We are what we consume.
And that is true about information.
Canadians like to think of themselves as polite and as important in the world.
We are far from the most polite and our importance in the world shifts as our country continues to define itself.
One thing taken for granted by the average Canadian is the proximity and closeness to the US. Throughout history, the relationship has varied.
50% of Canadians in the latest Leger poll say the US is this countries best friend.
20% of US respondants felt the same about their Canadian neighbour.
It goes to consumption.
One keen observer of Canadian-U.S. relations said he wasn’t surprised at the findings of the two questions because Canada is not on the radar screen of the average American on a daily basis.
“The average American hears about Britain all the time,” said Harold Waller, chair of McGill University’s North American Studies Program.
“He hears about (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair, he’s aware of the fact they fought the war together in Iraq, that they’ve been allies for years and years.”
Waller said Canadians know a lot more about their southern neighbour than Americans do about them.
“Americans know almost nothing about Canada and Canadians,” he said in an interview. “They simply assume that things are pretty much the same here.
“They don’t see any Canadian TV. They don’t see any programs about Canada. Canada only makes the news in the U.S. when something big happens like an election or disaster.
“Canadians on the other hand, because they know about the U.S., they’re more sensitive to the differences between the two countries.”
An American who follows the relationship admitted that “U.S. knowledge of Canadians is little bit limited.”
So, what country is perceived as Americas new best friend?
62% of Americans surveyed think Britian.
There is a catch though.
Published 4 years, 7 months ago“The American public has accepted that, post-Sept. 11, allies have to be looked at by what they do, not what they say.
“And suddenly, there’s this sense that when we were in a crunch, when we needed people, Britain could be counted on.”
…”If you did a Family Feud-style poll and you said `Other than the United States, name countries,’ the average American could probably get to 12,” he said. “Britain’s definitely one of them. But if you ask them England against Scotland, you start puzzling them.”
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It’s interesting to watch the change in political dynamics on a global level isn’t it?
It is isn’t it?
Canadian-US relations have been up and down since before we became a country.
And as we watch things globally it makes history more interesting as we understand we are also living it. Blog on.
Wait!? US America is to the south of Canada?! Man, I’m gonna fire my geography coach.
Really though, I think a serious question that I don’t often see being addressed is this: how important is it that the average US citizen actually be aware of current political and cultural events in the international market? Although I personally take an interest in global items, histories, cultures, and politics, that interest is born more of a simple preference for knowledge than any perceived need to be internationally aware. In fact, I’m not even certain it is of any great importance for a restauranteur in Ventura County, California, to keep abreast of current events in Florida, Chicago, Texas, Nevada, or even in San Diego County (a mere four hours to the south). Perhaps it matters if you’re involved in journalism, international polity, or have a business directly affected by international markets, but I think the reason most Americans don’t know about Canada is because they realize that such knowledge will gain them nothing beyond self-satisfaction. For the same reason, most Americans feel no pressing need to understand how cable tv really works - because that knowledge won’t affect their business on Monday or the way their family argues next Tuesday. Y’know?
Hi the Dane:
Good question.
If anyone outside our borders is considered a ‘market’ then it is the best interests of the business person to know. Self-satisfation is also a good reason to keep learning. I’ve no doubt you could come up with a lot more reasons.
Needing to know and wanting to know aren’t mutually exclusive.:^)
Well, it’s like the Congolese tribesman. Let’s say he runs a business in which he ferries people, livestock, groundborn transportation, and other sundry items, devices, and purposes from one bank of the local river to another. It is highly unlikely that his style of living requires him to know anything about who the prime minister of Japan is, what role American involvement in WWI had in causing WWII and half the current problems in the Middle East, or what mad cow disease is. Knowing about the Palestinian plight or the recent atrocities of the Bosnian Serbs or that there was a Hitler or that the Spanish Inquisition was not just a Monty Python skit will add nothing pragmatic to his life.
In reality, he can live a 100% fulfilled life without every knowing anything beyond the boundaries of his own immediate region. I also think this can be applied to most civilians as well.
So I think to describe interest in international things as a need is to demote need from necessity to the same kind of need when we say, “Man, I sure need a pizza tonight - I gots me some cheese cravin’!”
Not that such interests don’t have value. But I think their value is not of the kind that most would describe as necessary, but simply as neat to know if I gots the time.
I’m definitely glad to have a friend in you, Bene Diction! You definitely are the Official Canuck of my blog.
Love in Christ,
Dan