This is going to sound horrible...

..But I don't care.

I have a fairly large group of Canadian friends, and they are driving me NUTS!!!! Ever since their dollar went up it is like they feel they have the right to tell me how horrible America is, and how we should do everything like Canada. I have seen it on different boards I go to as well. They come in and say that we are greedy, horrible American's and we should learn from them, and they especially go off on how we elect our presidents.

I mean it has been the first time in what? 30 years since their dollar has been even equal to the U.S and all the sudden they have everything figured out?

What happen to the "polite Canadians"?

Sorry for the rant, but I have a big mouth and feel I might make them cry if I go off on them, so I figure i would let it out here.

Re: This is going to sound horrible...

as long as they're not Americans complaining about America...I'm okay with it. We as Americans have to love our country...

Other countries...well, they're just showing their own nationalism....and honestly, I know MANY Americans that have beat up on Canada for a very long time....

Don't take it to heart..European Countries have been doing it for years...

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I better not call my uncle in Toronto anytime soon... then again with the cheap dollar, that probably means he'll want to come, visit and go shopping at the golf stores

He's not the greatest house guest.

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There are still polite Canadians - at least in our Toronto office there are.

I've decided I like their health care system, so I'm pro-Canadian at the moment.

Tell them if they weren't attached to the US, they would have been taken over by any lame army out there. Canadian Mounties? Pffft!

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I wouldn't talk to them anymore - I would not be able to.

Do things like them? Oh yeah, b/c their health-care system is GREAT



ETA - sorry you are upset about it - hope it gets better

Message edited 2/7/2008 9:58:04 AM.

Re: This is going to sound horrible...

I suppose I am upset, because I would never go to someones country and then tell them how horrible it is. I mean if you hate it here so much then go home. We are not forcing you to be here.

I just have to vent because I am trying to not lose my patience with people who are ignorant.

And when they go off on their health care and how great it is, I have pointed to endless articles about how people of Canada have been coming to th U.S as requested by their doctors, to have tests done. Not to mention that there is a movement in Canada for people who want the option of having private health care because they feel that the social health care is not working for them.

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My neighbor is Greek and she get's the same from her friends from Greece who come and visit...she just takes it in stride...smiles politely...and then vents to me when their gone. She loves them what can you do???

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As an American who lives in another country, I will give some input. Yes, I gloat about the exchange rate being great, but I never ever ever ever would tell anyone how horrible and greedy American are! Thats terrible!! Tell them to sit and spin. There is no need to be nationalistic like that. Yes, my money goes twice as far, but America is still a fantastic place, icky not nice Canucks.

Re: This is going to sound horrible...

Message edited 2/7/2008 10:33:56 AM.

Re: This is going to sound horrible...

icky not nice Canucks

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Welcome to the world. Everyone talks against America. They watch the movie Sicko and think America *****. The believe all of the anti-American diatribe in The New York times and feel vindicated. That's why it enrages me ever more when Americans talk against the country.

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SICKO, was such blantant propaganda I could barely sit through it. There were SOOOO many lies in that movie I lost count.

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I understand your frustration. When I visited my family in Italy, people I hadn't seen since I was a child kept talking to me about how awful America was and how they wouldn't move there.

Uh, so don't. And I won't need to tell you why I won't go to Naples.

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Hopefully "this" makes you feel better.

http://www.tns-cf.com/news/08.01.24-consumer_confidence.pdf

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If it makes you feel any better, DH used to work for the NYC office of a Canadian company and any time he had to call someone in Canada they used to tell him how they wished they were able to use the company's American health benefits, they hated the national health system.

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As someone who has lived out of the country for almost 10 years, in my daily life I come across almost NO anti Americanism...AT ALL!! I know that other people might say different, but I think its got a lot to do with your attitude to living in another country. I am still an American even though I choose not to live in the US, I am damn proud of being an American and I will always be an American...

I love living in the UK and there are so many wonderful things about living here (and yes, the health system is one of them) but there are a lot of downsides (like the poverty, the class system, the food and the high cost of living) but I would say this...if I didn't like it, I would be right back on that plane to the states (okay, maybe not to LI, but I would be in the states)

I have a headcold and I really have no idea where my post is going, so I will quit while I am ahead!!! my thinking isn't great at the moment!!

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"Blame Canada"

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I have been singing that song in my head for the last 2 days!!!

I wish there was a dancing icon

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They should get off their high horse.

And tell you how awful we are as a group or Nationality will change things? What are you supposed to do about it? It's senseless dribble. Yes, most of the world is not liking us a lot, but that will change. There aren't a lot of countries that really admire us right now.

We only have the power of one.

Message edited 2/7/2008 11:18:03 AM.

Re: This is going to sound horrible...

Re: This is going to sound horrible...

It means that we are not responsible for everything as an individual. We can change ourselves we can hope to influence others, lobby for what we believe it, vote for government that will change things. It was really meant in the sense of why bash one person for the problems of a whole country. It's not my fault the dollar is in the toilet, that the rest of the world hates us and we are being laughed at. I can only do what is in my power to make it better. I hope that what I do, will make it better. I was responding to her friends who are bashing her. What would they have her do about it?

Message edited 2/7/2008 12:30:55 PM.

Re: This is going to sound horrible...

Re: This is going to sound horrible...

Posted by usuk2004

Posted by Blu-ize

We only have the power of one.

Honest question - what does this mean?

Rach - you know I have a different experience than you do! I come across anti-Americanism in my every day life quite a bit - I think the best I can do is to be myself, which (I hope) is nice, polite, not too greedy, proud of my country but accepting of others, etc. I just feel like it's the best defense - to buck the stereotypes.

Re: This is going to sound horrible...

I think you are generalizing an entire country from a bunch of people who are your friends and posters online. I don't think that would be what an "entire" country is doing.

Many americans do that ALL THE TIME to foreign countries without even realizing it.

Also, most countries in Europe are not anti-americans. Most people live their lives, going to work, cooking, picking their kids at daycare, homeworks, etc.... They don't spend time thinking how bad american people are.

I have traveled quite a bit over my lifetime. There are rude people in every country. Even our own!