Website aims to educate Americans about Canada

[Newsjock]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060307.wmyths0307/BNStory/Technology/home

BETH GORHAM
Canadian Press

Washington — Oh sure, you hear about how everyone plays hockey in Canada, gets to the rink by dogsled and then goes home to an igloo.

But many myths about Canadians that circulate in the United States aren't nearly so silly or harmless.

Perceptions that Canada is soft on immigration, routinely harbours terrorists and supplies most of the U.S. with marijuana are potentially a lot more unsettling to cross-border ties.

That's one reason why the Canadian Embassy in Washington is assembling an army of ex-pats as it battles the errors spouted by American television pundits and repeated at dinner parties.

Since last July, more than 25,000 people have signed up with Connect2Canada, an Internet site primarily devoted to bringing Canadians together south of the border.

more

[DBoon]

1. supplying most of the US with marijuana is a bad thing?

really?

[Lautremont]

2. And quality stuff it is too!

[LostinVA]

7. I wish I knew!

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. A little more from the Link:

.
.
.

" And, according to the website, there are a lot of myths that still need busting. Among them:

— That 90 per cent of Canadian marijuana is smuggled into the United States. It was actually about 2 per cent in 2003.

/snip/

— Canada caused the electricity blackout of Aug. 14, 2003. It began in Ohio.

— Homicide rates are as high in Canada as in the U.S. They are three times lower."
_____________________________________________________________________

So not much WONDER we're more mellow than our southern neighbors

We keep 98% of that weed for OURSELVES!! - - :silly:


and

That http://www.connect2canada.com/ site is worth poking around in also

I followed a link from the connect2canada site to here

some very interesting stuff there about crossing our southern border - convincing me even further that my decision not to cross that border again after the ShawkNawe thingy was a wise one . .

"Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, they are not recognized in the United States. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple will result in refusal by local officials."

This does not apply to me, but I find this to be a ridiculous attitude on the part of the USA Admin. - Whassa da matter - they think it's CONTAGIOUS???

"If you have a criminal record, no matter how minor or how long ago the offence, you may be refused entry to the United States. There may also be problems in travelling through U.S. airports. Under U.S. law, a pardon issued by Canadian authorities is not recognized for purposes of entry into the United States"

This DOES apply to me - so my shoplifting of over 30 years ago and an impaired driving 20 years ago gives me a problem entering the States? - EVEN IF I get a pardon? (which I haven't)

Guess I'm staying on this side of the border, feck all dat sh*t.

[MrPrax]

4. Awwww....

Oh Canada should just leave it alone...the weird stuff Americans' come up with about Canada is rather amusing...gives me entertainment.

'Debunking' myths is neverending anyway...it's like malicious gossip...once you quell one rumour, another will start up anyway.

Many of these myths are self-congratulatory morality plays or out and out state propaganda anyhow; to be believe that the US has to import Canadian dope has more to do with Americans' own image of being squeaky clean and rationalizing the drug problem as being foreign.

The idea of terrorists being alive and well and living in Canada, is pap served up straight after 9/11 by the President himself to scapegoat Canada and cover up the fact that under their own watch 'terrorists' wandered around quite freely with expired visas.

In other words, the national character of the country will create the myths and unless you are changing a nation's character, it's a waste of time. If anything, Canada raising such a high profile in this matter will probably spawn suspicious and conspiracy among the very people, presumeably this program is suppose to educate.

Americans unfortunately have a lot of myths about what goes on in other parts of their own country as well...being stupid is not really a crime.

[sandnsea]

5. The Ambassador spent too much time with Republicans

He should have traveled more. Nobody believes any of this shit about Canada. Good grief.

[Javaman]

6. You know with global warming...

Canada in a few years will be like the midwest.

[Orsino]

8. Good luck "educating Americans."

:rofl:

[happyslug]

9. Yes a Country which does NOT know much about itself

For example the persistent story of someone from New Mexico being told by his Collage to apply for aid from his "Own" Country, not the United States (For people who might not know, New Mexico is a State in the UNITED STATES of America NOT the United States of Mexico).

[geniph]

10. I just want to know when they'll grant political asylum

I'm just about fucking ready to head for the border, the way things are going.

[TX-RAT]

11. Another Myth

I always loved this one.
All that bragging about how good their fishing is. I've fished all over Manitoba, and their fishing ain't nothing. I recommend anybody planning on a trip to Manitoba for the fishing, especially on Apisko lake this August 4th through the 9th. Go some where else.