From: jsast@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Jonathan S. Anderson)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.canada,soc.culture.usa
Subject: Re: Canada and the U.S.
Date: 8 Apr 92 14:48:30 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Pittsburgh

In article <1992Apr5.070324.18773@mdivax1.uucp> robinson@mdd.comm.mot.com (Jim Robinson) writes:
>
>Just so that I am not accused of not practicing what I am preaching here is
>a short list of perceived problems. Note that my presenting them here does
>*not* imply that I agree or disagree with them.

I understand perfectly.  This is getting to be an interesting thread, however.

>- the US treats Canada like the 51st state

I have heard this complaint before.  My honest question is, what has the
US done to make this impression?  I have been to Canada a number of
times.  Everytime, I had to stop at customs at the border.  Everytime,
I had to exchange my currency.  Obviously, Canada is a seperate country.

(As an aside, I have a great deal of respect for that country.  The countryside
is beautiful, the night life in the metropolitan areas is fantastic, and
Toronto has got to be one of the cleanest cities I've ever been to.  I heard
a rumour, however, that if foreigners saved all their sales receipts while
in the country and filled out a special form when entering the country that
they could reclaim all the GST tax they paid while in the country.  Is this
true?  If so, I wish I had been told when I crossed the border.)

>- the US practices economic and cultural imperialism wrt Canada

The economic imperialism might not be too unfounded.  Our government has
been somewhat of a bully when it comes to trade negotiations.  I think
the cultural imperialism charge is somewhat unfounded, however.  If Canadians
really feel that this is the truth, I would humbly beg you to lobby your
government to increase their funding and support of Radio Canada International.
Yes, there are people in the US who listen to the service and enjoy it a great
deal.  Lately, RCI has done little but rebroadcast CBC transmissions.  Many
of us in the South have never had a problem picking up Canadian AM on our
transceivers and wish RCI would bring back the programming that we miss.
In reality, they used to explain Canadian culture and society in rather great
detail.

>- the US takes Canada for granted

I'm not sure this charge is unfounded either.  With respect to the above,
I remember when the Constitutional crisis was happening in Canada wrt the
Meech Lake Accords. (sp?)  I listened to all the news on the ShortWave
radio wondering what would happen next and trying to decided what Quebec
or the other provinces might do.  I must admit, however, that our national
media paid little attention to the crisis.  In fact, I don't remember it
even being mentioned in the nightly news!  Obviously, such a crisis could
have had a serious effect on citizens in the US as well.  (Canada is our
largest trading partner)  Where was the media?!

I will add, however, that there are many countries around the world that
earnestly wish the US government would ignore them.  We have a bad habit
of sticking our nose in where it doesn't belong.

>- the US bullies Canada wrt trade

No disagreement.

>- the US expects Canada (and everyone else for that matter) to play by its
>  rules, but then changes these rules when it starts to lose

I don't see the US doing many things differently from other countries.  All
nations try to influence the happennings in other countries to try to push
them in their own favor.  (Canada is no exception to this)  If you want to
make an argument, I think you'll have to discuss the problem as a matter of
degree, not simply as "imperialism".

>Personally, I tend to agree with a previous poster, the Canadian psyche
>needs an "enemy" (the US), just as much as the US psyche does (was the
>USSR, now Iraq and Japan).

I've argued this before.  I really don't think that the average person goes
out looking for an enemy.  It is not to the US's benefit to have an
adversary.  It will not help us socially, economically, or in any other way.
Why would the average, rational, intelligent person seek out an enemy where
none existed before when it wouldn't even be to his/her benfit?  I'm sure
this applies to Canadian citizens as well.

>-- 
>Jim Robinson
>robinson@mdivax1.mdd.comm.mot.com
>{ubc-cs!van-bc,uunet}!mdivax1!robinson

-Jon Anderson

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  Jon Anderson                                      jsast@unix.cis.pitt.edu
      "Won't you look down upon me Jesus, you gotta help me make a stand,
       You've just got to see me through another day.
       My body's aching and my time is at hand,
       And I won't make it any other way. "                 -James Taylor
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Newsgroups: soc.culture.canada