in article 2n9sd.425227$nl.158291@pd7tw3no, Steph at steph@vancouver.island
wrote on 12/4/04 11:34 AM:

> 
> "Ernest Schaal" <eschaal@max.hi-ho.ne.jp> wrote in message
> news:BDD6CA1E.2D850%eschaal@max.hi-ho.ne.jp...
>> 
>> I believe that you fear America and I believe that you have disdain for what
>> you consider to be the parochial arrogance of many Americans, but I don't buy
>> into your remark that you "pity" America. That would require a degree of
>> compassion, and a degree of self-esteem, that you seem to lack.
>> 
>> I realize that it is not easy living next to the only remaining superpower,
>> not merely militarily, but also economically and culturally. I am aware of
>> the effort by the Canadian government to preserve a "Canadian" culture when
>> the neighboring culture predominates. That is why you had (have?) those
>> restrictions in advertising and in television content.
> 
> Yes, we feel we can do without many aspects of the lowest common denominator
> garbage which passes for "culture" in the US. We don't need any more Oprah
> or Jerry Springer, thanks. US "culture" is so strong that in a recent
> National Geographic investigation, 87% of Americans couldn't find Iraq on a
> map of the world. 10% of your population doesn't have health insurance. Your
> life expectancy is less than that in Canada and most European countries.
> Your murder rates in a single large city are higher than Canada's for the
> entire country. The "lack of compassion" south of the border is what we are
> most keen to avoid importing. As for your wonderful military, they managed
> to kill and injure more Canadian troops in Afghanistan than the Afghans did,
> and more British troops in the Gulf War than the Iraqis did. Most is not the
> same as best, but that is a message long lost in many areas of what you
> consider US "culture"


I find your comment about culture particularly interesting, having seen what
passes for Canadian television. Canada does make some fine movies
occasionally, but so does Iran. It is not known as a Mecca of art, which may
be one reason why so many Canadians move to the States to make it big.

>> I don't pity you, and I don't envy you, and I don't fear you. I consider your
>> country pretty and quaint, and I usually enjoy my visits there. Most of the
>> Canadians I know don't have your deep resentment/envy.
>> 
> 
> I don't have either deep resentment or envy, just disdain. I guess you pick
> your Canadian friends carefully

Probably it has something to do with most of them being educated
professional types. Many of my Canadian friends are fellow lawyers. It is
usually the lower classes who bash the States because of their own
self-inadequacies.