Canada, We Love You Anyway

Hurray! The latest international poll on attitudes toward the Evil Empire (a.k.a., the USA) is out and guess what! The U.S. of A. is the most negatively regarded nation/region among six possible choices, including Russia (which is helping Iran with its nuke technology) and the freedom-crushing communist dictatorship in Beijing. Apparently, liberating people from barbaric totalitarian regimes is no longer the "in" thing it was sixty years ago. I just feel so unhip.

When asked if it would be better if the European Union had more influence in the world than the United States, an average of 58 percent of respondents in the polled nations said yes. In Canada, the figure was 63 percent.

Mind you, the pollsters didn't bother to ask the people of Taiwan or Hong Kong, who have been recently threatened by China, and who are not overly keen on the E.U.'s plans to sell weapons to Beijing.

But hey, many Americans still like Canada. According to a MacLean's poll, the most common word Americans offer to describe Canadians is "tolerant," followed by "compassionate" and "funny." ("Funny" is presumably a reference to Jim Carrey and not to Howie Mandell or, for that matter, the "Honorable" Carolyn Parrish). The most common word Canadians offer to describe Americans is "arrogant."

I guess most Americans must think it's "compassionate" of Canadians to be so "tolerant" of our "arrogance."

Anyway, I think Canada's still a great place to visit, and not simply because my family lives there. Any country where you can get little packets of vinegar for your fries at McDonalds is alright by me. (And the lack of this luxury is, incidentally, still my biggest problem with the U.S.).

I wonder, though, if American attitudes toward Canada will ever come to reflect Canadians' attitudes toward the U.S.? If the loathing will ever become mutual? Certainly Canadian discontent with the U.S. has gotten under some conservatives' skins.

All in all, though, Americans have other things on their minds besides winning popularity contests -- either international or Canadian. As a result, American-bashing by Canadians is unlikely to create much of a blip on America's radar. Unless of course Canadians start placing improvised explosive devices on American highways. That might draw some negative attention.