If Canada is America's hat, America is definitely Canada's pants, as the Florida chubbo demonstrates. I'd rather live in the hat! The pants haven't been washed in 500 years, so they kinda stink.
"Weird factoid, Canada has only 4% black people." The way the media carries on during Black History Month and on Juneteenth, you would think there were more than that.
The biggest difference is that America's Blacks are primarily derived by familial lineage from slaves, whereas Canada's come from a portion of escaped slaves that came north via the Underground Railroad, plus a large amount of contemporary emigration from the Caribbean and Africa.
We do have a lot of celebrations for a small percentage of the population, but hey--the more reasons to celebrate the better.
True, a good chunk of our black population came through the underground railroad, and then later on from immigration. We did have slaves too though, something we tend to push under the rug. It wasn't as prolific as in America though.
Britain outlawed slavery in the entire Empire in 1834, so "we" (Canada as such didn't exist until 1867) had a shorter window as slaveholders- and we were probably more reserved about it all than the whip-crackers in the U.S. South.
I grew up in Toronto but lived in the US for 20 years. The race thing in the US was an eye-opener for me. I get why it's such a big deal there: your identity, privileges, and compounded advantages are tied up with your ethnicity (as well as gender). Growing up an immigrant in Toronto, it was celebrated, poked fun at (the Canadian way, more like South Park), but mostly a nothingburger.
This was more fascinating than I thought it would be. I love comparison stats but would've never done the research to write this lol. So, thank you 😁
About living longer...sure free Healthcare may be partially responsible but also, we're not getting shot up in schools, nightclubs, home invasions, or when we call the police for help here in Canada. I am SO happy to be Canadian, EVEN IF I can't afford to breathe the air anymore.
Yeah, let me tell you about the bald eagle. Benjamin Franklin famously argued that the turkey was a better national bird than the bald eagle, and not just because bald eagles get most of their meals either from carrion or from stealing catches from ospreys and bears. Franklin noted, quite rightly, that wild turkeys were clean, proud, fearless, and usually smarter than their hunters. (I’d also like to point out that the pre-Conquest Aztec had two of the greatest bird symbols ever: the quetzal and the hummingbird. Hummingbirds are so fearless and pugnacious that comparing oneself to a hummingbird was heresy risking death: a warrior could be cool enough to be compared to a jaguar, and the best warriors of the best could be cool enough to be compared to eagles, but only the gods were cool enough to be compared to hummingbirds. As someone who deals with ruby-throats in his back yard, the Aztec war god was portrayed as a hummingbird for a REASON.)
That's really cool info. Very nerdy, I love it! Hummingbirds aren't to be fucked with indeed, they could mess you up and you wouldn't even see it coming. You're right about the bald eagle being an odd choice, have you heard them screech? They sound like a seagull.
We’re bigger and we’re on top. If this was prison, they’d be our bitch.
The easiest way to tell the difference between a Canadian and an American…call a Canadian an American, then stand back.
Many more differences, like treatment by/in other countries, knowledge of anything outside our borders - even knowlege of other parts of our own country, etc.
I am finding that all the talk of “they can’t do that to us cuz we got guns” is mostly just talk. The country had gone to hell in a handbasket despite the 400 million guns.
Wow lol. It's a wonder how they get around 😆 When I've told Americans I'm from Canada they say, "Oh, Toronto?" And they have no idea where Calgary is until I say north of Montana.
What I can tell you is that Montréal is the cool part of Canada, and the late, great American Miles Davis is still the global benchmark of cool.
About immigration, Canada is the door mat to US industry. They come from all over the world to Canadian Universities for cheap or even free and easier to achieve PhD’s. Then they walk in the US’s back door to 6 figure earning jobs and corporate sponsored green cards. Booyah! US Citizen! It’s all legal and legit, and the US is now full of thousands of Iranian sleeper-cell-spies, probably secretly enriching Uranium in their spare time in those gorgeous, million dollar homes they own.
Montreal is a cool part of Canada, or at least Montrealers say that.
Yeah, Canadian education can be a pipeline to the US. We've had a great Canadian brain drain going on for decades. As for spies, it's possible I suppose.
Fascinating comparison, thank you, Robin. But what I really can't get my head around is differences in accent and language. OK, the French part is more obvious, but what about English? Are there any giveaways because it's very subtle to my ear (but then I'm British and a Northerner and live in Slovenia).
There are a lot of Americans who say they can spot Canadians by the accent. But in my experience, most can't. My accent sounds just like some of the northern states, and Americans only hear it once they know I'm Canadian. But there are some Canadian accents that are much more stereotypical or stronger. Especially in places like Quebec (although many in the younger generation grew up speaking English and you can't tell), and Newfoundland (which is closer to an Irish accent than Canadian).
When I moved to Seattle my new friends would poke fun at how often I said "eh." 20yrs later I'm back in Toronto and my ears pick up when locals say "out & about" (oat & a-boat) or "sorry" (rhymes with lure-ee). I also think it's cute when friends from Ottawa say "rinky-dink." 😄
I can tell an english Montrealer from a prairie canuck from a bc-er easily. Out east is easy. Newfoundland when they’re talking amongst themselves is really unique! My husband was quebecois and he and his friend from Newfoundland teased each other about their accents. They both sounded charming to me.
As an American going into Canada for the first time in many years, I noted that the Canadians were very very, very very interested to know if I was carrying guns, had used a gun recently, or had any ammo on me (no to all, and they did eventually let me in once that was established). Coming back, American border patrol didn’t care, they knew damn well I wasn’t smuggling guns in from Canada.
Yes, we don't want guns coming over the border. So we're quite particular about it hehe. I suspect that's correct, the American border patrol doesn't care so much about guns coming from Canada. Probably since they're soo much cheaper and easier to buy south of the border, any Canada-to-US gun smugglers are really doing it wrong.
As an American, I think we’re not as happy as Canadians or other countries because we spend so much time focusing on our differences rather than embracing our commonalities. Pretty sure this started way back when the colonies all set up their communities based on religious beliefs rather than “we’ll survive better together” mentality. Not a lot has changed. 🤔
Seriously, did *I* write this in some bizarro parallel universe? Are you... Me?!?! If we're both in this Matrix, how are we not besties? By the by, I recently zapped myself from Seattle to Toronto. All the thoughts, same. Subscribing cuz you made me laugh and think, twinsie 😎
This Canadian, very centrist, never once voted for the woke pretty boy who is destroying the country and anyone can hate me for this, but I’m voting for Poilievre. I mean yes he’s a politician but what choice do we have? And he is bang on about the problems with this country are. Dare I say I like him? Jagmeet is a con artist too. It’s a cluster fuck. All of it. This country needs to get back on track. He is not doing anything to the LGBTQ community or womens rights, that would be the PPC and heaven help us if they ever got in.
If Canada is America's hat, America is definitely Canada's pants, as the Florida chubbo demonstrates. I'd rather live in the hat! The pants haven't been washed in 500 years, so they kinda stink.
Boom!!! This was brilliant 😁
America is Canada's pants. That's amazing 😆😆😆
"Weird factoid, Canada has only 4% black people." The way the media carries on during Black History Month and on Juneteenth, you would think there were more than that.
The biggest difference is that America's Blacks are primarily derived by familial lineage from slaves, whereas Canada's come from a portion of escaped slaves that came north via the Underground Railroad, plus a large amount of contemporary emigration from the Caribbean and Africa.
We do have a lot of celebrations for a small percentage of the population, but hey--the more reasons to celebrate the better.
True, a good chunk of our black population came through the underground railroad, and then later on from immigration. We did have slaves too though, something we tend to push under the rug. It wasn't as prolific as in America though.
Britain outlawed slavery in the entire Empire in 1834, so "we" (Canada as such didn't exist until 1867) had a shorter window as slaveholders- and we were probably more reserved about it all than the whip-crackers in the U.S. South.
I grew up in Toronto but lived in the US for 20 years. The race thing in the US was an eye-opener for me. I get why it's such a big deal there: your identity, privileges, and compounded advantages are tied up with your ethnicity (as well as gender). Growing up an immigrant in Toronto, it was celebrated, poked fun at (the Canadian way, more like South Park), but mostly a nothingburger.
This was more fascinating than I thought it would be. I love comparison stats but would've never done the research to write this lol. So, thank you 😁
About living longer...sure free Healthcare may be partially responsible but also, we're not getting shot up in schools, nightclubs, home invasions, or when we call the police for help here in Canada. I am SO happy to be Canadian, EVEN IF I can't afford to breathe the air anymore.
Nice, I'm glad you learned some things. I did too writing this. It's fun writing these.
I hear you on the not even being able to afford air these days. I've got an air guy, good discounts; I'll hook you up.
Yeah, let me tell you about the bald eagle. Benjamin Franklin famously argued that the turkey was a better national bird than the bald eagle, and not just because bald eagles get most of their meals either from carrion or from stealing catches from ospreys and bears. Franklin noted, quite rightly, that wild turkeys were clean, proud, fearless, and usually smarter than their hunters. (I’d also like to point out that the pre-Conquest Aztec had two of the greatest bird symbols ever: the quetzal and the hummingbird. Hummingbirds are so fearless and pugnacious that comparing oneself to a hummingbird was heresy risking death: a warrior could be cool enough to be compared to a jaguar, and the best warriors of the best could be cool enough to be compared to eagles, but only the gods were cool enough to be compared to hummingbirds. As someone who deals with ruby-throats in his back yard, the Aztec war god was portrayed as a hummingbird for a REASON.)
That's really cool info. Very nerdy, I love it! Hummingbirds aren't to be fucked with indeed, they could mess you up and you wouldn't even see it coming. You're right about the bald eagle being an odd choice, have you heard them screech? They sound like a seagull.
Hummingbirds are the chihuahuas of avians 😊
Speaking from experience, hummingbirds are the Boston terriers of avians.
😆😆
😆😆
We’re bigger and we’re on top. If this was prison, they’d be our bitch.
The easiest way to tell the difference between a Canadian and an American…call a Canadian an American, then stand back.
Many more differences, like treatment by/in other countries, knowledge of anything outside our borders - even knowlege of other parts of our own country, etc.
They'd be our bitch 😆😆😆 Although they have more weapons...so there's that.
Very true, we don't like being called American.
I am finding that all the talk of “they can’t do that to us cuz we got guns” is mostly just talk. The country had gone to hell in a handbasket despite the 400 million guns.
We did more with trucks, for heaven’s sake. 😂
I admit I still use my Canadian flag backpack when I leave North America.
Yup, me three.
I have the flag tattooed on my arm lol
😍
Yep me too
Lol the knowledge part is a dead giveaway. Americans think Toronto IS Canada 🇨🇦 🤣
...it isn't? 😆
I was driving in Bangor and stopped at a gas station. The attendant looked at my NS plates and asked what state that was in.
I’m always amazed at the lack of knowledge, even of their own country. I still guffaw out loud at the man-on-the-street youtubes.
I still remember going to the US as a kid and people asking me if I lived in an igloo and had a polar bear. 😆
My BIL was customs on the Windsor/Detroit bridge and he said there were always cars with skis on top - in July - asking for the closest ski area.
Sigh.
Wow lol. It's a wonder how they get around 😆 When I've told Americans I'm from Canada they say, "Oh, Toronto?" And they have no idea where Calgary is until I say north of Montana.
I found more people in Mexico knew where Vancouver was than people in Washington state. It’s crazy.
Oh we could go on for hours with tales. Lol
The plight of Canadians 😁
What I can tell you is that Montréal is the cool part of Canada, and the late, great American Miles Davis is still the global benchmark of cool.
About immigration, Canada is the door mat to US industry. They come from all over the world to Canadian Universities for cheap or even free and easier to achieve PhD’s. Then they walk in the US’s back door to 6 figure earning jobs and corporate sponsored green cards. Booyah! US Citizen! It’s all legal and legit, and the US is now full of thousands of Iranian sleeper-cell-spies, probably secretly enriching Uranium in their spare time in those gorgeous, million dollar homes they own.
Montreal is a cool part of Canada, or at least Montrealers say that.
Yeah, Canadian education can be a pipeline to the US. We've had a great Canadian brain drain going on for decades. As for spies, it's possible I suppose.
Fascinating comparison, thank you, Robin. But what I really can't get my head around is differences in accent and language. OK, the French part is more obvious, but what about English? Are there any giveaways because it's very subtle to my ear (but then I'm British and a Northerner and live in Slovenia).
There are a lot of Americans who say they can spot Canadians by the accent. But in my experience, most can't. My accent sounds just like some of the northern states, and Americans only hear it once they know I'm Canadian. But there are some Canadian accents that are much more stereotypical or stronger. Especially in places like Quebec (although many in the younger generation grew up speaking English and you can't tell), and Newfoundland (which is closer to an Irish accent than Canadian).
Interesting! So I shouldn't feel too ignorant if I can't tell the difference.
Nope, we’re very similar. I once heard Canadians described as ‘Americans with a pocket full of insurance policies’.
When I moved to Seattle my new friends would poke fun at how often I said "eh." 20yrs later I'm back in Toronto and my ears pick up when locals say "out & about" (oat & a-boat) or "sorry" (rhymes with lure-ee). I also think it's cute when friends from Ottawa say "rinky-dink." 😄
I can tell an english Montrealer from a prairie canuck from a bc-er easily. Out east is easy. Newfoundland when they’re talking amongst themselves is really unique! My husband was quebecois and he and his friend from Newfoundland teased each other about their accents. They both sounded charming to me.
I love the Newfanese accent too, it is very charming :)
As an American going into Canada for the first time in many years, I noted that the Canadians were very very, very very interested to know if I was carrying guns, had used a gun recently, or had any ammo on me (no to all, and they did eventually let me in once that was established). Coming back, American border patrol didn’t care, they knew damn well I wasn’t smuggling guns in from Canada.
Yes, we don't want guns coming over the border. So we're quite particular about it hehe. I suspect that's correct, the American border patrol doesn't care so much about guns coming from Canada. Probably since they're soo much cheaper and easier to buy south of the border, any Canada-to-US gun smugglers are really doing it wrong.
I have never owned or fired a weapon, nor wanted to. I suspect I look like I’m an aficionado though. Shrug.
Interesting and entertaining. Thanks
Thanks Michael! :)
I wonder the lands further up North is like when you look at globe 🌎 Canada 🇨🇦 looks may undiscovered land.
Undiscovered yes, or 'covered in permafrost and utterly inhospitable'.
As an American, I think we’re not as happy as Canadians or other countries because we spend so much time focusing on our differences rather than embracing our commonalities. Pretty sure this started way back when the colonies all set up their communities based on religious beliefs rather than “we’ll survive better together” mentality. Not a lot has changed. 🤔
I think America is the bizarro world.
So accurate and hilarious!
Seriously, did *I* write this in some bizarro parallel universe? Are you... Me?!?! If we're both in this Matrix, how are we not besties? By the by, I recently zapped myself from Seattle to Toronto. All the thoughts, same. Subscribing cuz you made me laugh and think, twinsie 😎
This Canadian, very centrist, never once voted for the woke pretty boy who is destroying the country and anyone can hate me for this, but I’m voting for Poilievre. I mean yes he’s a politician but what choice do we have? And he is bang on about the problems with this country are. Dare I say I like him? Jagmeet is a con artist too. It’s a cluster fuck. All of it. This country needs to get back on track. He is not doing anything to the LGBTQ community or womens rights, that would be the PPC and heaven help us if they ever got in.
Some parts are more european than others. Much of Canada is quite similar to the US. Same same, but different.