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Maybe Canada IS less racist than the US. But why does it matter? Racism is a problem in both countries, as well as the rest of the world. Sorry if this comes off as harsh, but you can't just point your finger at another country to give yourself a feeling of moral superiority, as tempting as it may be.
Something I've noticed about Canada that I think really holds it back is that it always compares itself to the US. "Canada has *insert problem here* but at least it's not nearly as bad as in the US." Of course it isn't! Of all the developed countries, the US is the most violent, militaristic, and fearful, and has the worst income equality, not to mention a lack of universal healthcare (I'm sorry to any fellow Americans reading this, but unfortunately that's the reality of our situation). So why compare yourself to it? Why not look at Australia, NZ, Germany, Denmark, etc? In fact, why constantly compare Canada to another country in the first place? It may be helpful to take a look at other countries and their systems at times, but not constantly.
C'mon Halcyon; you've shown objectivity on here before so I know you're capable of that.
You've noticed it on here because we assume a defensive posture on OUR section. We're constantly being held up as the comparator to avoid by your MSM, your pols using us as a whipping boy and your citizens likening us to the socialist boogyman under their beds that we are constantly subjected to BECAUSE of inundation by your daily news org's.
You don't notice that because you aren't the subject of derision.
Everything from our healthcare to the size of our military get's routinely trashed by your talking heads and the effects are widespread among your population demonstrating complete belief in everything they're fed when it involves another country.
Cruise through these boards and you'll see any number of negative references among forums such as "health insurance", "current events" and the P&OC threads referring to Canada in a less than flattering manner.
I was thinking the same. Not sure if she is a serious poster or not because every other news story in the US coming out the US is about helping African Americans in particular.
We have the Black Lives Matter movement in Canada as well, which is as ever, primarily about the travails that black MEN face with law enforcement (in Toronto: carding. In America: murder). If you could provide evidence of any articles discussing the femicide rate of black women in America I would love to see it. The phrase "missing white woman syndrome" exists because of American media's obsession with white female endangerment only.
Last edited by torontocheeka; 02-07-2016 at 10:47 AM..
A news article about Toronto's newest segregated school. Interesting that they don't have those in Mississippi anymore and they are considered backwards. In good ol' Ontario it's an idea of the leftists bent on making "progress". Interesting how things come full circle.
Something I've noticed about Canada that I think really holds it back is that it always compares itself to the US. "Canada has *insert problem here* but at least it's not nearly as bad as in the US."
I personally was guilty of this when moving to the US many years ago. Now that I can say that I've spent decades in both Canada and the US I can look at both with a more objective view. I've also lived years in other countries on different continents so I even have a global perspective.
I've often heard the arguments "yes, but Canada invented xxxx", or "Canada ranks higher in yyyy survey". This is inherent defensiveness. When I was a backpacker years ago I saw a lot of Canadian flags sewn on to basically say "I'm Canadian. I may sound American to since you don't know the difference but I'm not". My personal favorite over the years was talking about the Avro Arrow and how it would blow away anything the US built at the time (I'm a big Arrow fan). Trouble is, it was scrapped and never fully developed, much less put into service. Moot point.
Also, most Americans really don't care that much about Canada's position in the world relative to their own. Sorry, but it's true. Population-wise, the US is #3. Canada is #37, sandwiched between Iraq and Uganda.
Aside from moral superiority for the individual, opinions and surveys really don't prove - or do - anything. Nice to talk about at the local Dunkin Donuts or Timmy's over a coffee and donut (or here on a forum) but meaningless.
If I were to make a mass generalization about the two countries, I'd say that the US is the greatest country in the world. Canada has a good case to be the best country in the world. These are NOT the same.
Individuals can achieve more and rise higher in the US. In nearly every field.
The average person will live a higher quality of life in Canada.
Again, these are NOT the same.
Last edited by markjames68; 02-07-2016 at 11:08 AM..
Cruise through these boards and you'll see any number of negative references among forums such as "health insurance", "current events" and the P&OC threads referring to Canada in a less than flattering manner.
It's worse on Twitter too. I follow feeds on the subject of Syrian refugees in Canada. Some Americans try to spread hate and fear by tweeting downright lies e.g. tweets declaring that Canada is only accepting single adult male refugees or tweets trying to prove a point with photos which to my eye are so very obviously photoshopped.
Maybe Canada IS less racist than the US. But why does it matter? Racism is a problem in both countries, as well as the rest of the world. Sorry if this comes off as harsh, but you can't just point your finger at another country to give yourself a feeling of moral superiority, as tempting as it may be.
Something I've noticed about Canada that I think really holds it back is that it always compares itself to the US. "Canada has *insert problem here* but at least it's not nearly as bad as in the US." Of course it isn't! Of all the developed countries, the US is the most violent, militaristic, and fearful, and has the worst income equality, not to mention a lack of universal healthcare (I'm sorry to any fellow Americans reading this, but unfortunately that's the reality of our situation). So why compare yourself to it? Why not look at Australia, NZ, Germany, Denmark, etc? In fact, why constantly compare Canada to another country in the first place? It may be helpful to take a look at other countries and their systems at times, but not constantly.
Well, that was a white privilege statement if I've ever heard one. As a person of colour I do not have the luxury of simply not caring how racist a country's inhabitants are on average. Degrees matter.
1. That article is from a decade ago. Pew Research shows about 90% + percent of Americans support interracial marriage. Second, that is a huge country. Mississippi is one state out of 50 and is more different from the rest of the US like Pennsylvania than Canada is. It isn't one metro area out of 3 or 4. If we carve out northern Ontario or eastern British Columbia into a similar sized state you would hear similarly ignorant views but since these areas are in the same province with Vancouver or Toronto their views are covered up by the responses from people who live in the metro areas.
2. What does giving out green cards have to do with racism? The US just got out of a recession and has much more limited space, why would they bring as many immigrants? That has nothing to do with racism.
Recent polls show that nearly half of all Canadians think there are too many visible minorities in Canada. Not racist as the people who put a black person in office right? I am honest enough to recognize that an Obama is far less likely in Canada than in the US. That's why we get the same upper stock white elites from Quebec or Ontario in office while in the US that type of pattern changed decades ago.
Weren't they just talking about openin a blacks only school in Toronto because they said black students couldn't keep up with other races? Not racist at all! Aborginals couldn't even vote in Canada until 1960 compared to 1924 in the US. We also only allowed whites to move here until the 1960's. No blacks or Asians were allowed. Meanwhile in the US all African Americans were citizens in 1868. Both countries have problems but it sounds like for some reason you really need to believe that Canada is less racist than the US (it sounds like your worldview rests on that shaky notion). I recommend you get to know Canada outside of Toronto because you might be in for a big surprise.
1) Oh good, 90% now approve? That means they're only 10 years behind now and not 20.
2) The Afrocentric school has already been open for over 10 years and it was the black community in the northwest part of Toronto that wanted it.
You don't really know anything about the people you're talking about, do you?
I personally was guilty of this when moving to the US many years ago. Now that I can say that I've spent decades in both Canada and the US I can look at both with a more objective view. I've also lived years in other countries on different continents so I even have a global perspective.
I've often heard the arguments "yes, but Canada invented xxxx", or "Canada ranks higher in yyyy survey". This is inherent defensiveness. When I was a backpacker years ago I saw a lot of Canadian flags sewn on to basically say "I'm Canadian. I may sound American to since you don't know the difference but I'm not". My personal favorite over the years was talking about the Avro Arrow and how it would blow away anything the US built at the time (I'm a big Arrow fan). Trouble is, it was scrapped and never fully developed, much less put into service. Moot point.
Also, most Americans really don't care that much about Canada's position in the world relative to their own. Sorry, but it's true. Population-wise, the US is #3. Canada is #37, sandwiched between Iraq and Uganda.
Aside from moral superiority for the individual, opinions and surveys really don't prove - or do - anything. Nice to talk about at the local Dunkin Donuts or Timmy's over a coffee and donut (or here on a forum) but meaningless.
If I were to make a mass generalization about the two countries, I'd say that the US is the greatest country in the world. Canada has a good case to be the best country in the world. These are NOT the same.
Individuals can achieve more and rise higher in the US. In nearly every field.
The average person will live a higher quality of life in Canada.
Again, these are NOT the same.
Very good post. I can't say I have personally heard much in real life where Canadians compare themselves to the U.S. but I think it is true that Canada just doesn't register on Americans' radar. I like the distinctions between 'best' and 'greatest.'
Are Canadians overall less racist than Americans? Absolutely.
Chalk up another one for Comedy Central....unbelievable....
Quote:
The number of immigrants per annum granted green cards in the US is roughly 250,000. The number of immigrants to Canada per annum granted permanent residency is... 250,000. At a 9th of the US population. That's 9 times more per capita.
You really do not understand why is this?? Wow.....
C'mon Halcyon; you've shown objectivity on here before so I know you're capable of that.
You've noticed it on here because we assume a defensive posture on OUR section. We're constantly being held up as the comparator to avoid by your MSM, your pols using us as a whipping boy and your citizens likening us to the socialist boogyman under their beds that we are constantly subjected to BECAUSE of inundation by your daily news org's.
You don't notice that because you aren't the subject of derision.
Everything from our healthcare to the size of our military get's routinely trashed by your talking heads and the effects are widespread among your population demonstrating complete belief in everything they're fed when it involves another country.
Cruise through these boards and you'll see any number of negative references among forums such as "health insurance", "current events" and the P&OC threads referring to Canada in a less than flattering manner.
That's strange. I've rarely seen Americans bashing Canada (except on this forum). In the media and comment sections, I've only seen Canada being portrayed in a positive light (except about its Syrian refugee plan and decision to stop the airstrikes). IRL, on the rare occasion that the subject of Canada comes up, I've only heard good things being said about it (or people just make fun of it jokingly). I've also seen Canadian articles comparing Canada to the US, so it's not just on this forum.
I guess I've either been completely oblivious or I just hang out around liberal people and sites too much. I didn't realize Americans and the American media said such atrocious things about your country so often; I'm really sorry about that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by torontocheeka
Well, that was a white privilege statement if I've ever heard one. As a person of colour I do not have the luxury of simply not caring how racist a country's inhabitants are on average. Degrees matter.
I am a POC and a Muslim, so I too am not privileged in that regard. While I agree that degrees do matter, what I meant in my previous post was that I don't think it's fair to pat yourself on the back when you have a racism problem just because your neighbor has a worse racism problem. Canada was recently rated the most tolerant country in the world, and that's great! But there's always room for improvement. We (the US AND Canada, as well as the rest of the world) must continue to strive for tolerance and diversity, which cannot happen unless we focus on what more could be done rather than how far we've come or how far behind others are.
BTW, I don't mean to bash Canada or Canadians. Personally, I strongly prefer your system over ours.
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