O/T: Ah, those Americans... — Forum Archive

8 May 2002, 12:15

Canada Like a State, Not a Country, Americans Say Tue May 7, 3:45 PM ET

TORONTO (Reuters) - Most Americans are unaware of Canada's role as the biggest U.S. trading partner and three in 10 Americans quizzed in a recent opinion poll view their northern neighbor as a state rather than a separate country.

The survey, published by pollsters Ipsos-Reid on Tuesday also showed that 18 percent of Americans viewed Canada as the closest ally of the United States, while 56 percent said Britain was Washington's best friend.

"Seven in ten Americans say that they see their northern neighbors as a separate country, much like Britain or Japan," the pollsters said. "However, 30 percent see Canada as more like just another state, such as Michigan or Oregon."

Canadians traditionally complain of poor media coverage and lack of understanding in the United States. One comedian, Rick Mercer, has lampooned that lack of knowledge through television programs in which Americans are filmed congratulating Canada on fictitious events like the introduction of the 24-hour day.

The bilateral trade partnership between the two heavily integrated economies is more than $1 billion a day, and each country is the other's most significant trading partner.

Four-fifths of the Canadians questioned by Ipsos-Ried recognized that reality, but only 14 percent of Americans named Canada. Far bigger numbers thought most U.S. trade was with China (fourth) or Japan (third).

The survey questioned 1,000 Canadians and 791 Americans between April 30 and May 2. The pollsters said the results were accurate to within 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

8 May 2002, 12:21

Canada's not part of the U.S.? Shit, you learn something every day...

8 May 2002, 12:42

Why is it whenever i hear this USA/Canada thing it always makes me think of South Park for some reason!! :lol: ;)

8 May 2002, 12:45

What is this all a-boot, anyways? I donut understand what this is a-boot....

8 May 2002, 13:57

And I thought the only difference was that you had Mounties and :moose:

8 May 2002, 14:00

As Homer Simpson has said, "Anyone could miss Canada, all tucked away down there."

I could counter that Canada has sent us Peter Jennings, a Canadian who thinks he's president of the United States.

I've done a couple of remixes for Toronto's Brother Love Canal, so I consider myself pretty culturally diverse, having brought that "South of the Border" flavor to their arctic dance tracks.

I like your bacon too.

8 May 2002, 14:51

Canada...the birthplace of Wayne Gretzky...ice hockey in general...and Molson Ice...and the home of Bob and Doug McKenzie...what do you other hosers have to offer, eh?

8 May 2002, 15:08

Originally posted by Taboo # 7 What is this all a-boot, anyways? I donut understand what this is a-boot....

hey! i know of very little canadians who say a-boot or end every sentence with eh. it must be those on the east coast who say that stuff. aboot is for canadians who can't say about.

8 May 2002, 19:36

Hey, enough canadian bashing already :D

Canada is the 2nd biggest country in the world after Russia and is a bilingual country even if that only applies to most of the french population. Population is around 28 million people, 8 of them speaking french, 7 of them living in the province of Quebec, the other being mostly in Ontario (East) and New Brunswick. Toronto is the biggest city of the country, Montreal is 2nd (4 Million People approx, 75% french), Vancouver is 3rd.

As for "a-boot", I've never even heard that, so I have no clue what you're talking about :D

I've seen Ontario, New Bruswick, Nova-Scotia, Newfoundland & Prince-Edward's Island, so I've never seen the western provices so maybe "a-boot" is from there.. as is Terrence & Philipps as far as I know.

As for RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police), the disguised people are only at some ceremonies, it's very rare to see that uniform.. they tend to copy the FBI otherwise. :D as they are the Canadian equivalent.

So that was the Canadian history for tonight, I won't get into the USUAL debate when someone meets somebody from Quebec for the first time, as it's mostly "Why the hell to do you want your own country?", we almost did, the last referendum on that question ended 49.5% yes, 50.5% no. Quebec has its own culture, it's own food, it's own star system, it's direct relation with France, and is completely different from the rest of the country, as it feels like you're in Europe while being in America :D

And of course, there is NOTHING else than Hockey over here, especially the Montréal Canadiens (HABS)... which are doing pretty well in the playoffs..!

8 May 2002, 21:02

Well, at least Canada got compared to a good state. :laugh:

Congrats to the Habs as well!

8 May 2002, 22:12

I've spent quite abit of time in Vancouver and had to say that I loved it. Never really noticed the 'aboots' and 'ehs' until somebody mentioned it to me and even then I didn't hear it to often.

I loved Vancouver because it had all those nasty food products like cheese in a tube, 1000 different breakfast cereals, fast food on every corner, cable with 1000's of channels, cheap CDs (which you can't get in Oz), just like America but a little more laid back ... Nice atmosphere ...

But you still can't beat Oz :) Im going to start a war here

9 May 2002, 03:43

Canadian's say 'a-boot' and 'eh' !?!

Was Canada founded by Geordies ?

Yas divn't kna what yar tackin a-boot man, eh !

9 May 2002, 05:20

Hey...I've heard Bob Gainey say aboot...and as far as I know, he's from Canada...and the way you guys pronounce organization...it's fantastic...and actually, the only time I've ever heard EH...was when I heard the McKenzie's say it about 999 times in an hour and a half...

9 May 2002, 07:16

besides Nic...

you know that Americans are very self-centered...I think most of this has been brought up before...

history books in the States tend to ignore the fact that Canadians and Brits also landed on the beaches of Normandy in 1944...the fact that most of the United States belonged to either, England, France, Spain or Mexico before it was the United States is usually mentioned almost in passing...the treatment of the natives is glossed over.

so I can see why quite a few Americans think of Canada as "another state". These same people probably think Mexico only exists to supply construction workers, groundskeepers, landscapers...and labor that is "beneath" most Americans...

idiots...absolute idiots...that's what the vast majority of Americans have become now days...and quite lazy....

oops...now I've gone and ranted a little bit...sorry...

9 May 2002, 07:44

Still makes me think of SouthPark....

:laugh:

9 May 2002, 11:55

actually, it is quite sad...but i'm not shocked in the least considering how many have a general lack of geography to begin with

i would have love to see how many knew that we invaded Canada twice (at least) so that we could make Canada another state...

9 May 2002, 12:56

hey Jim...here's another one for you...

back in 1995, somebody decided to pass a world map out to a bunch of high school seniors in the great state of Texas, and asked them to identify the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Japan and a fifth country that I can't remember...

well, the wise youth of our state could place the U.S. correctly...but over 25% of the little bastards didn't know where Mexico was...and over half of them stuck Canada in Europe....

I'm sure they still don't know where Canada is...but I bet they can tell you about the latest Linkin Park or Limp Bizkit offering....

9 May 2002, 13:03

I was kidding a-boot all that, eh?

Yeah, don';t thake that seriously, I was having fun at Canada's expense. A country that gave us SCTV and Kids In The Hall can't be all that bad......nevermind Michael J. Fox, Barenaked Ladies, Loverboy (I think?), The Guess Who, etc etc

9 May 2002, 13:16

Originally posted by Taboo # 7 I was kidding a-boot all that, eh?Yeah, don';t thake that seriously, I was having fun at Canada's expense. A country that gave us SCTV and Kids In The Hall can't be all that bad......nevermind Michael J. Fox, Barenaked Ladies, Loverboy (I think?), The Guess Who, etc etc

And don't forget Celine.

9 May 2002, 13:18

and what about Rush????

9 May 2002, 13:20

Originally posted by Grigori Rasputin, the mad mystic of Petrograd and what about Rush????

Please never mention Geddy Lee on this forum ever again. I beg you....

Funny aside: I used to think (and still do) that Rush was fronted by a female lead singer!

9 May 2002, 13:25

Speaking of SCTV, does anyone remember the Cold War-era skit "Countries That Fit Into Russia?"

Even mighty Canada fits into Russia. Ha ha ha!

I was going to mention my thanks for Phil Hartman, but that, um, ended badly here, didn't it?

:cry:

9 May 2002, 13:27

Originally posted by Gnu Odor Speaking of SCTV, does anyone remember the Cold War-era skit "Countries That Fit Into Russia?"Even mighty Canada fits into Russia. Ha ha ha!I was going to mention my thanks for Phil Hartman, but that, um, ended badly here, didn't it?

Yeah, the late great Phil Hartman......I still can believe he's gone (and it's been 4-5 years)

9 May 2002, 13:29

okay...we shall never mention the band beginning with R ever again...

how about those Labatt's commercials...funny as hell...

I love that bear...especially when he's minding the nets!!!!

9 May 2002, 14:09

But how do guys run this web site from an igloo, anyhow?

9 May 2002, 14:26

The worst crime Canada ever did to mankind must be Bryan Adams... [but no more about that...]

Still, don't wanna even think about how many Americans could place Finland on the World map... :smoker:

9 May 2002, 14:37

Originally posted by phantasio The worst crime Canada ever did to mankind must be Bryan Adams... [but no more about that...]Still, don't wanna even think about how many Americans could place Finland on the World map...

i could! i could! :D

...though i'd still manage to screw up my own state on a map of the US.

selective brain functions, y'see. :nod: and spending more time than one really should watching the World Rally Championship and Formula One.

(although i haven't been able to watch WRC much this year 'tall since our coverage of it sucks ROYALLY now...can't stand the voice of the announcer they've got dubbing in over the old one! :violent: )

9 May 2002, 14:53

You also missed John Irving, the worlds greatest author and an American who moved to Canada. Sense.

9 May 2002, 15:38

The new WRC announcer DOES blow. Just another example of the way the jerk-offs at Speed "Channel" have screwed up a quality product.

A quick analysis of the poll: what you have to remember is that close to eighty percent of Canada's population lives within 100 miles (160 KM) of the US border. I think that would explain why many more Canadians are aware of the mutually beneficial trading relationship between themselves and the U.S.A. It would be interesting to know the geographic locations of the U.S. poll samples.