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Actually, "cheque" is British spelling, NOT Canadian. Same with "colour," "centre," "labour," analyse," "paralyse," "oestregen, "whilst," "draught," etc. Some of these, Canadians use; for others, they employ American spelling (I guess only a certain number of American spellings are acceptable in the Canadian forums. Beyond that, one runs the risk of being snickered at (another Britishism)).
Though I have British parents and use Brit spellings occasionally, I actually think some of them are kind of pretentious and prefer the American.
Most of the english language is British spelling
The fact that Canadians use some of the same spelling as the UK, as does Australia, does not make that use " pretentious ".
People are schooled in those spellings, as you should know since you claim to be Canadian.
Your comment about what Americans spellings are acceptable in Canada hints at the belief that someone sat down and gave it some thought. You are totally ignoring how language and spelling work and changes depending on history and location.
I truly find it odd, that any Canadian would think spelling Cheque is pretentious. Really odd.
So on one hand you acknowledge that Americans dont focus on Canada, but on the other hand the constant barrage of Canadian inferiority towards Americans is defense against lies? I dont even know what you are talking about when you say the healthcare debate. Canada almost never comes up. Maybe CBC or this forum makes it look like it does, but it doesn't. Americans arent telling lies about Canada, we arent eve talking about Canada. Its funny because when a stupid American politician or a guy on TV says the smallest thing about Canada, it is broadcast on CTV like his ideas are a common theme. The Canadian reaction is incredible and certainly a symptom of an ingrained inferiority complex.
The Anglo Canadian identity is essentially based on comparisons (usually blown out of proportion) with Americans. For every idiot American making a snide comment about Canadians being pansies, there are 50 insecure Canadians bashing about the US. And the Canadians are saying really mean things while most Americans in the rare instance they do talk about Canada say something harmless like you live in igloos. There is something wrong with the Canadian identity that makes them react in such a dramatic insecure way. I mean, it is truly incredible how people talk about the US there and Americans are totally unaware of it. I never in a million years would have guessed Canada was like that. Before living there I never would have imagined that Canadian culturally is basically trying hard not to be American.
Rested now
As an American, I really don't expect you to get this. However I'll try.
In Canada, unlike other countries, we get all of your media, not just TV shows that are shown around the world. We get your local news stations, we get your national news etc.
Millions of Canadians also travel in the US. I've been visiting since 1964.
We know you. By you I mean as a country. We know your great points, we know your bad points. We know your greatness and your weakness.
Living next to a super power who's media and propaganda is spread around the world. Percentage wise I would say more Canadians look at the US as a family member, than do Americans towards Canada.
So when that family member benignly says something either in their media or to my face that is totally incorrect or unknowingly insulting, I'm going to correct them.
I've had conversations with many Americans who insult our military and it's accomplishments. Asking stupid questions like " you guys were in WW II ?" When you've answered questions like this over and over the years, you're going to get a little thin skinned. So if those answers to that question and many, many others sounds like we're insecure, then too bad.
I mentioned the healthcare debate in the US. The majority of Canadians are proud of our healthcare system (please let's not turn this thread into another healthcare debate ). So when your media and certain politicians starting the lies about our system, we're going to react. Remember, we get all your media so we heard these lies. So defending loudly our system and trying to counter the lies has nothing to do with being insecure, but everything to do with helping our family member try and have an intelligent debate about healthcare.
We didn't invite ourselves into this debate.
As for Anglo Canadians identity being based on comparisons..well yes. So is American identity. Just because we have to differentiate ourselves more from Americans, doesn't mean we are insecure. The world often mistakes Canadians as Americans. Are we just to sit back and pretend I'm from Iowa just so that someone doesn't think I'm insecure?
Err...yeah you got independence in the 1980's. Your geopolitical situation makes it impossible and unnecessary for Canada to start a war. The country is peripheral and a junior ally of the US. You cant claim "Canada never started a war" while also claiming you always won. You are putting Canada together with the British Empire when convenient while also trying to separate it from the atrocities of the British Empire. Typical. If we are to conflate Canada with the British Empire then you guys have invaded almost every country in the world. But of course you conveniently separate Canada from the British Empire when convenient. The British own up to the atrocities they committed across the world, but you try to whitewash your role. Besides...your country itself is based of off the conquest of the Canadian....the Quebecers and the First Nations people. It would be hard to argue that Canada didn't start the Red River Rebellion or the Northwest Rebellion, which it brutally suppressed, with its discriminatory government. The Metis would probably see things differently...
In regards to independence.. Here's a link to clarify.
And rightly so. Canada doesn't know what it is. Some Canadians define themselves as being "not American, thank God"; and some define themselves as being "Not British, thank God" and still others define themselves as "Canadian, thank God." Still others define themselves as "God? Who's that?" Canadians may well be seen as having an inferiority complex.
Thankfully, our Constitution makes room for all of the above in our government.
In my experience, most non-North-Americans have little to no understanding of the relationship between the US and Canada. They do not understand the trade issues, they do not understand the personal issues. They do not understand how intertwined our economies are; how our families are intertwined as well. I have family members in New Jersey and Nevada; how do I cut them off from being beneficiaries of a will executed in Canada: I cannot.
Oh, yes we do. As former PM Pierre Trudeau once said, "Living next to you [i.e. the US] is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt." Trust me, we in Canada are affected by every twitch and grunt. We study every twitch and grunt. And we get to know every twitch and grunt. Because the US's twitches and grunts will affect us before they affect the UK, Australia, Ireland, France, and so on.
No matter how much it p@#$es off some Americans and Canadians, we all in North America are in it together, for the long haul. Now, can we work together?
That has more to do with identity, than insecurity. Perhaps that is where people get confused, believing that by trying to explain who we are to others, it sounds as if we don't know who we are?
Well, if being neighbors with the US constitutes as knowing the US better than does any other country, then I think Mexico knows the US pretty darn well, too.
it could be, as others have said, they aren't aware of the issue since they are quite removed from this continent's realities.
to a degree, however if this so called inferiority complex exists to the degree people are saying here, they'd pick up on it. After all, any trip to the netherlands and meeting dutch, you will eventually understand their relationship with germany and how they have to more often than not, make the distinction. However, they are not called insecure.
it could also be that they know about it but know it's a sensitive issue for canadians (their rapport with americans and the u.s.) and therefore choose not to bring it up.
my friends aren't that nice
i mean, i've heard on more than occasion stories about service staff in foreign countries being instructed to assume that anyone who speaks with a neutral north american accent is canadian, because (some) canadians will flip out if you mistake them for an american, but americans don't care if you mistake them for canadians.
hmmm. I've met many foreign service staff unable to tell if someone is from england or canada or the us.
What are they instructed to do with australians?
As an American, I really don't expect you to get this. However I'll try.
In Canada, unlike other countries, we get all of your media, not just TV shows that are shown around the world. We get your local news stations, we get your national news etc.
Millions of Canadians also travel in the US. I've been visiting since 1964.
We know you. By you I mean as a country. We know your great points, we know your bad points. We know your greatness and your weakness.
Living next to a super power who's media and propaganda is spread around the world. Percentage wise I would say more Canadians look at the US as a family member, than do Americans towards Canada.
So when that family member benignly says something either on their media or to my face that is totally incorrect or unknowingly insulting, I'm going to correct them.
I've had conversations with many Americans who insult our military and it's accomplishments. Asking stupid questions like " you guys were in WW II ?" When you've answered questions like this over and over the years, you're going to get a little thin skinned. So if those answers to that question and many, many others sounds like we're insecure, then too bad.
I mentioned the healthcare debate in the US. The majority of Canadians are proud of our healthcare system (please let's not turn this thread into another healthcare debate ). So when your media and certain politicians starting the lies about our system, we're going to react. Remember, we get all your media so we heard these lies. So defending loudly our system and trying to counter the lies has nothing to do with being insecure, but everything to do with helping our family member try and have an intelligent debate about healthcare.
We didn't invite ourselves into this debate.
As for Anglo Canadians identity being based on comparisons..well yes. So is American identity. Just because we have to differentiate ourselves more from Americans, doesn't mean we are insecure. The world often mistakes Canadians as Americans. Are we just to sit back and pretend I'm from Iowa just so that someone doesn't think I'm insecure?
The Canadian Inferiority Complexâ„¢ strikes again!
The fact that Canadians use some of the same spelling as the UK, as does Australia, does not make that use " pretentious ".
People are schooled in those spellings, as you should know since you claim to be Canadian.
Your comment about what Americans spellings are acceptable in Canada hints at the belief that someone sat down and gave it some thought. You are totally ignoring how language and spelling work and changes depending on history and location.
I truly find it odd, that any Canadian would think spelling Cheque is pretentious. Really odd.
I was trained to use Canadian spelling so I am pretty rigorous on that front.
That said I don't really care which spellings people use, although there's something jarring when I see the word "cheque" written "check". It just does not look right.
But isn't the majority of what is being claimed on here anecdotal, including the (alleged) "facts" about Canadians and how they are nicer, more polite, and blablabla?
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) accusation coming from an American who seems to spend an awful lot of time on the Canada forumâ„¢
