mean if the Britsh attacked US via your soil - that doesn't mean YOU did - you know what I mean? LOL. It's like when we went after Iraq via Kuwaits soil. It was us not the Kuwaiti's doing the attacks.

So if I am totally offbase here and you WERE 'the british' that we learned about in history - then really you were no different then us accept YOU were still fighting for the 'mother country' later then we were - making any sense here? LOL.

I was not interested in history in school - but fascinated with it as an adult - so I could be totally offbase on all of this. But from MY recollection our wars were with the British.. and based on the links I went to - the wars in Canadian history desribe wars between Britian and the US - and so does that song that keeps running through my head...

Does any of this matter I suppose not lol - but it might help me to get more of an understanding of why Canda is rarely mentioned 'here'.

IF in "1812' Canada wasn't yet really Canada but a base for the British in a war against the upstart American Colonist - then Canada had to at some point in the future AFTER That had to have asserted its own independance from the British as well right? Did we help you in that quest? (America that is?) or did you need help in that? Or am I totally lost? LOL.

I read dozens of books on the lindenberg kidnapping - dozens on the holocaust .. dozens of books on hundreds of other topics but now realize I've never read a single book that I rmember on the history of Canada - amazing.

I learned more about OZ in 3 months of BB then I'd learned in my life about Australia but I actually knew more about OZ then I do about Canada - while living 12 miles away for many years. I guess it's cause as I"ve said I never really thought of Canada as 'somewhere else' - lol - they were just me next door neighbors.

The boys spent their summers down there flirting wiht us .. :) Cute boys btw. :)

I read in one of your history pages that if (the brits???) had lost the war of 1812 then Canada would be part of America - that confuses me bigtime.

Manifest Destiny - was huge and I do mean huge in our culture for a century - the founders of this country believed with every part of their being that this continent belonged to 'us' from the east coast to the west coast - but I've never heard anything about us beliving that the NORTH or the south (Canada or Mexico) belonged to US - propaganda or misunderstanding on my part?

If we were fighting wars with Canada and not just defending ourselves against the British trying to take back what they thought was theirs - (the colonies) then how did Canada defend such a huge border - the line is you will admit amazingly straight with the exception of the great lakes LOL. (I know you gave us an island hehe)

Well anyhow - I hate that I have 50 things on my plate right now and am working full time because I'd really like to go grab a few dozen books right now on Canadian history and culture etc... to find these answers.

FYI if I've said anything to offend anyone please trust it's NOT my intention - if this is in any way a 'sensitive' issue to ya'all like say talking about race/religion etc is to some.. just know - me discussing ya'all like a YOU / US thing would be no diff then you doing that with your nextdoor neighbor lol.

I'm only interested in this because I know that Canadians think of themselves as different then US and rightly so - and have a right to their own national pride and identity and such.... so I'm intersted in this topic so even if *I* don't think of you as 'different' then my next door neighbor on either side of my house - I know you do and have the right to so trying to discuss it and think of it in those terms.


Get what I mean? LOL :)

Neko

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 07:18 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I'd answer your questions Whit, but I don't know the answers myself, with is why I'm taking Canadian History this year.

Wasn't 1812 when we(Canadians) burned the Whitehouse??

Lyn

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 10:31 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Whit what I remember most of the 70s is growing up in Quebec during the FLQ. I was in 2nd grade at the time and that is when I developed my fear of policemen. We were under Martial Law, soldiers with rifles and the police everywhere...we were not allowed to play outside, had to go straight home from school, there were bomb scares, policemen stopping us kids on the street and telling us to "go right home" and if they saw us again on their next round they'd throw us in jail (we lived down the street from some Big Cheese). My dad had to have special papers to be out after dark because he was taking night courses at the university - us kids were scared to death they'd throw him in jail and we'd never see him again...It was such a small window of time really, but it seemed like forever to us smallfries.

Lyn

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 10:38 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Wow, where the heck did that come from? I'm sorry about writing all that stuff, I'd delete it but I don't know how. :(

Shoofly

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 11:48 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Yes, I saw your mega project in flight last night. Good on you all for taking this on to expand participation in the fan club. It is a great site!

Back to your query: It always strikes me how asking one question always leads to more. That has to be a good thing.

Seeing how you viewed that particular war of 1812, does explain a lot of things.

Canada is younger, as I have said before, and has always had ties with Britain, but these ties remain mainly symbolic today.

We did not have to fight our way out of their control; it evolved as it did with countries like Australia and New Zealand, (all part of the British Commonwealth of Nations).

Some confusion comes in that Canada did not become 'Canada' until 1867. And even then, it did not have all the land it does now.

We had had two countries fighting for 'ownership', Britain and France, of two main regions known as Upper and Lower Canada. That was decided in 1763- Britain won.


This is a good opportunity for me to do more research; I have been out of the loop for a long time. But, it IS very interesting to look at it now from the perspective of an American now.

Let's go back a little to 1799: Napoleon was the leader of France. At that time, Europe was in turmoil and France and Britain were enemies.

The influence of this Euopean strife extended to the Americas, because trade was so vital by now to keeping afloat in the Americas. And France and Britain were wanting the products coming their way.

The United States wanted to remain neutral in that to keep the trade options healthy. But, both France and Britain issued various decrees and orders that impeded trade with your country.

Britain tried to continually show its power, boarding your ships, looking for sailors who had deserted from their navy, interferring with trade with France and so on, suspected interferrence with the 'First nations' in securing trade and land. France was probably throwing wrenches in the game as well.

In the mix of all this was the struggle of the 'First Nations', the original people who lived here first and were trying to keep all as it was or at least be able to trade as they wanted/needed in order to survive/thrive. Some of those groups supported the French and some supported the British. Some worked with the Americans.

Add to that the fact that between 1791 and 1812, tens of thousands of 'United Empire Loyalists' from your country left, to settle in 'Upper Canada'. They remained loyal to the king of Britain and did play in the battle of 1812, on the side of Britain.

It had to have been a most unstable, untrustworthy, dangerous period.

Back to the trade issue though: In 1807 The United States declared the 'Embargo Act' which kept American ships at home, leading to a depression.

People had to live and some went in search of where they could trade goods. Some ended up trading, now illegally, with Canadians who still had ties to Britain, and could use that to some benefit, internationally.

Push comes to shove though, and America had had enough, and simply wanted Britain out of the North America. 1812 to 1814 were the years of intense back and forth battle, and the rest is history.

When we were taught about that particular war, we only knew it in terms of our citizens, under Britain still, holding the American invasion back. Winning inevitably.

In some odd way, we do not see it as part on any enmity that holds to this day. It was a fact of historical importance to the eventual formation of Canada, as a whole, however.

BTW, we still have folks in one province, Quebec, whose heart is tethered to more to France, than Britain, or Canada.

It is worth noting again, that folks who ended up protecting the Upper and Lower Canada regions, came from your country, remaining loyal to Britain.

For certain other factors will show up as significant to this battle, and they will all be worthwhile adding to the blend.

As to the border between us; I need to do more research on how that was all decided too, especially the 'straight' parts.

No offence taken with your point of view. It is surprising how it is so much more interesting now, than it was when we were taught it.

And I have only scratched the surface here.

In the end, we acknowledge your country's strengths and once again, 'trade' between the two countries is what keeps the border open and mostly, friendly.

Whit4you

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 01:36 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Ok then if I'm reading your post correctly we were not fighting with Canada (at least not the Canada WE Americans know and love) we were fighting against the British (as we were here as well) just from the north in that case and not the ocean...or perhaps all of wars with the British they were coming at us from the north and I just wasn't paying attention that day in class LOL.

I'm glad to know that it wasn't really with YOU - I guess you'd concider them your ancestors (the British) if I'm understanding all this correctly but they are also OUR ancestors as well - I mean we came from there orignally too! LOL.

Now I"m fascinated because if I"m understanding this right we really are NOT any different at all - just in the manor that 'my' ancestors didn't become their own contry with the British's permission.

I've often wondered if there are ALOT more similiarities between a Canadian and an American then their are differences. On my travels up there you wouldn't know from strolling around a grocery store if you were in an American or a Canadian grocery store. (This is in B.C.) The only real difference is in your signs!!! (km instead of miles) and the price of 2 eggs at a diner. (OH MY GAWD how do you afford to eat out up there????? 2 eggs at a diner there - cost more then 2 dozen eggs would cost here - and that's counting the exchange rate!) Its been years and I honestly don't remember but it was something like 2 american dollars for 2 egggs and a piece of toast lol. Dozen egss here then cost .49 cents - now it's about 79.

Now what is this about the whitehouse?

Also - curious have their been any wars or hints of wars that your aware of since you officially broke off from Britian? I'm not aware of any at all. I imagine their had to be some land conflicts - especially from what I know about that island in the great lakes (named I believe after one of our presidents - which is actually IN Canada but belongs to us??)

Is your postal system like ours? What does it cost to mail a letter there? (Just curious dunno why) here it's a monopoly and they just keep raising the cost of sending mail...

Curious if you think your jail system is like ours as well (Ours is totally f'd up down here)

I'm wondering also if you guys think we Americans (as a whole not say me personally) are 'arrogant' as the OZ's feel? It bums me out that we are percieved that way - but it's just the truth apparently.

Another question then I'll stop (got 23432 more lol) Do you know if alot of Candians worry about them ending up in a war BECAUSE of the US and the US putting it's nose in everyone else's business etc?

I know I would - if I lived in a peaceful unobtrustive (as I picture canada) country and my next door neighbors were always stirring the pot etc.

Oh and thanks for these answers they are great - I sure wish I had more free time right now I'd love to go get a buncha books on Canda and see just how distorted my views are (like the way to me personally - don't know if others in America feel this way - it seems like you guys SHOULD have your own "hollywood' and Oscars and Emmy's and soaps (do you have your own soaps??)

Ok shutttttting up...lol

Yankee_In_Ca

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 01:45 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Whit -- I'm an American who's been living in Canada (B.C.) (and loving it) for five years now. To be honest, because I grew up in the U.S., I don't know very much about the historical questions you ask about Canada (though I'm learning) -- but I do have some thoughts on the "aren't Americans and Candians alike" questions, and the reactions I still get at dinner parties, etc. when people find out I'm an American. Need to run now, but will type out some thoughts later this evening...

Yankee in Canada

Shoofly

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 04:13 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I do not want to occupy the board too much; others may and will have a differing take and it is all worthwhile to search it out a bit.

We have had some skirmishes, but they have been in the realm of 'trade wars'. Even then, due to the vast geography and resource availability, some states support our position over some of your own states. It all depends on whose ox is being gored.

For example, those states that produce much of the forestry products get right riled when Canada seems to have an advantage. They have to then justify to the states and consumers in more southern areas why the cost is rising.

It will for ever be a battleground in that respect. Ends up in the courts of public opinion and, legal ones. It eventually gets settled, usually as both sides look across the table at one another.

Our postal system is also a monopoly and unionized. We do find ourselves at their mercy when they strike. My bias. The cost of a basic stamp is 48 cents, Canadian, in Canada; 6 cents more to send it your way.

The legal system and jails...don't get me started. Problem is that I do not see it reforming any time soon as it plods along trying to keep up with the crime rate.

On to the prickly issue of wars and rumors of wars. No one wants to enter a war and no one wants to engage in a war; not of their making. It is never that simple though; you may have stirred the pot, but, that pot then created some advantage for more than one nation, once stirred.

That said, if we have become the target because we share so much with you, AND will be seen to 'be' you, then we cannot look the other way. We will be involved; they will see that we are involved.

We have been friends and neighbors in peace for a very long time. As we both know, we share roots; many of our citizens come from any number of other countries, and had only to decide if they want to establish themselves, in your country or ours.

The long and short is that we know our greatest ally is the United States! We know you would come to our aid, if only because of the proximity problem.

I know there is a vocal section that wants it to be known otherwise, but, that is what free speech allows for and in the event of an attack, free speech will not help much.

We fought together in several world wars already; we know how to do that.

Hollywood? Hopefully, not a good reason to get possessive. Talent is a gift and recognized on both sides of the border when it is special. If money is to be made, it generally finds a way to work both sides.

See, it is that 'trade' thing again. That is the biggest barrier to this unique relationship, but, we continually find the means to work it through.

Two nations acting civily, for the most part.

Look forward to input from others, but if you want to put out a question or two, I am game, over time.

Whit4you

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 04:37 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I have a comment - now please know I have NO idea if ANYONE else in this counrry thinks this - but I do and wonder how true it is?

Never really heard anything about a defense system up there or defense budget etc.. we on the other hand are saddling our great grand children with a few trillion dollars of debt in the name of a defense system.

I've thought a few times that Canada relies on us to defend the both of us. Is this at all true?
Or do you know? And keep in mind I've never heard another AMerican say this personally it's just something Ive thought now and then ya know - since we developed all the weapons to protect us and I really havent heard of a '5 trillion dollar' debt in Candada and so on.

Is Canada in debt? Does it have a national debt? If so what is it (curious)

Here's another question - any idea why Canadians in general think of our invention of / use of nuclear weapons? And us letting those secrets slip out of our hands thus causing a global proliferation of them?

I mean I am sure someone someday would have invented them ya know.... but still.

We go around the world trying to stop some dictator or another from 'genocide' - from killing innocent people - of acts of war crimes and yet we (our governement certainly NOT something we as citizens had ANY say in) - dropped a bomb on millions of innocent people.

Not trying to start a debate on if creating the bomb or dropping it was ok - just wondering if there's a common thought about this 'up there'?

FYI what's this business with ya'all buring down our whitehouse? LOL

Neko

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 04:47 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I don't think we (Being either Canadians or Brits, probably the latter) burned it down, just burned it. So it had to be painted the white color..

That's what I've heard that is...

Rissa

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 04:59 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Interesting topic going, wish I had time to post more but am about to get dinner going. Just thought I would toss out some homework for our American friends. LOL Go to any search-engine and look up Laura Secord, this is a bit tongue in cheek but Americans have only ever lost one war (let's not get in Vietnam right now) and it was with Canada (Go Canucks!! :)). Not saying that one woman was responsible but she played a huge part and it's a very interesting story.

The major part of settling each of our countries is very tied together. In the mid 1800's when the major push of Scandinavians arrived.. they mostly came through Quebec by ship then by railroad or wagon down into the USA. Some decided to just stay in Canada after all and many others did settle in the USA then when the West (of Canada I mean) opened up, they drifted up here. Esp. from Minn., North Dakota. Interesting to note (off the Canada topic) that the Norwegians and Swedish were the single largest ethnic group to help fight the American civil war. Many of my own family quite literally got off the boat and enlisted immediately. Then 40 years later, they all ended up in Canada.

If anyone is interested btw, I have 3 fascinating articles on the subject at my website:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/7051/
My guest book is *broken* so don't even try. LOL

Just to echo a previous post, we studied a fairly international range of topics in school, big emphasis on the Greeks/Romans, both World Wars, Russia, the political systems of various countries esp. comparing Canada and the USA. And our news programs are fairly standard: they begin with International, National, Regional then Local news.

Kids yelling... hubby stealing largest portions of leftover ginger beef. RFLOL Better run.

Whit4you

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 05:05 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Think the day BB ends I'm gonna set up real player to one of your news stations. Any links or recommendations? (Just thinking watching your news (national) for a week or to really really help to educate me on what is really going on up there or at least what your news is talking about....

Whit4you

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 05:11 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Oh I have a big q - might show my ignorance here but lemme say this - I read half the public library (had 120 books out at any given time - and went to the library oh 5 days a week lol...um like I said I was addicted to it) So you gotta figure if I'm this naive about canada living miles away.. I'm not alone in this.

Ok here's the Q.

You know (I assume!) how we have the Southern Accent / the Texas Accent / the Boston Accent / NY Accent and so on? Do you have that 'up there?"

I know there is the Quebec multi lingual thing (see I'm not totally clueless hehe..they speak french there :)

But do you have other various accents? All the Canadians that I've talked to and listened to on tv - speak basically like us US West coasters...

SO if that's the norm why in the heck don't you have all these various accents like the Texas Accent?? Why would we have them and you don't have them... that wouldn't make alot of sense to me. And if you DO have them...wondering why I don't recall ever hearing about them.

(I loveeeeee the OZ accent yum ;)

Rissa

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 05:54 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Whit, I suck at accents. LOL My mom is Austrian and I am told that her accent is so strong she is hard to understand at times.. I don't hear it. But back to your question... YES!!! We have regional accents, probably the two best known or first 2 to come to mind would be the Maritimes and Quebec but I have family in Sask. who have always lived in small farming towns founded by either Scand. or Belgians (my two main ancestral lines) and each group has a slight accent.

As an offside, my 6 year has an accent!!! RFLOL My dad comments on it all the time. My hubby moved from England as a child so his accent has totally disappeared and we can't figure out where the heck this child got it from. I have 3 children and it's funny that the one doesn't sound like she was raised with the rest.

Whit4you

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 06:16 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Rissa aww - cute. My youngest sister has an accent as well (gawd knows how or why) lol. It's all her own though can't think of any other accent that's even close to it. But it is very pleasing to listen to.

Do you have any accent's 'up there' similiar to the Texas one or "Southern drawl" (Tennessee etc?)

I"d guess - no idea why - that the accents up there (now that I know you have them hehe) would be closer to the NY accents? Just guessing this because well..NY is north and...your north LOL!

Or maybe you have more of a british accent up there since from the sounds of it - ya'all didn't succeed from Britian till a few weeks ago LOL.

Rissa

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 06:28 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Like I said, I am really bad at picking out accents. LOL But, I can't think of anything close to a southern drawl up here. We speak PROPER English in addition to being able to spell so perhaps that's what's confusing you about the British accent. {running and ducking from flying objects about to be lobbed from Whit's direction}.

Hmm, been pretty much all over the USA and I cannot hear any accent at all from States like Washington, Montana, California.. so I guess if I had to guess at the biggest accent up here, it would be the same as those States, (speaking for the Prairie provinces and BC). The accent from Newfoundland is wonderfull, I love it but couldn't pigeon-hole it or describe it. OH, OH ... RICK MERCER.. give me a second.... http://www.22minutes.com/featuredclip.php Click on any of the clips with Mercer in them.. there's a Cdn regional accent for ya. LOL

Shoofly

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 07:33 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Rissa hears accents the same way I do. Yes, the Maritime provinces, those on the east coat, are the most distinctive.

Our country is in debt to its ears; we are handing off an horrible financial pressure to our descendants as well.

Yes, we have a defense budget; yes we have a military. Successive governments have looked at the debt and decided to cut the defense package. They were warned and did it anyway. Now, it is catch-up.

About the bomb: Our country was in the same war, on your side, and in the same prisoner of war camps and fighting in the same trenches. Winning was not a given and Japan was not giving up.

That was the decision; it will remain to be debated. I would ask, how much worse could it have been if our enemy had developed it first and used it?

We do not take joy in the results; we grieve about the women and children, especially. War takes over, out of necessity.

Our political parties are divided much like yours: Democrats to our Liberals and, Republicans to our brand of Conservatives.

Then toss in any number of variations on a theme of two or more and add the lack of checks and balances you have with your Senate and Congress and appointment of Supreme court judges and you have our version of democracy.

There is a continual push for changes to the way elections take place, but, you may know how difficult it is to get any party in power to make changes that may affect it.

Currently, the Liberals are in power with a huge majority of seats and the main conservative factions are fighting with each other. It is not a pretty picture for democracy to have a weak opposition.

No wait, you were not asking me about our government, but, it does impact hard with all the other questions re war standards that you have observed. That is why when our Prime Minister comes to meet with Pres Bush tomorrow, you must know that many, many Canadians will cringe and hope he (our guy), simply listens.

As for media to tune into, CBC is the government run one and has full access to the parlaimentary types. Some may say they lean one way more than another, but, that will not be heard from this poster. <Snicker> But, they do do some quality programming and cannot be left out, if you want to get a feel for our situation.

Look up independent talk radio across Canada, and include the West, as the view will be entirely different, depending on the host and the audience he draws.

Give me some time to put some websites down for you, later.

Love that you are interested, but coming from you, it does not surprise me, Whit.

Whit4you

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 09:01 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks very interesting info there Shoo - sorry to hear your great grandkids will have to deal with what ours will. To me I think it's morally wrong for us to do this but obviously we have no say in it. At least they are not increasing the debt as much now.

Did you know that we Americans had to learn all the provinces of Canada in grade school? Did ya'all have to learn all 50 of our states?

And ya I did know that we were allies with Canada during WW 2 :) Would have been pretty bad news if we hadn't been lol.

Did you learn in school about the US / Mexican wars? We had several with them back in the beginning.

Snee

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 09:32 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
hi y'all! <--learned that from a floridian friend.

i'm on vancouver island whit; i wonder if you've taken the ferry over here.

shoofly and rissa and neko too are answering the questions so well, i don't think i have much to add. as far as accents go, however, i have been told by american friends that i sound irish. seems bizarre to me. i figure i sound like a lot of people on american tv--those accented california people! i think people here sound very much like people on your west coast except we talk faster. even people in seattle drag out their words a bit to me.

oh, and our non-american soaps are british!

Whit4you

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 10:11 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Well you see Snee that's probably why I don't think Canadians HAVE an accent lol - you guys keep saying that your accent is like the West coasters and WE DONT HAVE AN ACCENT lol. :)

I'm sorta kidding but sorta not as well because for example most news casers and actors and so on intentionally learn our 'dialect' of no accent. (IE They get rid of their Texas drawl or Tennesse twang and start talking like we do!!

I know it's silly to say that we don't have an accent because those born and RAISED in Texas think eeryone else has an accent not them.

But all this might explain why I don't nkow of any Canadians with an accent - so I'm guessing that to everyone else you do. LOL.


So why no Canadian soaps? (or do you have some?)

Shoofly

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 10:45 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
One more for the road:

Yes, we had to learn all the names of your states and the natural resources, main cities, key presidents, key wars with Mexico, rivers and canyons and the main geography, climate, natural disasters, the results of the Great Depression, and so on.

We had to do that for all the nations; not all in the same year, but, expanded upon over the grade levels.

What they did a poor job on and may be changing that now, is the Middle East. Who could ever wrap their brain around the history of that region without throwing their hands up in the air! It is complex, but, we should have been paying more attention.

I am glad you had to learn about our provinces, but, it would not surprise you to know that while YOU do show an interest, many of your fellow citizens, have little or none. One of those things. Same could be said for too many up here about anything historical or geographical or political.

But, we start from point one and go on to try to stimulate a 'co-interest'.

Let's hope both countries do a better job if it is not the case.

One more thing for you, Whit:

"Battle of New Orleans"

by Jimmy Driftwood

In 1814 we took a little trip
Along with Colonel Jackson
Down the mighty Mississip

We took a little bacon and
We took a little beans
And we caught the bloody British
In the town of New orleans.

Loved that song; now I can't get it out of my head:)

Melfie1222

Sunday, September 08, 2002 - 11:03 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
No Canadian accent outside of the Eastern provinces? OK let's talk a-boat that.

Jan

Monday, September 09, 2002 - 05:52 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Well Whit, I have been typing in my very slow fashion, for about 45 minutes to give you my view of Canada, and my computer locked up and I lost it all!!!! So I guess it was not so important.

So now, in my frustration, I will give up but maybe I will come back later. Next time I will be smarter and compose in word first so I can save it as I go.

Anyway, your questions are great ones and I thank you for your interest. Be back later to add my two cents

Jan

Snee

Monday, September 09, 2002 - 09:51 am EditMoveDeleteIP
hey, we have had cdn soaps but, for the life of me, i can't remember their names! anyone?