Why do some people think Canada didn't fight in WWI and WWII? And that the 911 hijackers came from Canada?

[HunterM]

WHAT??? 911 hijackers came from Canada? CLOSE ALL BORDERS with CANADA!!! Hide your children in the basement from Canadians

 

[sexualdemon]

I understand canada contributed a lot, more than the USA, and I just wishes to clarify the position of the battle of Vimy. And I'm going to assume this is my first interaction with this person and hopefully my last. His ignorance is laughable.

 

[HunterM]

The reason I don't travel much to Canada and spend money there (as I used to) is because the Canadian currency's exchange rate to US is about 1 to 1 if not more (due to a more stable economy than US). It's damn expensive to go up north now. I do see a lot more Canadians coming south of the border to shop though.

 

[frankfrank]

There's a myth that the hijackers came from Canada?

I thought the prevailing myth in the United States was that the hijackers were sent here by Saddam Hussein?? (The truth is that thirteen of the nineteen hijackers were Saudi, and **NONE** came from Iraq...not to mention that, within two days after the attacks, all the relatives of Osama bin-Laden who were living in or visiting the United States were quickly flown out of the USA to Paris so that they'd safely be out of the way of anybody who wanted to ask questions.)

 

[HunterM]

There are large pockets of ignorance everywhere, but America has a large population, so we certainly have our share.

As a former high school teacher, I have seen the problem first-hand.

Uh...why are you looking at me like that?

 

[Benvolio]

Canada was not a country in 1812, it was a British possession. And Britain, the most powerful country in the world at the time fought the US to a draw. The US won the last battle of the war, the Battle of New Orleans.
Don't misunderstand, I understand Canada's participation in the world wars and I like Canada and Canadians.

 

[gsdx]

But really, we don't learn that much about Canada or Mexico, nor any of our near neighbors, in American schools.

Rick Mercer (who is out and proud, by the way) is a Canadian satirist and all-around funny guy. He's done a series of TV specials called 'Talking to Americans' in which he asks questions which show just how much Americans don't know about Canada. He doesn't just talk to people on the street. He talks to politicians and government officials (including a future president), university students, and even university professors. Take a peek at this. (Dub-ya shows up in the first few minutes.)

By the way, this is poutine - French fries, cheese curds, and gravy. It may be delicious, but it's certainly not our prime minister:

 

[Knucklehead]

I'm not using YouTube as a measure of a nation's intellect. WTF are you talking about? I took an example which just so happens to have come from YouTube, simply because it was the most recent comment I've read or heard. The comments actually come from everywhere, and from young and old. John McCain even perpetrated the Canada-9/11 connection myth back in 2009, and there have been many more.

I made it quite clear that it doesn't reflect all of America, once in my OP, and once subsequently. This will be my third time: As I said, most Americans don't believe it, but most people who believe it are American. See the difference?

WWI WWII is taught in schools here. Every year around Remembrance Day children learn about it. I will have a hard time finding anybody here who doesn't know. And I have no idea what you're on about with Degrassi.

Just a heads up, I'm allergic to stupidity, so you and I probably aren't going to mix very well. Thanks for stopping by, though.

Here's a heads up to you as well.I don't do pompous, arrogant assholes too good either and I could give a fuck less if we get along or not.I'm not here to lick your ass or be your buddy.

So big fucking deal,you found some people on Youtube who HAPPEN to be American that didn't know Canadian history.So what? You want a cookie or something? If you so adamant in your declarations that you're sure it doesn't reflect on all Americans than what the hell are you pissing and moaning about? I've read a lot of dumb shit on there posted by Canadians too..

I guess you just wanted to act like a dick. You wear it well.

By the way smart guy,Degrassi is a lame Canadian tv show.But I suppose you're one of those people that don't own a tv either.You'd rather curl up with a facinating book about Canadian military history.

 

[sexualdemon]

Yes I understand all of those points but i have to disagree with the fact that Britain and possibly Canada would have been invaded. Britain at the time had the strongest navy out there and so could have held the Germans back. So invasion wouldn't have been possible but i also admit there was some times, like in the Battle of Britain, when times were close.

My point involving Americans was that Some believe that it was all american effort. I was pointing out that they only entered because of Pearl Harbour, not because of the millions murdered. That's my only gripe with it. History is taught differently throughout the world, and each country plays up their part.

 

[Knucklehead]

Per capita we certainly contributed more, at least in terms of causalities and actual amount of combat time. In the end, without the USA and Russia joining in, the Axis probably would have won. But their contributions to the war can only be chalked up to their large sizes. America's atom bomb was nice too, but it's necessity is debatable. As individuals, Russians and Americans certainly can't take anymore credit than folks from smaller countries like Canada and Australia, but some Americans like to anyway. Britain and Canada would have been invaded and concentration camps would have been established coast-to-coast. Australia would have been taken by Japan. Eventually the US would have had to face Nazi Canada after Germany and Japan recovered and grew stronger. What a scary thought.

Yeah,but the war wasn't being fought on a per capita basis was it? Americans CAN take more credit than any of our allies fighting in the war.If it wasn't for us and the enormous amount of men and war materiel that the U.S. produced and sent to points throughout the world,Europe and Asia would have still been enslaved.

Your welcome people.

 

[HunterM]

I really don't care if people bash America. It's all talks. Just need them to spend money in the US and on US products.

 

[roadtripboy]

Because American schools don't really teach history anymore. They are obsessed with these stupid "No Child Left Behind" standards. The only thing they worry about are the kid's math and science scores.

Bad public policy makes for bad education.

In their defense: a lot of their funding is dependent on how well the kids do on these useless tests.

I listen to a lot of podcasts from the CBC and it seems a fair number of Canadians don't know much about their own history either.

 

[FPNY]

Nobody said the 9/11 bombers came from Canada, it was said the came into the US thru Canada because Canada has more lenient immigration policies.

As far as what Americans know about Canada, I'm 55 years old, I never once needed to know how many provinces there are in Canada, nobody ever asked me. I guess I'm a typical Amercian idiot. I can't understand geometry or statistics either. I must really be a total American asshole. Guess what? It hasn't affected my life what so ever. I've been to Toronto and had a nice time. I didn't bother asking any toronto citizens what they know about America when I was there tho. Maybe next time.

I live in New York in the USA. My house is one mile from state of Connecticut border. Connecticut is divided into counties, I don't know how many counties are in Connecticut.....Oh, I live in NY, which also has counties, I don't know how many there are.

I hope I'm never asked man on the street questions....

 

[quasar]

I'm not using YouTube as a measure of a nation's intellect. WTF are you talking about? I took an example which just so happens to have come from YouTube, simply because it was the most recent comment I've read or heard....I made it quite clear that it doesn't reflect all of America, once in my OP, and once subsequently. This will be my third time: As I said, most Americans don't believe it, but most people who believe it are American. See the difference?...

Yeah, you're singling out Americans...

You completely misunderstand this thread in more than one way. If you can't bother to read, fuck off.

Nice!

No, being ignorant about your closest neighbor makes you ignorant. Telling lies about Canada, like the 9/11 hijackers came through Canada, or that Canada didn't fight either world war, or saying yeah let's bomb Saskatchewan, makes you an asshole.

Again!

Are you really this stupid?...All you're proving is you can't read. Or stupid. One of the two, probably both...

You mean like the inability to read and understand the Code of Conduct.

It's time for this thinly veiled excuse to bash Americans to come to an end. Your inability to reply without resorting to insulting others does you no favours in qualifying your point of view.