A Question to the Canadians

[Louis VI the Fat]

Because the pre-Columbian natives hadn't the faintest clue of their living on two continents separate from the rest of the world, never mind naming them, least of all with the European name America.


Why do native Americans call themselves Americans?

[Meneldil]

I'm not Canadian but my gf is and she hates the US and americans with a passion. I've stopped arguing with her on that topic since it always ends with the two of us being pissed off*. Despite living in a country that is virtually in all ways similar to the US, despite watching US TV and shows, despite reading american books, despite eating crappy american food, she hates them all.

I'm certainly not qualified enough to speak in general, but my overall feeling after studying 8 months in a Canadian university is that this hatred toward americans and the US was/is widely shared among students.

*And I'm french, which should rank me quite high on the "I 'ate ze americanz" issue.

"Why do those from the United States think they are the Americans while there have already been real Americans living here for the past countless millenia?"

You lost, get over it *shrugs*

[Vladimir]

I'm not Canadian but my gf is and she hates the US and americans with a passion. I've stopped arguing with her on that topic since it always ends with the two of us being pissed off*. Despite living in a country that is virtually in all ways similar to the US, despite watching US TV and shows, despite reading american books, despite eating crappy american food, she hates them all.

I'm certainly not qualified enough to speak in general, but my overall feeling after studying 8 months in a Canadian university is that this hatred toward americans and the US was/is widely shared among students.

*And I'm french, which should rank me quite high on the "I 'ate ze americanz" issue.

You've nailed it. We're so similar in language and culture that many Canadians have to hate the U.S. to maintain their identity. They're proud of their country, history, and likely hate us in the way that only true friends can.

[Gregoshi]

Why do native Americans call themselves Americans?

Louis wins.

[KukriKhan]

Because the pre-Columbian natives hadn't the faintest clue of their living on two continents separate from the rest of the world, never mind naming them, least of all with the European name America.


Why do native Americans call themselves Americans?

Because they're Siberians, but "American" is easier to spell?

j/k Megas, don't blow a fuse, please. Ya knows I lovz ya!

-edit-
On topic: I lived in Ontario 1970-71 (Dad was from Kinkora, outside Stratford) and my Canadian pals said: "You're OK, but the rest of Yanks suck!".

[Megas Methuselah]

On topic: I lived in Ontario 1970-71 (Dad was from Kinkora, outside Stratford) and my Canadian pals said: "You're OK, but the rest of Yanks suck!".

Did you get a chance to drink some beer that actually didn't taste like piss?

[KukriKhan]

Did you get a chance to drink some beer that actually didn't taste like piss?

Heh. My new found friends (they rescued me off the highway when my motorcycle broke down) decided to test the stereotype, and I lived up to the Yank rep: puked my guts out on Molson Canadian the first time (mind you, I was 19, underage in the US, and had only had stolen beers from Dad before). I soon found my beer-legs though, after a week or so. Not that I had much beer money - I got odd jobs under the table for that year+ . About once a month one of the fellas (of about 12 of them) would score a good paycheck and treat the others to a couple of cases. I did so once, after getting a hefty check from two weeks cutting survey lines (light lumberjacking) up around Sudbury.

Good times. *sigh*

[Vladimir]

Heh. My new found friends (they rescued me off the highway when my motorcycle broke down) decided to test the stereotype, and I lived up to the Yank rep: puked my guts out on Molson Canadian the first time (mind you, I was 19, underage in the US, and had only had stolen beers from Dad before). I soon found my beer-legs though, after a week or so. Not that I had much beer money - I got odd jobs under the table for that year+ . About once a month one of the fellas (of about 12 of them) would score a good paycheck and treat the others to a couple of cases. I did so once, after getting a hefty check from two weeks cutting survey lines (light lumberjacking) up around Sudbury.

Good times. *sigh*

Here we go!

[KukriKhan]

Here we go!

LOL. You know we oldtimers can't help taking trips in the wayback. :)