USA vs. Canada

[Drops of Jupiter]

For those who have visited either country or live in them, here are some questions:

1. Where would you rather live and why?
2. Which country is more tolerent of gays and their lifestyle?
3. Which country is more respected around the world?

This needn't turn into a battle... just a bit of friendly competition. So what do you think?

p.s. Yes, I AM Canadian!

 

[eric55]

OI!, not a competition? I have a sinking feeling about where this thread is about to head....

For the record though, I am Canadian and I identify with what we describe as the Canadian identity, so for me, given the question, would choose to remain in Canada. I beleive in comparison it's an easier place to be Gay, and I like the overall left lean to our politics.

That said, I also believe the U.S. is a great place and I have considered many cities in the US to be shining examples of tolerance, diversity and generally fantastic places to explore and consider living.

Most importantly though, I have come to appreciate in the last few years that it is individuals that make up a country. No matter what country you go to, what you will experience is the people you meet, not the country's "identity". And in my dealings with American friends and time spent on JUB I have had the great pleasure to exchange with great people regardless of where they are from.

 

[Snickers52]

I have made many trips to Canada and have always enjoyed my visits. I could certainly live there if it were required. It's practically impossible for anyone to just say they would rather live in the US or Canada without some sort of qualification. Everyone would have their own reasons for their decision since everyone's personal situation is different. Obviously if I were poverty stricken in the US with no resources and had the opportunity to move to Canada and make much more money and have a much nicer home in which to live, I'd rather live in Canada. But I have lived in the US for 53 years and I am very accustomed to how things are done here. I've lived from one end of this country to the other and realize that if one area is not to my liking I can always move to a place that is.

Personally I don't think it's good for people to be too comfortable in their lives. Everyone needs a little something to put an edge on things. It keeps you much more on your toes. If we all lived in some sort of utopia things would get very dull, very quickly. People would get lazy and complacent because they would know exactly how their day was going to go every day.

So, taking into consideration my current lifestyle and needs, I'll pick the good ol' US of A.

Oh, you had 3 questions. So here goes with the other two.

Obviously the Canadian government is currently much more tolerant of gays than the US government. But, that could change for either government depending on the outcome of the next elections.

And regarding respect, right now Canada is obviously more respected around the world. Bush has turned most of the world against us. It's happened before and probably will happen again. As soon as we kick his ass out and get a liberal democrat in the white house you'll see things change rapidly. I'm old enough to have seen it more than one time in my life. No matter how much people hate the US government, they don't hate the US people. Well, a few of them do but who cares about them?

 

[sonny10305]

This post could not have come at a more interesting time for me.
My sisiter visits Canada twica a year and is seriously considering moving there.
For some of you who have done that, what is involved? Do Americans find it easy to make such a move? basically how hard/easy is it to do?

 

[OrionNorthFL]

For those who have visited either country or live in them, here are some questions:

1. Where would you rather live and why?
2. Which country is more tolerent of gays and their lifestyle?
3. Which country is more respected around the world?

This needn't turn into a battle... just a bit of friendly competition. So what do you think?

p.s. Yes, I AM Canadian!

Why do I get the feeling that this is a rhetorical question youre asking yourself, lol?

 

[gsdx]

This post could not have come at a more interesting time for me.
My sisiter visits Canada twica a year and is seriously considering moving there.
For some of you who have done that, what is involved? Do Americans find it easy to make such a move? basically how hard/easy is it to do?

Try this: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.html

 

[Rockhard]

God, another let's hear it for Canada thread--of course, started by a Canadian. Do you ever tire of tooting your own horn?

Anyway, in answer to your question:

1.) USA. In all the places I've lived and visited (including good ol' Canada), none compares to where I live now. The climate, the people, and the creative energies here are far suprerior to anything I experienced in Canada (esp. Quebec who can't decide whether it wants to be Canadian or French).

2.) Countries, per se, are not tolerant. Countries are not living things. It's people and communities who are (or are not) tolerant. Where I am, everyone is tolerant. Same is true of much of Canada (except conservative Alberta). Marriage? That's where Canada is light years ahead--and always has been. Is it worth freezing your butt off at -20 to get married? I think not.

3.) Respected in what? In science, medicine, and the arts it's the USA. If it's minding one's own business and not interfereing (nor assisting) in world matters, it's Canada.

 

[Drops of Jupiter]

God, another let's hear it for Canada thread--of course, started by a Canadian. Do you ever tire of tooting your own horn?

Anyway, in answer to your question:

1.) USA. In all the places I've lived and visited (including good ol' Canada), none compares to where I live now. The climate, the people, and the creative energies here are far suprerior to anything I experienced in Canada (esp. Quebec who can't decide whether it wants to be Canadian or French).

2.) Countries, per se, are not tolerant. Countries are not living things. It's people and communities who are (or are not) tolerant. Where I am, everyone is tolerant. Same is true of much of Canada (except conservative Alberta). Marriage? That's where Canada is light years ahead--and always has been. Is it worth freezing your butt off at -20 to get married? I think not.

3.) Respected in what? In science, medicine, and the arts it's the USA. If it's minding one's own business and not interfereing (nor assisting) in world matters, it's Canada.

If you'll notice, I didn't offer an opinion or answer my own questions. That is for you and others to do

p.s. And I only TOOT after a nice plate of beans... and Canadian bacon.

 

[wastingmymind]

canada was well ahead regarding freedom n respect issues for homosexuals, but now that harper came into play... mr. bush is pretty much catching up canadians

Word. It's all about the administrations in power. I'm willing to move to the US in 2008 if I had the chance.

 

[dynk]

Hi John,
Being an expatriot Canadian, you know I have been thinking of moving back to Montreal. If it were not for the winters I would be there already. I am stil lexploring more US southern cities. See you soon.

 

[sonny10305]

Try this: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.html

Perfect!
Thanks, I'll pass it on to my sister

 

[gsdx]

Perfect!
Thanks, I'll pass it on to my sister

My pleasure, indeed.

 

[frankfrank]

No question...I think the best way to answer this would be to ask the question:

"If you could retain everything that you know now, and if you chose to START LIFE ALL OVER AGAIN with no personal ties, accumulated crap, etc., would you choose to materialize in the U.S. or Canada?" Assume that you are allowed to choose a specific region or city as well...

Then, for me, it would be no contest. I would jump at the opportunity to become Canadian. Not only for the reasons mentioned above, but Canadians are less racially prejudiced, the poor and disadvantaged and handicapped are treated with dignity, I needn't worry that I'll lose my home if I become sick, aboriginal peoples ("Indians") are treated much better, etc. But it's also true that all they need are a few more Mike Harris'es, and much of this may disappear.

Canadians I have met, have a much fairer attitude toward people who are "different" in some way. Fanatical religious zealotry has caught on nothing like here in the USA, and I don't hear almost CONSTANT bashing and vilifying of the homeless and poor, gays, etc. that is so common in the United States. I have visited Canada more than often enough to notice and appreciate the difference.

I would definitely, because of climate considerations, want to end up in the Vancouver-Victoria-Abbotsford region. (It's one of the few places in Canada that the climate appeals to me at all - and, furthermore, I LOVE the climate there!) However I threw in the qualification about starting life all over again, because indeed my accumulated crap, various ties and alliances, etc. would make it nearly impossible to consider such a move.

 

[bma1983]

God, another let's hear it for Canada thread--of course, started by a Canadian. Do you ever tire of tooting your own horn?

Anyway, in answer to your question:

1.) USA. In all the places I've lived and visited (including good ol' Canada), none compares to where I live now. The climate, the people, and the creative energies here are far suprerior to anything I experienced in Canada (esp. Quebec who can't decide whether it wants to be Canadian or French).

2.) Countries, per se, are not tolerant. Countries are not living things. It's people and communities who are (or are not) tolerant. Where I am, everyone is tolerant. Same is true of much of Canada (except conservative Alberta). Marriage? That's where Canada is light years ahead--and always has been. Is it worth freezing your butt off at -20 to get married? I think not.

3.) Respected in what? In science, medicine, and the arts it's the USA. If it's minding one's own business and not interfereing (nor assisting) in world matters, it's Canada.

Well said.

 

[gsdx]

But it's also true that all they need are a few more Mike Harris'es, and much of this may disappear.

Mike Harris was just the Premier of Ontario, but he screwed us around just as badly as Harper is doing (and Mulroney already did).

Screwing around isn't limited to the Feds.

(By the way, in your scenario, I would still like to materialize here - winters and all. When you grow up with them, you get used to them.)

 

[cAndId]

Not that I wouldnt love to live in the states, but if I could choose where I would have grown up, I would choose vancouver hands down. BC is beautiful and the people are great and generally accepting. I have visited the states only a couple times and the people I have met were quite friendly.

The original poster obviously is biased judging by questions 2 and 3

We are more advanced culturally and we arent as fundamentalist as the US, but for the most part our climate is too cold... but we can adapt to the cold more than a fundamentalist government.

As for the comment on us not taking part in world affairs... we do. Canada is known as peacekeepers and do a great job at it. We didnt join the US in thier attack on Iraq because we knew what everyone now knows... the american government was lying through thier teeth. Just because we didnt blind ourselves to the american governments bullshit and join 'the coalition of the willing', doesnt mean we dont get involved in world affairs.

 

[gsdx]

As for the comment on us not taking part in world affairs... we do. Canada is known as peacekeepers and do a great job at it.

FYI - A Canadian (former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson) created the UN Peace-Keeping Force in 1956. In fact, Canada spearheaded the first efforts of the Force in the Suez Conflict. Pearson received the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1957.

 

[Snickers52]

Huh? Do you know where the US is? Well, maybe you were talking about Alaskans.

 

[cAndId]

Huh? Do you know where the US is? Well, maybe you were talking about Alaskans.

Or maybe he is from windsor?

 

[ronboy]

For those who have visited either country or live in them, here are some questions:

1. Where would you rather live and why?
2. Which country is more tolerent of gays and their lifestyle?
3. Which country is more respected around the world?

This needn't turn into a battle... just a bit of friendly competition. So what do you think?

p.s. Yes, I AM Canadian!

1. USA, it's my home. As much as I love my northern neighbours and their "world next door," I am a yank....

2. Definitely Canada. I think Canadians have a much broader view and tolerance of things. They are also smarter because they NEVER would have elected GW Bush twice....

3. Right now...Canada. Being involved in Iraq and Afghanistan is not popular with the majority of the American people. You have to respect the restraint the Canadians showed by telling Mr. Bush..."thanks, but no thanks..."

JMOHO.....