The "moral superiority" of Canada...

[Guest Frank Zappa Mask]

from www.drudgereport.com

 

 

It's not our fault we're morally superior to U.S.

 

 

RICHARD GWYN

 

Without intending to — his effect was actually the exact opposite of his intent — Deputy Prime Minister John Manley was praising Canadians lavishly the other day when he scolded them for harbouring a feeling of "moral superiority" toward Americans.

 

In fact, he's largely right in his description. Not that Canadians are morally superior to Americans, or to anyone. Our principal superior quality is that we are a lot luckier than anyone else — lots of natural wealth, lots of space, no enemies, no superpower or colonial responsibilities. (Calling the U.S. president a "moron" is, to get that out of the way early, utterly moronic.)

 

But a fair number of Canadians do feel morally superior to Americans. Manley, who has a distinctly schoolmasterly tone whenever pronouncing on this topic — earlier he called Canadians "immature" in their attitudes toward Americans — said this was "a sign of our insecurity."

 

In his diagnosis, he is dead wrong. Doubly dead wrong.

 

First, for Canadians to feel this way, even if wholly unjustified, is a sign of national self-confidence. It makes us unique in the world.

 

Lots of others resent Americans, envy them, wish they'd get out of their faces. Some people hate Americans. Many others love them. Lots of people both love them and hate them.

 

Only Canadians, though, dare to feel morally superior to them.

 

It's quite challenging to understand why we should be so bold. My own guess is it's because we feel we are better North Americans than they are; that is, we jointly possess most of the essential attributes of being a North American — optimism, love of freedom, a sense of limitless possibilities — but, in addition, have done a better job of being a collective, of having a sense of solidarity.

 

However you parse all of that, a lot of Canadians feel in no way inferior to Americans, even while immensely admiring their energy, their competitiveness, their boldness, their patriotism.

 

The big exception to this rule is the right-wing, neo-cons who want Canadians to become as indistinguishable as possible from Americans (two-tier medicine and the rest).

 

If all of this is good for us — certainly a lot better than our traditional, self-deprecatory foot-shuffling — it's also good for Americans.

 

They are absolutely certain they are superior to everyone else. Americans absorb with their mothers' milk a conviction that they are an exceptional nation, a city on the hill, a light unto others.

 

And then at the very moment when all of these presumptions do seem close to being confirmed — America as today's Rome — there comes from the distant, frigid north, a voice saying, "No. We're better."

 

What's so terrible about that? Is Manley saying that Americans cannot stand to be challenged, that they would collapse into self-doubt if another people say steadily, insistently, that the American way isn't necessarily the absolute best way?

 

A legitimate source of concern to worrywarts like Manley is that there should be a rise in anti-Americanism in Canada at a time when Americans are so patriotic and so likely to take offence.

 

Except that anti-Americanism is on the decline in Canada. As it should be.

 

A huge international poll on attitudes toward the U.S. was released days ago in Washington. In most countries there has been a distinct deterioration in the U.S. image since the last comparable poll, in 1999/2000 or before the attacks on New York.

 

In Italy, support for the U.S. has dropped from 76 per cent to 70 per cent, in Germany from 78 per cent to 61 per cent, in Britain from 83 per cent to 75 per cent. In Muslim states — unsurprisingly — support has plummeted, down to 10 per cent in Pakistan.

 

Canada is one of the very few exceptions. Here, the U.S.' favourable image has inched up, from 71 per cent to 72 per cent.

 

This doesn't mean anti-American stupidities don't exist here. But specific examples are difficult to find. Often, they are merely criticisms of U.S. foreign policy, which, even if unjustified, are perfectly proper to make, in contrast to boneheaded generalities about the American way of life.

 

Back to the main point. Quite a few Canadians do feel morally superior to Americans. If that nettles some Americans, good — it might help them to understand how the rest of the world feels about Americans' overwhelming presumption of superiority to everyone and everything.

 

As a bonus, it's good for Canadians to feel cocky in a thoroughly un-Canadian way.

 

 

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Richard Gwyn appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at [email protected].

 

Additional articles by Richard Gwyn

 

 

 

 

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[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

I live in Canada, and I can't stand this garbage. I think the US and Canada are no better or worse than each other when it comes to most things non-economic (where the US rightly kicks our ass) or non-military (ditto here). The Canadian stereotypes of Americans are just as lame and outdated as those of Canadians by Americans. I've travelled through about 80% of the USA, and most of the people I met were friendly, accomodating, and interested that I was from Canada. None of this "igloo and dogsled" bullshit that you see in stupid Canadian beer commercials. I'll say this much: after visiting England, I feel more and more that North America is the best place to live in the world, regardless of what side of the border you are on.

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

BTW Chris, I don't know how familiar you are with the Canadian media, but as someone who's in the know, most of the Toronto media is garbage. If you want good articles to read and post, I suggest checking out the Globe and Mail as it is far and away the best national paper in this country.

[Guest bob_barron]

As someone who has lived in Canada and US- I've faced some American hate but most of it I just laugh off or just point out contradictions in what they say.

 

I don't think Canadians are "morally superior" either. They're a little nicer but other then that there's not too much of a difference

[Guest LaParkaMarka]

Canadians are supposedly the only people who feel they are superior than Americans? What about the French? They definately come across as feeling superior at times. Possibly a few other European nations too, like Germany and Italy. Maybe even Japan. So I don't think Canadians are unique in that.

 

Also: Globe and Mail is one of the only decent publications in the entire country. This is no exxageration, as almost everything is owned by one guy, Izzy Asper, who tends to push his own agenda onto things. Not cool at all.

[Guest bob_barron]

Don't forget Conrad Black

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

Legal Notice:- Copyright 1996-2002. Toronto Star

I think that pretty much says everything.

 

 

Although I'm going to have another piece of obvious bias for my friend, who claims that the Star is a lot easier for him to read than the Sun... Then again, he also goes on about how much he hates the US for throwing it's weight around over the rest of the world with as much panache as it pleases, so I guess it'll do me little good.

 

I find that while only 30 or 40% of Canadians may feel that way, 80% of Canadian youth certainly do.

[Guest J*ingus]

So, do they hate "the American government", or just "Americans" in general? Cuz most of us have no say in the matter.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

The Toronto Star is about as accurate as the Weekly World News.

[Guest bob_barron]

Oh be nice to the Star- they gave my journalism school a lot of money.

 

I only read the sports section though

[Guest CanadianChris]

Don't forget Conrad Black

Hollinger sold pretty much everything to Asper. The only major paper Black holds now is the National Post (another useless paper).

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

Don't forget Conrad Black

Hollinger sold pretty much everything to Asper. The only major paper Black holds now is the National Post (another useless paper).

Damn right. The National Post may as well be edited by Ralph Klein, given the massive verbal blowjob they give him on a daily basis.

[Guest Anorak]

I'll say this much: after visiting England, I feel more and more that North America is the best place to live in the world, regardless of what side of the border you are on.

Which places did you visit in England? It's not that bad!

 

I've been to America once and I enjoyed it, people were freindly, food was nice and VERY plentiful (BIG portions!) and we're not even in the same league when it comes to general 'service'. People seemed pleased to help you out with something or answer your questions and did it with a smile on their faces whereas back home you're always met with a kind of 'fuck off and leave me' alone type attitude, like you're putting them out asking for something even though its their job to help you.

 

Despite the obvious and oversimplified stereoetypes, most nations DO have their own distinctive national character which have remained intact throught history. It's always fascinating to see what assumptions and beliefs people from different countries have of both themselves and others from abroad. It's often seemed to me that many Americans (here I go stereotyping you all) don't view Europe as a particularly diverse place in terms of culture or character. In Britain on the other hand, we have a whole bunch of stereotypes reserved for our European neighbours. Here's the negative ones (90% of them!). I'm not personally endorsing these btw.....honestly.

 

The Germans are boring and have no sense of humour, the French are smarmy and rude & the Italians and Spanish are lazy or dishonest. The Dutch or Scandinavians are more likely to be kindly labelled 'laid back' or 'polite'. Most Scandinavian footballers playing over here speak better English than their British teammates. Actually its amazing to think just how much the average British person bases their stereotypes on sporting (i.e football) history or events. The parallels between our views of how the German, Italain and Spanish football teams play and what we think of them as a people are practically one and the same. Nothing breeds general xenophobia or keeps it alive better than International sporting competition (at least nobody else plays America's national sports! *sorry*). Nationalist and extreme right wing groups love picking up fresh recruits from football grounds around Europe. I guess that's football and politics for you, It's a bit fucking scary when you think about it. Somebody must have written a really great book on the subject sometime, its fascinating stuff.

 

Sorry about the 'sport' type post but I thought it was relevant to the debate about 'national character' and assorted stereotypes.

 

As for shitty 'newspapers' debate, be thankful you don't have to be subjected to British tabloids and their grubby influence on us all (there was a time when 'The Sun' could be credited with winning an election for christ's sake!).

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

I don't mean to say England is a bad country, I'm sure as a whole it's not at all. Of course, there was tons of stuff about it I really liked. But in terms of a "would I like to live here" feeling, I couldn't help but think I like North America a lot more. It's a lot of weird little things that are hard to explain, but I can recall stepping off my flight back on Canadian soil being one of the most stangely satisfying moments of my life.

[Guest redbaron51]

too me and my experiance, the farther away I go from the border, the more ignorance there is between the two countries

[Guest The Hamburglar]

It's often seemed to me that many Americans (here I go stereotyping you all) don't view Europe as a particularly diverse place in terms of culture or character. In Britain on the other hand, we have a whole bunch of stereotypes reserved for our European neighbours.

I know, it always amuses me when Americans characterise Europeans as this one amorphous mass when in fact one of the fun things about living in Europe is that we all can't stand each other. Still, for some perverse reason I prefer a French person looking at me like I'm a piece of shit and being incredibly rude over an American manically telling me to have a nice day. Still, Americans(both US and Canadian) are simply nicer people. Hell, here in Britain we hate and stereotype other parts of the country, even though its smaller then California. Come on, we all know scousers steal things and have no jobs, Geordies work in abandoned mine pits, cockneys are pick-pockets, Welsh people shag sheep and southerners are poofs. I like your football analogy though. The Italians and the Spanish do cheat, I tells ya. They're greasy diving bastards! ALL OF THEM!! Especially Pippo Inzaghi. God do I hate that fucker.

[Guest HecateRose]

One thing I do have to say is that every country I have been to all have their good points, their bad points, and things that just seem . . . well . . . incredibly foreign. I lived in England for 3 years, and loved how the public transit systems not only got you easily through a city, but could get you through the whole country without too much hassle (I base that off of many US city public transit systems I've used). It was the only country where when I got slightly turned around in downtown London, and was hopelessly staring at a map, a police officer just walked up and offered to help me. They did come off as less friendly at times, but I also had an hour long conversation in a pub with a 60 or so year old man who was quite polite (even though he was not fond of the US).

 

I lived in Turkey when I was very young (about 5 yrs old to 7 yrs old give or take a year), and had some pleasant experiences there (but they do love US money, might have tipped the scales a bit). Many of them were very polite and even would warn you about bad areas in town. Though my mother did get chased down a road at night once, and some one did climb to our 3rd floor balcony and try to break in (could have happened anywhere though).

 

The Germans are a little less adventurous, but not boring. They go nuts at their fests out here (which happen all the time, any excuse to party they love). Some of them are helpful to Americans, though you do encounter some obvious disdain at times. I'll never get passed the fact that it is acceptable to have a beer before noon though.

 

Just as you can see differences in different countries, the same is true for different states. They are more friendly in Nashville than New York City (based on my experience). Though the New Yorkers are more accepting of different types of people and lifestyles than they are in Nashville.

 

Oh well, that's just my 2 cents (whether that is US cents or Euro cents doesn't matter to me)on the whole thing. Everyone has certain aspects they should be proud of, and ones that they should be not so proud of (or sometimes down right ashamed of). That's just how it is. No place is perfect for everyone.

[Guest EricMM]

That's very true, in America it seems that the North is much more speedy and hurried than people from the south. In DC and New York, it would be UNHEARD of to say hello to someone you pass on the street, in the south, that's ok.

 

But on the other hand, most people up north can't be bothered to be racist, because you'd be the de facto minority.

[Guest dreamer420]

That is garbage. Canada is a very laid back country while the US is fast becoming the biggest bully of a nation in the world.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

That is garbage. Canada is a very laid back country while the US is fast becoming the biggest bully of a nation in the world.

Canada is laid back because they don't do anything. The U.S. sends the Military everwhere and protects Canada's lazy ass.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

That is garbage.  Canada is a very laid back country while the US is fast becoming the biggest bully of a nation in the world.

Canada is laid back because they don't do anything. The U.S. sends the Military everwhere and protects Canada's lazy ass.

We aren't lazy. We're helpless.

[Guest CanadianChick]

Goes everywhere to protect Canada's lazy ass? What do we need protection from? No one hates us enough to start a war with us

[Guest EricMM]

You're western aren't you?

 

That seems to be why most of the people hate us. WE'RE INFIDELS you know...

[Guest Vern Gagne]

We aren't lazy. We're helpless.

Than start building up your military and dump the universal health care that's causing Canadians to come to the U.S. for treatment.

[Guest evenflowDDT]

Universal health care causing Canadians to come to the U.S. for treatment? That doesn't even make sense... you got any documentation on that?

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Universal health care causing Canadians to come to the U.S. for treatment? That doesn't even make sense... you got any documentation on that?

Why doesn't it make sense. I've read reports of people crossing the border to get an MRI or their knee scoped because the wait in Candada is to long.

Trust me I've seen stories and I'll post a link the next couple days if I remember or even care by Monday afternoon.

[Guest Olympic Slam]

That is garbage.  Canada is a very laid back country while the US is fast becoming the biggest bully of a nation in the world.

Canada is laid back because they don't do anything. The U.S. sends the Military everwhere and protects Canada's lazy ass.

That and there's about 40 or so U.S states of more importance than Canada. Believe me, Bin-Laden's "checklist of death" prolly looks something like this.......

1. New York

2. WTC/Pentagon

3. Israel.........

43. New Mexico

44. Canada

45. A KFC in Denver...........

[Guest treble charged]

1. Why is it that everytime someone wants to verbally attack Canada, all they can think of is that we have a small military? If that's the one knock against us, big fucking deal.

 

2. Why is it nescessarily a BAD thing that terrorists don't want to attack Canada? Seems to me that that would be something to brag about.

[Guest Incandenza]

1. Why is it that everytime someone wants to verbally attack Canada, all they can think of is that we have a small military? If that's the one knock against us, big fucking deal.

 

2. Why is it nescessarily a BAD thing that terrorists don't want to attack Canada? Seems to me that that would be something to brag about.

1. Bigger military = larger penis, duh.

 

2. You're just jealous.

[Guest bob_barron]

Is this thread gonna turn into a pissing contest cause I'm kinda confused who to root for