Why does Canada "Get It" and the US doesn't?

[Stinky The Clown]

Canada's supreme court just affirmed the right of gays to marry.

Canada did not go along with the war, as they didn't go along with the war in Vietnam.

Canada's citizens are free to protest Chimpus Khan up close and personal, but in the US no gets within a mile of King Khan when he's "out and about".

Canada seems to have a reliable voting system with verifiable vote count audits.

Canada has normalized relations with most of the world while we continue with threats and embargoes.

Canada has universal health care (admittedly not perfect, but a boatload better than we have here!).

I'm sure the list is longer.

In the early 1990's I had the opportunity to take a long term consulting assignment in Canada that had me in Toronto for one week a month for about 18 months. I essentially lived part time in Canada, albeit in a hotel and not in a neighborhood. I found the Canadians to be very much like us here in the USA in many ways. In fact, being in Canada felt very much like being in the USA. But clearly these similarities are superficial. A common language, but probably not a common culture.

I saw far more acceptance of the foreign born. I got a very "European" sense and feel to life in Canada. More evolved than in the US. Certainly more accepting of the individual and of diversity. A real caring, even from the government.

What is it that Canada's learned that we have yet to learn?

[trotsky]

1. Bowling for Columbine touches on this.

Moore bounces back & forth between Toronto and Detroit - cities that are identical in virtually every other way except one is in Canada and one is in the U.S. The contrast between the two was incredible, in attitudes especially.

I don't know exactly why that difference is there. Moore believes it is because our media has fostered a climate of fear, and to a large extent I think that is correct. But there must be other factors involved.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. I think it is far deeper of of a longer term than that

We used to have a free media too.

No, I think it is much deeper and of a more long term nature. It is, it seems to me, a very different cultural sense. Different values.

[Goldeneye]

2. Its gotta be the corporate media

Fox...Rupert Murdoch actually is probably one of the biggest threats to this country. Lucky Canadians have a decent media.....

[Junkdrawer]

3. Canada doesn't have the world's most powerful military...

If it did, the world's corporate masters would have targeted THEIR democracy for takeover.

[sushi]

4. Canada has learned long ago

that it's best to be a caring democracy and to be on friendly terms with all countries in the world.

[Amaya]

5. They don't call us the Excited States fer nothing

[Minstrel Boy]

6. geography, climate, religion and empire

Geography and climate impact culture. For much of our history, in much of Canada, it's been hard living here, facing the cold and thinly strung over thousands of miles. So to survive - particularly next door to a rather overwhelming force which has attempted to conqueor us on several occassions - we developed public networks and social safety nets to foster community and national cohesion.

We were not founded by puritans, and are generally embarrassed by public demonstrations of private faith. Our largest Protestant denomination is the United Church of Canada, which is an amalgam formed in 1925, and is largely extremely progressive; even radical. (It's been called "the NDP at prayer.") "God bless Canada" would sound jarring coming from a politicians lips.

Also, Canada is not governed by a "National Security State," and does not aspire to empire.

[KurtNYC]

7. I think the legacy of slavery and prejudice are a huge

part of the difference. The climate in the US plays groups against each other.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. Could it be that the US is simply too big and too regionally diverse to be

Not to restart the red state/blue state thing or the north/south or east/west or coastal/mid-continent wars, but could it be that the US is simply too big, geographically and culturally to be one cohesive country?

(This is an honest question - NOT to provoke the wars cited at the top of this post.)

[SmokingJacket]

12. Yes -- slavery is a big, big part of it.

Not all that long ago, when you think of it.

Didn't the last confederate widow just die?

[K-W]

10. Native Americans, Slavery, Latin America, Militarization, Ronald Reagan.

That's my guess.

[morgan2]

11. the us is the biggest pot of gold in the world now

all the jackals no where they can get the biggest score. Get in with the US government and you can get anything you need. You have the biggest military/economic hitmen combo in the world.

[Amaya]

13. Canadians and Americans have fundamentally different histories

And they are more of a pluralistic and secular society.

[SmokingJacket]

14. Part of it might be the way we've mythologized our history.

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are amazing documents, and I think we're justified in being proud of them.

But I wonder if our pride in our history and government has made us smug and superior. We think we're better than everyone. Most Americans are not even slightly humble about the greatness of our nation. We don't even have much of a sense of humor about our faults.

[canadianbeaver]

16. You nailed it........n/t

[K-W]

17. It is the content that matters, every nation has nationalistic tendencies.

It is the fact that our mythology includes us being the most powerful and riteous nation in the world.

[Minstrel Boy]

19. Canada is really a multiplicity of nations,

and our society tries to honour that. (It's the "mosaic" model instead of the "melting pot.") Torontonians are quite proud that the UN has declared our city the world's most multicultural.

Also, our common myths are politeness and peacekeeping, which are really as bogus as any, but essentially harmless.

[Danmel]

15. Canada is comfortable with it's place in the world

It isn't a superpower, it isn't the leader of the "free World". It is Canada, one of many world nations. It has no need to assert itself unnecessarily and provocatively. It isn't conquering, subduing, freeing or colonizing anyone. It's just Canada. Minding her own business and taking care of her own people.

They are just so much more progressive up there (of course, except for Alberta!). Even with the gay marriage pronouncement, care was taken to respect diverse religious opinion. It just seems Canadians aren't scared of each other and their own shadows.. No one hates them. Must be nice.

[yvr girl]

18. There are lots of reasons

History

The origins of our two countries are vastly different. America's original settlers were fleeing persecution and then there was a revolution.

In Canada, people came to make money from the fur trade and eventually a country evolved.

America is still deeply scarred by the Civil War (The War of Northern Aggression) The North beat the South into submission and Restruction left scars as well.

In Canada, we have the French - English divide. When the English won, there was an attempt to appease the French. We let them maintain much of their unique culture. There are still issues today, but the scars are not so deep.

Our founding mantras are different. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness is certainly more stirring, but it is also very individualistic. We have Peace, Order and Good Government, which are much more collective ideals.

Geography

We're both large countries, but Canada was tougher to tame. We're bigger, and colder and more rugged. We also have 1/10 of the people. We needed to rely on each other more.

Americas westward expansion was also largely driven by people setting out to make their mark and their fortune. Canadians wanted to make their fortune as well, but the government also pushed the expansion just so we could stake a claim, and keep you out. Building the national railroad had a huge impact on building the country.

Immigration

We both have European beginnings, but Canada has become more multicultural. Multicultural has been part of our national jargon since the 60's. Where America is largely White, Black and Hispanic - Canada is more diverse - Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Russian, Persian etc.

Role of Government

America is built upon a basic distrust of government. You did flee persecution. You have checks and balances. Your federal government is seen as a necessary evil.

Canada was largely built through government. A Prime Minister is given more power in the Parliamentary system than a President is given in your federal system. The national railroad, the trans-Canada highway, the RCMP. It was a small leap from these types of things to universal health care etc.

Different Roles in the World

America is a superpower and Canada is not. You've acted as the world's policeman. We traditionally act as peacekeepers. You have more enemies, we have more friends.

How We See Our Countries

Americans are taught about America. America is the best. It is the best system, everyone wants to be like us. Canadians are taught about other places. We love our country too, but we know that there are many functioning democracies in the world. We know that most people have a great affection for their homeland.

An interesting book on the subject is Fire and Ice, The Unites States, Canada and the Myth of Converging Values by Michael Adams.

[Huckebein the Raven]

22. I'll have to pick that book up sometime

[cheezus]

20. is the SOUTH part of Canada?

no, they're not? well, there's the answer to your question.

[barb162]

21. Most Canadian voters have functioning brains n/t