Allez Canada! - NY Times Article

[corporatejay]

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com...lez-canada/?hp

I guess I could bury this thing in the trash vancouver or yay! vancouver thread but thought it deserved it's own thread because it stirs an even greater debate about our national pride or lack there of.

I personally couldn't agree with the author more. I think in our haste to humble ourselves so that we don't get perceived like "arrogant americans" we do ourselves a great disservice. Canada is arguably the greatest country in the world to live in. It has many of the benefits (opportunity etc...) of living in the USA blended with a solid amount of social programs for those that fall through the cracks. I think we deserve to brag every once and a while, and this is one of those times.

[Infamous1]

Good article and he's right....we are way too modest. I don't think we need to be as brash as the U.S Americans but we should be more proud of where we live! The patriotism I've seen in the last week is outstanding and makes me feel all warm inside. Awwww.

[-TC-]

I am damn proud to be a Canadian and when I lived overseas I was always welcomed by others because of where I was from.

[Byrns]

Canadians are not modest. The Canadian citizens that actually refer to themselves as Canadian love to point out how we're better than American's while acting like ######s when they're on vacation with their maple leaf backpack and Tim's cup.

The modest "Canadians" will usually refer to themselves by their ethnicity first rather than consider themselves Canadian first.

What's wrong with being humble?

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by Byrns

Canadians are not modest. The Canadian citizens that actually refer to themselves as Canadian love to point out how we're better than American's while acting like ######s when they're on vacation with their maple leaf backpack and Tim's cup.

The modest "Canadians" will usually refer to themselves by their ethnicity first rather than consider themselves Canadian first.

What's wrong with being humble?

So I'm a ###### because I put the Canadian Flag ala Maple Leaf on my backpack?

Ok then.

[La Flames Fan]

That was just short of...YOU GO GIRL!

But really, cool article...put a smile on my face.

[Flames0910]

Originally Posted by Byrns

Canadians are not modest. The Canadian citizens that actually refer to themselves as Canadian love to point out how we're better than American's while acting like ######s when they're on vacation with their maple leaf backpack and Tim's cup.

The modest "Canadians" will usually refer to themselves by their ethnicity first rather than consider themselves Canadian first.

uhh, what? you sir, are a ######.

btw thanks to the op. loved the article. the last line was a nice touch.

[La Flames Fan]

Originally Posted by Byrns

Canadians are not modest. The Canadian citizens that actually refer to themselves as Canadian love to point out how we're better than American's while acting like ######s when they're on vacation with their maple leaf backpack and Tim's cup.

The modest "Canadians" will usually refer to themselves by their ethnicity first rather than consider themselves Canadian first.

What's wrong with being humble?

Well slap me silly, I am such a friggin' ######.

[Table 5]

Part of what I love about the country is it's modesty, but man, Canada really needs to grow some balls sometimes. It's the only way it will get the respect it deserves. People around the world love Canada not because it's great (which it actually), it's because it's non-threatening. It's the nice guy that hot girls go cry to when their bad-boy boyfriend does something bad. Canada is the "friend zone" of the international world.

As a Canadian living in the US, I've definitely grown more pissed off at Canada for not being more assertive and confident on the world stage (ie Stephen Harper actually being proud of being an invisible meek puppet at the Copenhagen conference). It's not about being cocky like the US sometimes tends to do, but having the quiet confidence to propel the country and it's citizens further. You can share an opinion without being an ass, and often times, Canada chooses to just not say anything.

The whole "we're not America" way of doing things is not the way to go though. There is nothing more annoying than a Canadian whose sole purpose is to prove how un-American they are. It's so transparent. A good citizen shows other what they can do, not talks about what they aren't. That's why that fat-ass poet reciting his "we're not them" poem during the opening ceremonies was so lame imo.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Reading the comment section of that article and comparing it to the moronic, extremist, and generally ignorant comments that arise in the Herald makes me really wonder if we're worthy of the praise in the article.

[flip]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Reading the comment section of that article and comparing it to the moronic, extremist, and generally ignorant comments that arise in the Herald makes me really wonder if we're worthy of the praise in the article.

This one made me laugh quite a bit:

Canada is the Frankenstein of the first world. It has stitched together concepts from all over the world in a effort to be the best place, and by many measures it succeeds. However, the perfection comes at a cost: namely a soul.

[Jetsfan]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Part of what I love about the country is it's modesty, but man, Canada really needs to grow some balls sometimes. It's the only way it will get the respect it deserves. People around the world love Canada not because it's great (which it actually), it's because it's non-threatening. It's the nice guy that hot girls go cry to when their bad-boy boyfriend does something bad. Canada is the "friend zone" of the international world.

As a Canadian living in the US, I've definitely grown more pissed off at Canada for not being more assertive and confident on the world stage (ie Stephen Harper actually being proud of being an invisible meek puppet at the Copenhagen conference). It's not about being cocky like the US sometimes tends to do, but having the quiet confidence to propel the country and it's citizens further. You can share an opinion without being an ass, and often times, Canada chooses to just not say anything.

The whole "we're not America" way of doing things is not the way to go though. There is nothing more annoying than a Canadian whose sole purpose is to prove how un-American they are. It's so transparent. A good citizen shows other what they can do, not talks about what they aren't. That's why that fat-ass poet reciting his "we're not them" poem during the opening ceremonies was so lame imo.

That is so true!

[Winsor_Pilates]

I find our modesty quite ironic. If we constantly brag and pat our selves on the back for being modest, we're clearly not modest about being modest.

[Flames0910]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

I find our modesty quite ironic. If we constantly brag and pat our selves on the back for being modest, we're clearly not modest about being modest.

Like the President's Choice commercial that is on TV right now.

But realistically I don't think we brag about it very much. How often do you hear boisterous Canadians getting in your face and shouting YEAAAH WE'RE MODEST!!!

[hockeycop]

Originally Posted by Byrns

Canadians are not modest. The Canadian citizens that actually refer to themselves as Canadian love to point out how we're better than American's while acting like ######s when they're on vacation with their maple leaf backpack and Tim's cup.

The modest "Canadians" will usually refer to themselves by their ethnicity first rather than consider themselves Canadian first.

What's wrong with being humble?

Are you kidding me?

So when someone askes, for me to meet your requirements, instead of saying:

"Yes sir/ma'am, I am Canadian"

I have to say:

"I am caucasian guy from an un-named country because I am too modest to say the name".

... Well, I am Canadian. I was born here and I am damn proud to be from this nation. I am proud of all those before me who built this nation. I am even proud of some of the half wits that were running our governments based on their dreams and visions of a "nice Canada". i will not refer to myself as "caucasian man", just as anyone else in this country shouldn't base their introductions off of skin colour or ethnicity. Every Canadian makes this country what it is, great.

Wear that maple leaf prodly folks. It is part of who you are. Don't ever be too modest to say you are Canadian, but don't embarass your fellow Canadians by being a ###### while wearing that flag.

[simonsays]

Canada is a fairly dispassionate nation. We don't have a whole lot to bitch about because our forefathers set is up right, and nobody has stepped in and screwed it up too badly yet (NEP disregarded).

I don't know why we're dispassionate but it is one of if not the leading factor in us being a cultural melting pot as opposed to forcing newbies to adhering to our way of life.

It ain't perfect, but it is Canada. A country that works in practice but not in theory.

[valo403]

You know we're not all that different from other countries that sit in similar positions as us. The Denmark's, Holland's, and Belgium's of Europe are similarly situated as relatively small nations next to world powers. I think our modesty is part of a history of being largely overlooked, we just go about our business in a largely stellar fashion while our neighbours muck things up while receiving heaps of attention.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by valo403

You know we're not all that different from other countries that sit in similar positions as us. The Denmark's, Holland's, and Belgium's of Europe are similarly situated as relatively small nations next to world powers. I think our modesty is part of a history of being largely overlooked, we just go about our business in a largely stellar fashion while our neighbours muck things up while receiving heaps of attention.

Denmark, Holland and Belgium aren't in the G7 and G8, we may be the "weakest" world power, but we're still a world power.

[SeeBass]

I gotta agree the tourists that wear the maple leaf all over themselves looks pretty silly to me especially those free beer case t-shirts. I just find it very self centred that people think that somebody else would even care about them or where they are from.

Serious travelers don't mark their things with flags as they would prefer to be judge by the person they are than the stereotype that a flag brings with it.

I have travelled the world many times and I always felt that if somebody wants to know me then can talk to me.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by simonsays

It ain't perfect, but it is Canada. A country that works in practice but not in theory.

I am now a huge fan of this quote.