Yesterday Nicholas Deleon, our resident crank, wrote some nasty words about Canada. He knows your women are more beautiful, your fields more verdant, and your maple trees more succulent. And all of these things dig deep into his psyche, reminding him what ROTC really means and how cool William Gibson is for escaping to Vancouver. He is young. He has not yet felt the bracing air of a cold, Canuck June morning or the hot breath of a Mountie on his neck as they cuddle on the frozen Northern wastes. He seems cruel, but please understand — all of us love Canada and we want your healthcare system, your calm demeanor (did you know you can leave your doors UNLOCKED in Canada? You can!), and your moose. What we don’t want is your draconian laws preventing Google from taking our pictures as we walk into Sperm Banks, churches, and strip clubs. After all, our privacy is raped so much here that we’re starting to get all Stockholm Syndrome-y about it. Please send bacon.
Hey CrunchGear – kiss my royal Canuck ass [WinExtra]
Sigh, once again I’m embarassed by the country I call home.
I was born in Canada and have lived here all my life and while I do enjoy the benefits like great health care, lack of guns and generally pleasant folks there is a dark side. You see my country tends to have a bit of an inflated yet fragile ego. Many people mistakingly think hockey and beer are the national past-times but in reality it’s bashing the United States.
But, while my fellow Canadians can dish it out like there’s no tomorrow I’m afraid they just can’t take their own medicine. So any time another nation, particularly the U.S. even slightly insults or insinuates Canada isn’t the greatest thing since sliced bread our people go ballistic. For example when Conan sent Triumph the Insult Comic Dog to do a report in Montreal I thought our country was going to go to war. In the city where they hold a massive comedy festival every year it seems no one can take a joke when it’s at their expense.
So I knew as soon as I read your post yesterday a similar backlash would occur and I felt I should speak up in your defense. The reality is that Canada would not exist in its current form if we did not have our American neighbors to the south. Period. End of sentence. Turn on any Canadian TV network and it’s all US shows, go into any theater and it’s all US movies, walk through any mall and it’s all US based chains. Sure we have our own national identity but believe it or not we’re not that different from Americans! (Shocking, I know!)
Having our neighbors to the south grow and flourish into the most powerful nation on the planet has done nothing but benefit those of us to the north. So in conclusion, grow up Canada. If you’re going to spend all your time pointing your finger at the US be prepared when the finger gets pointed back at you. And have a sense of humor. (Or at least go down to the US and buy one when the exchange rate is in our favor.)
Is the exchange rate EVER in your favor? I was offered a job there for $42,000 CDN and it turned out it was worth like $5 and change.
Ha, well it’s not doing so bad now. In fact I’ve found some great tech bargains buying from the US. It’s just the shipping and customs duties that sting. But even when the exchange rate screws us who can get upset when our paper currency is so colorful and cheerful!
“we want your healthcare system,”
No no no no… we don’t want their healthcare system. We should get a healthcare system that actually works. So I’ll take the Netherland’s system or if forced I would settle for France’s.
France’s system doesnt work – or wont continue to work – at its current rate. Socialized medicine is not the answer!
All the socialized medical systems have their own problems…