should Cnadians have been concerned about the growing American influence on the everyday lives of canadians?
459489
It depends on the type of activity influenced by Americans!\n\nIf it is Inspirational self help such as Anthony Robbins or Chicken soup for The Soul books or Environmental Consciousness, it's a good thing! However, if it's the destructive lyrics of Rap or loose morals, Canadians should be concerned!
868995
Because American citizens are rude and demanding.  If European people can tell the difference between a Canadian and a American by talking to them, the there is a problem.  They don't want you to stop existing, just to shut-up.
620904
I really don't mean to be rude but the really scary thing is that you have a family. Where did you hear that America will be nothing in a few years? your grilled cheese? 200 years ago the strongest country was England 100 years ago it was France or Russia.............. wow ........................................do us all a favor and don't tell people that your American, or from the United States, tell them your Canadian or something. Wow You've got to be from Oklahoma or Pennsylvania>
1162484
I live here in America and have been an American all my life. If they were willing to flee to Canada just because of a certain president being elected then I wonder about their loyalty to America and whether they are true Americans or people who live in America and only like it when things go their way. I would call that a fair weather American. Wouldn't you? Sure hope they don't join the military or run for a government position themselves. I 'd hate for them to turn tail and run just because things were  not going there way. Right ?
1139879
Generally I think Americans are ambivalent about Canadians.\n\nWe like their beer (Molson), probably eat their beef (Alberta), can appreciate their hockey (Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs), adopt their artists (Alanis Morrissette, William Shatner, Jim Carrey, John Candy, and so on), and film in their country (Vancouver).\n\nWhile I've nothing against Canadians, and indeed respect them, as a FIB I'm more passionate about my beloved Cheese-Head neighbors to the north and happy Hoosiers to the east. All in all, I'd say that Iowans (my western neighbors) are most like Canadians.\n\nRegarding Manifest Destiny: here are some sections from Wikipedia related to its definition and how it affected our relations with Canda, Texas and Mexico. Please visit the link for the complete write-up.\n\n"Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States had a mission to expand, spreading its form of democracy and freedom. Sometimes advocates said there was divine sanction (but atheists were often just as supportive). Advocates of Manifest Destiny believed that expansion was not only good, but that it was obvious ("manifest") and inevitable ("destiny"). Originally a political catch phrase of the 19th century, Manifest Destiny eventually became a standard historical term, often used as a synonym for the territorial expansion of the United States across North America towards the Pacific Ocean.\n\n"(It) has always been a general notion rather than a specific policy. \n\n"The phrase ... was first used primarily by Jackson Democrats in the 1840s to promote the annexation of much of what is now the Western United States (the Oregon Territory, the Texas Annexation, and the Mexican Cession). \n\n"British North America\nAlthough Manifest Destiny was primarily directed at territory inhabited by Mexicans and American Indians, the concept played a role in U.S. relations with British North America (later Canada) to the north. From the time of the American Revolution, the United States had expressed an interest in expelling the British Empire from North America. Failing to do that in both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, Americans came to accept the British presence on their northern border, but fears of possible British expansion elsewhere in North America was a recurrent theme of Manifest Destiny."
408501
Everyone identifies differently: Some are "Quebecois", some are "English" some are "french" some consider themselves just plain old Canadian but others prefer french Canadian or English Canadian.  There are alot of immigrants in Canada though and they do not consider themselves any of the above and then the natives make things more interesting.  The history of Canada is a bit sad you know the french lived with the natives but essentially largely took over their lands...then the English invaded a bit more brutally.  Killing alot of french Canadians and natives and moving them into one province and oppressing the french Canadians for years via the catholic church and reduced employment opportunities.  The history makes self identification interesting and touchy. A good idea is to let people correct you if you refer to them as the wrong thing...then the best idea is to let them self identify.
425907
Not at all. We all have periods of self doubt. It doesn't matter if you're American or not. It doesn't make you any less American.
818576
Although for a long time I sensed an undercurrent of disdain for France way back when France was trying hard to be the dominant NATO voice. Many Americans viewed these policy differences akin to ingratitude... for American sacrifice and reconstruction that freed and rebuilt France from the ravages of world war II. This growing penchant of France not to support USA initiatives to contain communism worldwide and to actively promote it's own idea of hegemony with them was not only a big disappointment. To the macho Americans these actions verge on being sissy.  So perhaps it's these same Americans that get insulted being referred to as French, because that would be like telling them they look effete. \n\nOn the other hand, it could be simply a matter of national pride. Same reaction you get when you mistook a Puerto Rican as Mexican. Try that sometimes...
170219
That is a tough one...\n\nDuring that period there was a massive migration of French Canadian towards the USA and they mainly landed in Long Island, Conneticut, Main, New Hampshire....\n\nThere is a Franco American association I beleive that have strong historical base knowledge, they could have such a list and may even guide you towards finding a listing for the rest of those living in the Dominion of Canada....\n\nYou can also find leads in cultural or ethnical associations such as:\nIrish, Scotts, Russians and others groups that came under persecutions such as religious association that really stay in contact and have such listing... Such as the Coptic Church, Greeks, Armenians ( and specify if it was from Turkey, Libanon or ex: USSR)...\n\nI personally have native blood from Iroquois ancestry... so.. I've travelled in the different reservations between Ontario, Quebec and NY state....
571404
Canadians are generally nice people, their country looks like the US but the people is much more "European", even if they are also very north Americans in most ways.  I must say that I know especially Fench-Canadians, because I visited Montreal and Quebec.
1160297
I completely agree with you. There is entirely too much anti-Americanism. Being a Canuck myself, I have nothing but respect for the American people. Now, having said that, here comes the reason for the US bashing that is happening all around the world.\n1. America has become the police of the world, and many people would choose their own bad governments rather than a just and benevolent foreign government.\n2. That just and benevolent government mentioned above is strangely missing from your country. I always found the US Constitution to be a thing of genuine beauty. Does it not say that you are responsible to throw off such governments that detract from the rights of the people?\n3. American Foreign Policy, for the protection of American business interests, not the mutual betterment of all nations.\n4. The attitude that Americans have about their culture and country. The self proclaimed best country on earth, sounds arrogant, and nobody likes an arrogant person.\n5. The fear mongering being put forth by the American media machine. Hasn't anyone noticed that the hard won rights of the individual are disappearing in the name of security? I hope you enjoy living in your police states of the future.\nAs for a Third World War, where can we stand? In line with Bush's for or against policy? If that is my choice, then I must stand against. I now, always have and always will stand against tyranny and evil, even when that repression is claimed to be for my own safety. \nAs for wanting into the US, because you have greater freedoms than most, but not all.
511173
I am not American, I am Canadian and very proud of that fact.\n\nThere are things I admire and envy about the USA< but then on the other side there are also things I do not appreciate or admire. This war in Iraq is one of them...\n\nI think it was a huge mistake to go in and do what they have done. The civilian casualties are such a shame!
301069
I am Canadian with many relatives in the US.  I have spent 35 years between the two countries and let me tell you, there are many social differences between the two countries.  I could spend the next two hours writing on the subject, but I will try to sum it up quickly and simply.  \n\nThe United Nations examines many cultural and social aspects when they determine their top 50 countries to live in list.\n\nLiteracy, infant mortality, life expectancy, murder rates, corruption, and poverty to list but a few. Using these aspects to measure a country's "status" as it were.  Canada has fallen on the list over the years to Norway, but for most of the 90'S we were #1.  The US was around the 25-30 area.\n\nI point out to my American relatives (all of whom believe that their nation is the best in the world, even though many have never travelled) that their communist neighbour Cuba has a higher standard of living than they do according to the UN.\n\nAs humble as we Canadians like to think we are, we are very proud and grateful that many of the negative social challenges that are ever present in the US don't exist here (at least not on the scale it is in the US).  I don't know one Canadian who would ever want our two nations to merge.\n\nWe have a relatively unknown multi-cultured utopia up here and we would like to keep it that way.
853515
Actually, no.  Being an American myself, I can tell you at least from my experience that the people I know think of Canada as our neighbors to the north.  Canada is just like America, only you guys got it right, while we continue to spiral down into a pit of despair.  A friend of mine recently moved to Canada and I'm actually quite jealous of the things that are better in Canada.  Being an American, he sees and doesn't take for granted what you guys have up there.
171088
don't feel rude because it's a valid question. Have you ever seen Rick Mercers "Talking to Americans"? The responses are hysterical. The view of Canada seems to be that the whole dang country is above the tree line and we all commute to work on ski-doos.This has been going on for years.\nMany Americans are ignorant about their own country too.
1042656
YES!!!  For starters, a little respect and acknowledgment of how, not only the U.S., but Canada as well,  was stolen from the very people who tried to be friendly and 'good' to fellow man!
49946
I see very little outside of the United States, so I will limit my remarks to my country.  Our culture has become very diverse.  As a consequence, there seems to be a wider span of beliefs and thoughts about the proper and socially acceptable behavior.\nOn one hand are those who are steeped in traditional moral value, but have been lead to believe that military action in the middle east is acceptable behavior.  On the other hand are the rising minorities who are coming to the realization that the “American Dream” may remain just a dream for them.\nToo far?  We, as a society, are too divided to solve our own problems.  We are rapidly building walls between ourselves and each other as well as the rest of the world.  We seem to have forgotten tolerance in favor of getting “in each other’s face.”  The seeds that we sow now shall be reaped at some future time, perhaps when our national debt is owed to the rest of the world.