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Americans Slight Canadians
By
Bob Orrick
A recent poll of Canadians and Americans revealed that "Americans dismiss Canada as almost irrelevant in economics and foreign policy." According to the Ipsos-Reid poll, few Americans correctly identified Canada as their nation's largest trading partner; only 14 per cent correctly identified Canada while 82 per cent of Canadians knew that the USA is Canada's largest trading country. Moreover, only a handful of Americans labelled Canada as the USA's "biggest friend and ally;" more than fifty per cent thought Britain filled that double role. The reference to Britain probably stems from Prime Minister Tony Blair's quick offer of support to US President George W. Bush's campaign to combat terrorism. Canada's Prime Minister lagged sadly and was seen to be dithering, confused and not a 'shoulder to shoulder' ally, despite his late claim to be just that. Clearly, the image of Canada as seen by Americans was influenced greatly by Prime Minister Jean Chretien's hesitant steps to ally Canada with the USA. All Canadians now wear the black eye of their Prime Minister's confusion.
While President George W. Bush praised Britain's Tony Blair for his country's quick response to the American's fight against terrorism, the American president failed to mention Canada's contribution. That real or imagined oversight raised howls of protest in Canada but in the USA it failed to register a ripple. In the USA, Canada is neither seen nor heard and if it is thought of at all by Americans, it is more along the lines of being 'just another state.' That might be the price Canada pays for sharing a border with the world's greatest military and economic power. Nothing Canada does or says seems to 'paint' on the American's radar screen. Yet, Canadians have contributed much to the American way of life. For instance, the ubiquitous telephone first saw the light of day in Brantford, Ontario in 1876 and the popular candy, Smarties, are sought by millions of American children.
In the field of sports, Canadian Dr. James A. Naismith, physician, educator and the inventor of basketball, gave the world a game that millions of Americans play, follow and bet on daily. Hockey, a game the Americans are more and more claiming as 'theirs,' was first played on a frozen patch of water at Long Pond, near Windsor, Nova Scotia circa 1800. And 'apple pie' of the famous "Mum and apple pie" expression, is thought to have originated in Canada. Today, Americans see it as theirs.
Among many other areas where Americans benefit from Canadian ingenuity are ski-doos, jet-skis, insulin, and short wave radio.
The answer to the question how to get Americans to recognize, understand and appreciate Canadians is a difficult one. I for one do not have the answer, and based on what has come from Ottawa lately, neither does the PM.
Bob is hoping that readers will take the time to think about his column to the extent that they may decide to send an email to syears@senioryears.com and comment, either positively or negatively about what they have read. We will display letters at Talking Back to Bob.
Bob Orrick is a private tutor of English grammar, literature, poetry and Canadian history to off-shore youngsters. His pupils hail from such places as Taiwan, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and Venezuela. He was previously in international marketing, was a ministerial assistant to a provincial cabinet minister, spent a few years as a reporter then editor of a community newspaper and enjoyed a career in the Royal Canadian Navy.
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