Carolyn Parrish is a Member of the Parliament of Canada. Last year, she called Americans "bastards." On Wednesday, she called them "idiots."
Ms. Parrish offered her recent slur while commenting on a missile-defense treaty. In the words of the National Post, she believes that "participating in missile defense [with the US] would make Canada a terrorist target."
May I take this opportunity to apologize to American friends and readers? I am guessing the typical reaction is, first, "What?" and, then, "Whatever." And indeed Ms. Parrish deserves the dismissal we reserve all for kooks and cranks. The trouble is that there are millions of like minded kooks and cranks in my fair country.
Anti-Americanism is rampant. Many Canadians now make free with the most derogatory comments about their southern neighbors. They are pleased to call Americans stupid, aggressive, and vulgar. They are quick to say that Bush is a moron. (And here I have to bite my tongue to keep from saying, "well, he may not be Stephen Hawking but he is almost certainly smarter than you.") Want an easy laugh at a gathering of Canadians? Say something anti-American. No sooner have you spoken than the room is awash in self congratulation. American bashing is now a Canadian pastime, as passionately pursued as road hockey and Tim Horton do-nuts.
Indeed, I have not heard prejudice as unabashed as this since I spent a summer in the south of France and listened to locals let fly with anti-Semitic sentiments. (I do not mean to compare anti-Americanism to anti-Semitism, but merely the unapologetic ease with which both sentiments are, in this case, offered.) Canadians pride themselves on being open minded and cosmopolitan. But here they are stupid, aggressive, and vulgar.
This is a classic "clique effect," according to which the members of a comparison set who are judged and found wanting have two choices: to accept the judgment or to cultivate values that release them from the comparison. This is a kind of "you cant judge me, I march to a different drummer" strategy.
In some ways, this is apt. Canada is a country trembling on the verge of Second World status. Its health care system is crumbling. Its economy is underpowered. Its education system, merely ordinary. Its contribution to global culture, modest. But lets take the most immediate case in point, the Olympics. So far, Canada has a score of 9 in the medal race. The Netherlands, with a population of 16 million (Canada has 25 m.) is well ahead with 21. (Naturally, everyone is thrilled we continue to outpace Estonia which has 3 medal points.)
Really, there is no comparison. The US leads in scientific accomplishment (see Nobel lists and patents awards), athletics (see Olympic wins), education (see Ph.D.s produced), business innovation, technological innovation, and cultural innovation. Oh, Canada. Poor Canada. Your neighbor outstrips you on every dimension.
But I have never heard a Canadian admit to admiration or even acknowledgement of this difference. Instead, the strategy is to claim moral superiority. Canadians are better, they suppose, because they have better social programs, pay more taxes, and do not go to war. Why is that, I wonder? The reason that Canada does not go to war is because it lives within the protection of the US. This is the reason it has an Armed Force that would be hard pressed, if transplanted to Eastern Europe, to defend itself from an attack by Estonia.
And this brings us to the question of terrorism and Ms. Parrishs conviction that a missile defense treaty with the US would expose Canada to an attack. It is hard to know whether this is naiveté or cowardice. But it certainly smacks of ingratitude. To accept American protection and then, in the American hour of urgency, to refuse to do what little we can, is wrong.
It compounds the error made by former Prime Minister Chrétien when he refused to send Canadian troops to Iraq. Chrétien claimed that there was insufficient evidence of weapons of mass destruction. What in Gods name prompted him to think this was the point? Plainly and simply, our neighbour needed us to close ranks, show solidarity, and present a single face to the dithering world community. If friendship was not enough, surely the opportunity to repay the "protection" debt should have been. If you can’t act from honor, you might at least think about acting out of reciprocity.
Ms. Parrish calls Americans "bastards" and "idiots" because she would otherwise be obliged to accept a pressing reality: that Canada is no longer the "sleeping giant" but a continental embarrassment, the little brother who turns out to be slow at learning, bad at sports, incapable of protecting himself, inclined to incoherent outbursts, and, in spite of this, insufferably smug, self important, and ungrateful. Ms. Parrish, please, for the love of God, just shut up.
References
Curry, Bill. 2004. Liberal Insults U.S. Again. National Post. August 26, 2004.
Why are people thinking that Carolyn Parrish speaks for all Canadians. One Canadian insults the U.S./Bush and everyone gets in an uproar. People are entitled their opinion. Ms. Parrish doesn’t speak for all Canadians.
She lacks tact, but she’s right you know.
Of course she is right. I fully agree with her latest statement. But I do agree that she lacks tact.
The Canadian Liberal governement might as well go run into buildings like the Iraqi’s with bombs strapped to them. Just like the rest of the extremist terrorists in this world. They steal from the Canadian public and expect retribution for it. Guess what Canada, your country is being sold out right from underneath your noses. Before long the taliban will be running around in our streets firing off machine guns in the air while the canadian public cowers and hides with cowardice in their basements.
Ummmm, all governments have their problems, no government is perfect. Every government in the world is stealing its population’s money in some form. That Iraqi bomb comment is a low blow. In my opinion Canada is equal to the U.S., not above it, but not below it either. Just because a government has different views than yours does not mean it is the wrong view.
Spot on…our PM is no Stephen Hawking either, but at least he had the guts to go and cut her loose….what an idiot that Parrish was…..good nite!!
I agree with most of Carolyn Parrish’s remarks but this time she went to far. I am glad that she is no longer a member of the Liberal party, but I am happy to see that she is still an MP, but now an independent member. Now I know people are going to say I’m anti-American for agreeing with Mrs. Parrish’s comments, but I’m not, I just have different pollitical views than Bush and his administration.
What Americans do not understand is that we have somewhat of an inferiority complex up here. We are desparate for attention from Americans and/or the world. Case and point is the fact that Mike Weir, the golf player wins a very high profile U.S. tournament called “The Masters” and he proclaimed “Athelete of the year” by the Canadian sports journalists. This is because for a whole weekend a big chunk of Americans were watching a Canadian take down Tiger Woods. The sad part is a Baseball Closer named Eric Gagne was overlooked even though his accomplishment which was far greater. This man did not blow a save for the Dodgers for an entire year! This impossible feat was overlooked because of his relative low profile on the world stage.
So in a strange way we are enjoying attention a loose canon like Carolyn Parrish brings to the table. By the way the Paul Martin finally fired her today, but only because she started bashing him. It had nothing to do with the Bush bashing.
I am by nature a Conservative Canadian. I am not big on tax and spend policies of our Liberal governments. I especially do not like debt and deficits which to me have caused us untold grief. That being said, the aspect of Bush that I find hard to stomach is how quicky Bush has turned a surplus into a massive deficit. If I was an American, I would be totally p!ssed at Bush for this and the poor state of your economy in general. From an outsider’s observation I have witnessed 8 years Bush(s) regimes and in my opinion you have been in pretty much of a recession for 7 of them. I am not sure if this is a coincidence or not. I guess you will find out in the next 4 years.
Context is everything. Calling Americans “bastards” was in a specific context.
Americans supported (and continue to support) a war which has killed 100,000 people, mostly women and children, and has reduced a relatively advanced Arabic society to chaos. The war had no justification whatsoever. The country ignored every sensible international voice in doing this.
The only lesson America appears to have learned from the horror it inflicted on Vietnam is that you don’t send conscripts.
Please don’t forget, in Vietnam, America did the greatest mass killing since World War II. About three million people killed in their own homeland because they embraced the wrong economic system. Enough Agent Orange left behind to poison people for a century. And enough landmines to kill and cripple tens of thousands for decades. The full barbarity of what America did there has never been widely appreciated.
In between, we have coups and dirty little mini-wars in dozen places and the unqualified support for vampires like the Shah, Ceaucescu, and dozens of others.
Maybe Carolyn’s gone a little over the top, but how do her few words compare to mass murder?
True enough, but to lump in an entire nation with the terms that Carolyn likes to use is not justified.
Others may not agree with the actions of other states i.e. Israel….but how long would a politician last if they were to say “Damn Israelis…I hate those bastards.”
Same statement but a lot more damage control would be needed than just kicking the Americans…..who unfortunately always seem to be in season up here in Canada.
Anyways, totally agree with the inferiority complex statement earlier….Canada does act like an awfully like a neglected or ignored kid….”look what I can do…”
GG.
As an unfortunate constituent of the Mississauga-Erindale riding that Ms. Parrish ‘represents’, I am utterly appalled by her behaviour. And I am equally dismayed by how common place America-bashing has become in this country. While everyone has the right to their opinions and to express them, there are appropriate ways to do so. For instance, if I behaved at my place of business the way that Ms. Parrish has in her job, I would have most likely been fired. We have an explicit mandate to treat everyone with dignity and respect. I may not agree with my colleagues on everything, or even like them. However, I maintain a professional relationship with them and show the same respect as I would expect for myself. My fervent hope is that Ms. Parrish will turn her attention to serving her constituents in matters that are truly pressing – affordable housing, health care, relieving the burden of debt students assume during post-secondary education, improving access to post-secondary education and more.
Anti-Americanism? What a joke. The worst crime in the old Soviet Union was to be “anti-Soviet” so when I hear pro-Washington brainwashed sheep like this blogwriter bring out the term it is just so pathetic. People who call others anti-American really have no good arguments to counter what is being said.
I don’t know what anti-Americanism is supposed to be, but war is immoral and attacking other countries is always wrong.
The Nuremburg trials determined that the ultimate crime was for one state to attack another, like Hitler did, and international law was set up to prevent exactly what the United States is doing with Iraq and Afghanistan.
The in Iraq wasn’t a liberation, it was a slaughter of Arabs (still is). This is enough reason to despise Washington. With 100,000 dead people in Iraq due to a war America started, it is clear to me that Washington’s commitment to human life is zilch. Is this anti-American? If so, maybe anti-American means normal.
Carolyn Parrish was kicked out of caucus for what she said about Martin and the Liberal Party (“I have no loyalty to this team” etc.) – not for the Bush-stomping doll sketch. The Liberal Party knows full well that most Canadians sympathize with Ms Parrish.
I agree with the last comment on anti-Americanism. It is just unfortunate that today the US is associated with so many evil/sordid affairs, like the Abu Graib S&M session torture scandal, the execution of wounded POWs, a war based on lies, and so on.
The destruction of Fallujah specifically reminded me of the My Lai syndrome – “We have to burn the village to save it.” American democracy and that country’s sense of right and wrong is really in trouble — so please don’t call me anti-American.
Peace.
Carolyn Parrish gets headlines but does not truly represent the views of her constituents with her ridiculous comments and foolish attempts at humour.
I live in her constituency and voted for her because of the dearth of talent in all candidates running for election. I could have passed on voting for this reason, but too many of my relatives died to protect my right to vote and I am not about to let their heroic deeds go in vain.
I mailed her correspondence last week when I became aware of her most recent antics and put her on notice I intend to dedicate my personal efforts to remove her from office. I copied President Bush and Prime Minister Martin on this correspondence. I believe my views in this regard are more reprsentative of those in her constituency than she would have you believe. This sentiment is verified by the fact that the first step in the process has already been completed with her expulsion from the government caucus.
The next step will occur at the next election when she will be defeated at the polls, if she decides to run.
This 7th generation Canadian is proud to be a neighbour of the US and has no hesitation in admitting this.
We in Canada have the right to freedom of speech just as you do in the US. While we enjoy this right, it does not equate that everything said is right. This definitely is the case in the situation of Ms. Parrish.
On behalf of the many, many Canadaians who share my views in this regard, to all in the US please accept without reservation my sincere apology to you for the disrepectful and non-representative words and actions of Ms.Parrish.
Sincerely,
A Canadian named Bob
Any war produces truly terrible things.
But to equate what Washington is doing to what the Third Reich’s aims and intent were is really going beyond the pale.
The Americans are not embarking on a world domination endeavour. Most Americans themselves would acknowledge that their own country is not perfect. But to equate Abu Gharib with camps like Bergen-Belsen, Dachau, et al is not even close.
Still think that a lot of dissention has a lot to do with the dreaded “anti-“…. 🙂
GG
G
“People who call others anti-American really have no good arguments to counter what is being said.”
Not quite. Its just that Canadian anti – Americanism is knee – jerk and mindless. Canaidans seem to make a fetish of it. I know, I live here. There are lots of reasoned arguments against mindless pacifism as well, which is just as bad as warmongering.
Lets see. How about this.
“The Nuremburg trials determined that the ultimate crime was for one state to attack another, like Hitler did, and international law was set up to prevent exactly what the United States is doing with Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Utterly false. Even the US’s opponents in the UN could not make a clear accusation that they were breaking international law. Iraqi sovereignty was already qualified by previous UN resolutions – which they broke. Justification for the war existed as far back as 1994. Afghanistan, of course, was harboring an international terrorist that initiated an attack on the US. The UN charter says its OK to attack them.
I just said this as an example of the blind assumptions out there. So anti – Americanism is normal? In Canada it seems to be the case. You cant slander Muslims, blacks, or other minorites but Americans are fair game. An American woman married to a Canadian had her son singled in class by the teacher for his accent. She and the class laughed at him. His mother also had her car spit on becuase it had a US flag. Was she at fault for US foreign policy? Was her son?
See, the US has made alot of mistakes, and has done alot of good. There is alot they can be criticised for. But when they are equated with Nazis, or “the biggest terrorist nation on earth”, thats very disproporionate.
And thats why Carolyn Parrish is a ditz. She made a half assed attempt to be a demagogue and she had good reason to think she would get away with it. Afetr all, she would have an adoring audience.
Give ’em hell Canuckistan….right on!! Just like I said earlier…only Americans can get kicked here in Canada….saying those things with any other nationality mentioned would prob. get you chucked in the clink…
GG.
I don’t see how you can sit there, and say Canada has made no breakthrough discoveries lately.
I’m sure if you did a bit of research you could reveal quite a few. The latest one i read about was a new method of treating breast cancer that seemed to be very promising.
Greatness doesn’t come just in the form of technology. It also comes in the form of moral achievements(gay rights?), political achievements, etc.
I’m a duel citizen(born and raised in U.S) and married to a Canadian gal, and living in Canada.
Before now, i’ve never had health care. If i broke a bone, i was out of luck. Thankfully i never did break one(musta been all that madcow infested milk i drank).
My father was a truck driver, an extremely hard working man…that was absent from home for weeks at a time. Missing his son growing up and all the joys associated with that, to put food on the table. He’d come home once every week or perhaps two…he literally was running himself ragged to provide for us. And he could have been financially wiped had something gone wrong with me. He had no medical coverage for his family, unless he wanted to pay 200 dollars every 2 weeks(no i’m not joking). But he was the hardest working man.
Unless your fortunate enough to be working for a large company your out of luck in the medical coverage area. This is how most of the people in Maine are. No healthcare, and they pray nothing bad happens…because if it does, you go bankrupt quick.
Is this a virtue of the United States? Because i certainly think it isn’t.
You claim the U.S. is superior in terms of education? Yes, ONLY in the university/college aspects…and in part due to the 40,000 a year tuitions in some prominent colleges. If i paid 40,000 a year, i certainly wouldn’t be dropping out either. In terms of public education from K – 12th grade, the U.S. education department is a massive failure on so many levels….especially when compared with Canadian public education.
I’d say, although its not perfect, the medical coverage every canadian citizen gets is a massive achievement. And unless you live in Canada and experience it yourself, you cannot judge or say otherwise. And unless you’ve lived in the States, and experienced NOT having it, and NOT being able to pay for it…you have no leg to stand on against someone(myself) who has.
Its something every canadian should be proud of.
Heck, my father makes 60,000 a year now down there, and works about 12-14 hours of the day(which is nothing compared to before) and can just barely afford the insurance for himself…when you factor in house payments, car payments, etc. Let alone if he still had to add me in to it.
Gold medals? Who gives a flying…what does that prove? A Certain few people are more conditioned then others, because more money was spent on them. Big whoop.
I don’t mean to sound like a jerk.
There is a reason i decided to live in Canada, instead of the United States…and that reason doesn’t revolve around the idea that the United States is the better country, ESPECIALLY in terms of raising children.
This is a great Article on CTV’s website about anti-bush not meaning anti-american
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1101773671621_20?hub=Canada
Um Mike, national health insurance in Canada or Europe is quite expensive, you just pay for it with taxes taken from your earnings and on goods you buy. American private health insurance is also expensive, you just pay for it through your work or privately from your earnings. Either way, YOU are paying. When are you socialist types ever going to learn there is no such thing as a free lunch???
I never said health care was free. I never said we were getting a free lunch. Being an economics minor in University I have an understanding of where are taxes go.
I know health care is a big part of our taxes, but I like the idea of being able to walk into a hospital and not having to pay, at that point anyway. The thing I dislike about the U.S. health system is that if you do not have the money you get turned away and if you can’t afford to pay tens of thousands of dollars for a surgery then you can’t get it. In Canada if you pay your taxes you will pay that tens of thousands of dollars over decades usually without going into debt. I just prefer the system of paying for everything in one lump sum during tax season than individually.
As I keep on saying I am not anti-american, just anti-bush with left wing views.
I didn’t intend to sound sarcastic in my last post and I can understand where you are coming from. It is against US federal law for hospital emergency rooms to turn away people who can’t afford to pay or have no insurance though you will get a big bill in the mail later(I have). I very much agree that we in the USA need to find a way to make sure everyone can get affordable medical insurance as well as widening the safety net for those that lose their jobs etc., as well as bring down medical and drug costs big time.
However socialized medicine(in the USA) isn’t the way to go, I feel. The reality is we’d likely be paying thousands of dollars a year in huge taxes for a lousy, overburdened public healthcare system where you’d wait a year or more for heart surgery.
The USA has many different and costly circumstances that Canada doesn’t have, such as spending huge sums on poor Mexicans who show up as US hospital emergency rooms. So we can’t compare to Canada because we are different.
You do have a point. The US has different issues with health care than Canadians do, and you have to do what is best for Americans, I’m not saying our system is right, but it is probably the best for Canadians.
I found this blog by doing a search of “Canada anti-American,” which I did because I was hoping for some insight into my experience. I live in Minnesota and had never given much thought to the subject (such is the luxury of the dominant culture, I suppose), though I’ve always had positive impressions of Canada. I am a psychotherapist who has been attending a training program in Vancouver, and have been there four times in the past couple of years. I was puzzled to hear transplanted Americans apologizing for being American. The Canadians were not making anti-American statements and seemed friendly enough. I thought it might be humor, but no one was laughing. I figured the transplants must have heard plenty of anti-Americanisms, otherwise why would they be apologizing? Then someone explained to me that there is anti-American sentiment in Canada. Therapists I know in Minnesota work hard against prejudice, and I can’t imagine any of my colleagues here in “Baja Canada” – that was cute! – remaining silent if someone from another country aplogized for their nationality! How bizarre! Of course no one person should be held responsible for their whole country (except maybe, in this case, Dubya), and should not be prejudged as such. The Canadians I’ve met in the class and elsewhere seem pretty nice to me, although they do get strange looks on their faces when I say where I’m from. What’s going on here that I’m not getting? What are they too polite to say?
I don’t think you are really missing anyhting. As I’ve stated before, there is anti-americanism in Canada, the same as there is anti-canadianism in the US. Maybe these people think you don’t fit the traditional, stereotypical american? Who knows.
You know what I think Americans get there knickers in a knot about regarding Canadians? The fact Canadians know how to prosper, run surpluses, enjoy lower crime rates, have public healthcare, be respected by the world, not have to worry about “terrorists”, we don’t have Bush, marry if your gay…all this and we can smoke the reefer without anyone giving too shits (if the reefer is such a villian how do we accomplish so much?). Yes we have it all. Cast aside your anal retentive bible thumpers and come enjoy all it is Canada has to offer. I mean what the hell are Americans so conservative and boring for? You have the potential to be a such a great country but you are so darn conservative you make Stephen Harper look like Ben Harper.
Thanks for reading.
Ben Harper! Loved that. I’m sure few people will get that joke. I agree with everything you said there, except for the “reefer”, but thats my personal opinion.
Everyone wonders: why the anti-americanism in Canada? I haven’t read all these blogs, but I’ll tell you again if the reasons are already stated: when was the last time the US supported Canada in Canadian interest, rather than the usual all-about-me-the-great-America interest? When was the last time you saw an American praising Canada and waving the Canadian flag…maybe even proudly??? I don’t think there was a last time. There was no time at all. Although I don’t hate all americans (51% at least). Ok, so maybe the US supported Canada once or twice. Maybe even three times. But the number of times Americans supported Canada will never be half, if not a third or even a millionth, of how many times Canada had to give in the the greedy and ignorant ways of the American government. Maybe this will help you readers understand the sentiments better. I’m pretty sure most of you read the “I AM CANADIAN/ITALIAN/CHINESE/AMERICAN” email that goes around a lot (it’s also one of the best Canadian commercials ever). They have good reasons in that email. Oh, by the way, we can kick your sorry ass at hockey ANYDAY. Hasn’t the olympics taught you anything? We’ve beaten you like a million times already.
Everyone wonders: why the anti-americanism in Canada? I haven’t read all these blogs, but I’ll tell you again if the reasons are already stated: when was the last time the US supported Canada in Canadian interest, rather than the usual all-about-me-the-great-America interest? When was the last time you saw an American praising Canada and waving the Canadian flag…maybe even proudly??? I don’t think there was a last time. There was no time at all. Although I don’t hate all americans (51% at least). Ok, so maybe the US supported Canada once or twice. Maybe even three times. But the number of times Americans supported Canada will never be half, if not a third or even a millionth, of how many times Canada had to give in the the greedy and ignorant ways of the American government. Maybe this will help you readers understand the sentiments better. I’m pretty sure most of you read the “I AM CANADIAN/ITALIAN/CHINESE/AMERICAN” email that goes around a lot (it’s also one of the best Canadian commercials ever). They have good reasons in that email. And as a multicultural country – no, white culturalism doesn’t count – we have a right to make fun of Americans for being ignorant and racist (which most are, especially in the South). Oh, by the way, we can kick your sorry ass at hockey ANYDAY. Hasn’t the olympics taught you anything? We’ve beaten you like a million times already.
woops…stupid server sucks…my bad
Being discriminatory toward Americans is different than being discriminatory toward minorities or different ethnic/religion cultures. Why? Because Americans are not a type of people, unless you say they’re all ignorant, stupid, etc. But not ALL of them are. Discrimination occurs when the discriminator(s) feel threatened by the discriminated. Well, as a Canadian (PROUD if I may add, such as the guy who posted the blog like 30 mins ago), we are threatened Americans via: ignorance, crime, racism, greed, arrogance, no self-control, and worse of all…senseless stupidity. Unfortunately, many Canadians have already succumbed to these forms of…idiocy. That’s why I’m posting this blog, so Canadians will hopefully smarten up and drink a cup of Tim’s rather than Starbucks, and non-Canadians wil understand the anti-americanism.
Can we be anymore stereotyped? I agree that I don’t like some Americans but that is based on their own individual traits, not simply because they are American. To bash Americans as being all arrogant and idiots is to prove how ignorant and egotiscal you are yourself. But at the same time, Americans who feel the need to resort to insulting those who insult them are no better. every single country has their own strengths and weaknesses. In response to why Canadians might feel strongly against Americans, there are several reasons and this is not just true in Canada but in all parts of the world. Bush’s decision to go to war with Iraq has triggered animosity towards Americans. In our present age, the mention of war has become taboo for politicians since any war could well lead to the destruction of man. We have already two world wars to show for humanity’s violent nature. Now if Bush had gone to war with Iraq without going against the UN, and the common wishes of all people, including some Americans, the world’s reaction might have been better. But he did not. He chose to go to war despite the consequences and now we learn there were no wmp to start with. Americans in American do not support Bush’s plan of action and its doubly true for people in other parts of the world who feel no need for revenge and are perhaps still unsure why Bush chose to attack Iraq at all if it was a question of revenge for September 11. This is already a much debated about issue but I personally find the link between Iraq and Osama Binladen extremely questionable. If you are fighting terrorism, then go to North Korea, not just Iraq. Now, why the anti- Americanism? Because when the president of the United States acts, he represents all Americans. So can we really blame the world community when Americans at home feel the same way towards Bush? His re-election has made the anti- Americanism worse, since it shows that Americans support his war policies, even with no wmps in Iraq. That is why there is anti- Americanism. As for the countries being sad that Bush is pulling the troops out, please keep in mind that the news we all receive is biased and editted. The news you may receive in Canada is different than the news in America with completely different perspectives. Some people may be sad but I doubt that is the overall case. I do not believe that Iraq was happy at having foreign troops enter their country. Yes, Americans freed them from oppression , but at the cost of how many lives? We have heard about American lives being lost but the Iraqis? What about them? This is core of the problem. The world thinks Americans believe their lives are worth more than others, and can you blame them when all the statistics we receive are about how many American soldiers died.
Lovely. My Canadian identity is “not being American”. That’s it?
I think I’ll take a relaxing drive in my old Ford, rent a couple of Disney dvds, maybe treat my kids at McDonalds, come back to this old P3 IBM and read more crap from True North (BTW Parrish was never a “leader”, she was a nobody, according to PET standards) or others.
I read a lot of comments above, and I won’t comment on the war in Iraq, missle defence etc…
I’ll leave that for more sophisticated minds.
What I can say is having served in UNPROFOR (twice), at Camp Pleso, there was minimum Canadian support for the 7 to 10 of us there. Who helped us? The Yanks. I repeat – the Yanks.
What I also found is the friendly rivalry between us, (football, darts, soccer, poker, etc), and a good solid friendship that continues to this day.
I ask again, my Canadian identity is “not being American”? Screw it, I’d rather be American then.
and she was right ..all you american think is war and killing …us we think about peace to give good medical insurance to everybody..good security penssion
not to take that from our people for killing inocent people how stupid is this
Thank you for your well-timed, and well-written, rant on Parrish and the racist anti-americanism that is so prevalent in Canada these days.
Being a Canadian recently married to an American who inexplicably agreed to move up here to be with me, I feel her pain every single time some thoughtless Canadian moron finds it amusing to make anti-american slurs when speaking with her. it’s almost as if they’re goading her on. Maybe they don’t realize how insulting they’re being?
But watching my wife wince every time someone in Toronto feels the desperate need to comment on how “rude”, how “pushy”, how “aggressive” Americans can be, or feels it’s their right to trot out statistics on the Iraq conflict, George W Bush’s criminal record or the NRA and the proliferation of weaponry throughout the USA, makes me damn angry. I’m tired of my fellow Canadians telling Americans how terrible they are.
As others have pointed out here, Canadians are in NO position to point the finger at their American neighbours, folks.
How many of us would, given the chance, move down to the USA in an instant if offered the right opportunity? Many of us I’ll bet. So we’re just hypocrites. And jealous hypocrites at that.
Well enough of my rant. Back to work!! Thanks for listening.
I just linked to this post on my blog. I want to thank you for sticking up for us Americans. Glad to see that there are some Canucks like you who TRULY stand for peace and not just say they do. I appreciate you more than you know.