But I don't want to be North American. I want to be Canadian.

And therein lies the proof of what all those Europeans told my sister and me.

I've read some interesting articles in the last couple of years about the not-so-subtle anti-American vein running through Canada. \

In response, there's a growing frustration over that sentiment in educated American political circles. Some feel that Canada has benefitted from the same military that you frequently criticize. Canada gets to play the good guy while America is forced to be the world's police.

Granted, I'm no fan of our government, but it would be nice if Canada could appreciate us as much as we appreciate them.

And why is it considered anti-Americanism to want to be Canadian?

It's not necessarily... I just find it interesting that a Canadian would rather be called a 'Canadian' than a 'North American,' whereas many Americans (at least my friends) would gladly assume the title of 'North American.'

As evidenced by the previous poster's story, Canadians seem to be more sensitive to being called Americans than vice versa.

That, coupled with the articles that are being printed in the liberal press down in America about Canada's anti-American feeling, resulted in the posting.

Hullo? Excuse me? First of all, you didn't say American, you said North American.

Second of all, I AM Canadian (hey, I sound like the guy in the beer ad) -- I'm not denying or disrespecting anything.

Third, did I sound angry? So no wonder these people think Canadians sound angry -- if you just say you're Canadian in a normal tone of voice, they interpret it as anger.

Actually, your post proves MY point. Unless we all want to BE American, we must actually HATE Americans. That's some ego thing you guys have going on.

I'm considering revoking my invitation.

AHA!!!!! You're JORR!!!! Jorr is the only person on all of Fodor's that knows people who identify themselves as North American instead of their nationality.

AHA!!!!!!!

Exactly... I said, "Why can't we all be North American?" And while many Americans would say "sure" (and many of us actually wanted to be part of the 'United States of Canada' after the last election), you said you didn't want to be part of us... you wanted to be Canadian.

I'm sure I'm being overly sensitive, but please keep in mind that it is very hard to be an American tourist right now. Everyone hates our country, and I understand why (I was one of the many who didn't vote for what's happening)... but the whole anti-American sentiment in Canada is just too much. And please don't deny it... I've seen the articles in your own press.

LOL... who is JORR? I promise I'm not. Is it a horrible thing to be a JORR-ite? I'll have to do a search on him/her.

Well, "press" aren't necessarily representative of the feelings of the people. Most Canadians are very much inclined to appreciate individual Americans on just about every level. But there are differences and "vive la difference!".

I personally don't know of any anti-American sentiment in Canada. Some of my best friends, etc...

I'm thrilled to death if your friends want to call themselves North Americans, or Semi-Canadians, or whatever the heck they want. But that says something about their feelings about being American, not mine about being Canadian. Would you have us all call ourselves Citizens of the World instead of our nationalities just so Americans aren't picked out of the crowd?

...and if I'm travelling and someone asks me if I'm Irish and I say no, I'm Canadian, does that somehow indicate and anti-Irish sentiment on my part?

And thank you LJ.

Absolutely... I can't wait for the day when we learn to respect and appreciate the cultural differences that make us all unique while still embracing everyone on this planet as equally human.

Unfortunately, I think that day might be scheduled for the same one that a certain place beneath us freezes over. :-\

slangevar, I second what LJ said. And please don't interpret anti-America-ism (against the country of America, which is, indeed, a theme in a lot of Canadian media) with being the same as anti-American-ism (against the American people). After all, there's plenty of anti-America-ism in the American press too!

But back to the topic at hand, although I am not by any means a "flag waver," I will likely leave my Canadian flag stiched on my knapsack when I travel to Britain and France this fall. For two reasons: 1. it's covering a Nissan logo (I detest being made to adverstise for free for corporations), and 2. in the past it has served me well as a conversation-starter with locals ("Oh, you're from Canada? Whereabouts? We went to such-and-such for our holidays last year." etc.).

Artemis_Vancouver (and LJ)- I absolutely appreciate what you just said. Our press (as well as all of my friends and me) are probably more down on America than anyone. Maybe that's maybe why I'm so sensitive to other people saying negative things about us.

It's a bit like repenting for mistakes you've made, only to have a bunch of neighbors come up to you and tell you that you've made a load of mistakes.

I hope my sensitivity doesn't come across as anti-Canadian. My sister and I almost were Canadians. Instead we grew up near the border and felt like cousins of yours.

Maybe that's why it's harder for me to hear Canadians quickly correcting people when they're mistaken for Americans. It's like we're the black sheep of our continent who went out and hooked up with a drug-addicted biker and got pregnant. ("American? Oooh no - I'm not American. Did you hear what they did?!")

I've never known a person from Vancouver admit to anything other than being from Vancouver.
Now a person from Toronto (centre of Canada)...LOL
There is more animosity for different regions than different countries.

In all fairness, I think the OP was referring to Americans who sewed Canadian patches on their things to avoid being identified as Americans. Canadians can still keep their patches (can't they?).

Of course, robjame... I think it's great that you are able to have some pride in your nation's symbols. It's just sad that ours has become associated (by some/many) with conservative nationalism.

Per the OP's post, would I say I wasn't from the US? No, I've never done that. I always own up to it and then add that I'm a Democrat. It would just be nice to be able to feel the amount of pride I felt in my country during the 90s.

But please - maple leaf away. Like I said, I really enjoy meeting Canadians.

On accents: Having grown up in the one place in the contiguous US that is due north of Canada, I used to get asked all the time if I was Canadian when I moved to a more southern US city.

Growing up, we watched Hockey Night on CBC, then enjoyed the latenight movies/shows that were far racier than US TV at the time. Everyone had Canadian coins in their pockets and thought nothing of using them. We loved our Canadian neighbors and appreciated all things Canadian especially the lower drinking age and the great beer!!! I think that we felt closer to our Canadian friends and relatives than those loonies on the Coasts!!

I was asked frequently in Ireland if I was American or Canadian and once I said Canadian to see if there was a difference in the response. THere wasn't. Everyone was universally friendly and I talked to people who had never been to the States wearing Packers and Cubs shirts (and sometimes white sneakers). It all was fodder for great conversation!

As LJ said:
"And why is it considered anti-Americanism to want to be Canadian? "

And at the risk of being "anti-American" -
It amazes me that some Americans take the rather chauvanist (sp?) view (to me at least) that preferring to be identified as one's own nationality is somehow "anti-American". What next - the fact that most of us (Canadians) want to live in Canada makes us anti-American?

<<
Or did they actually fly into a rage and beat the inquirer senseless with their ookpik?
>>

It would be much more effective if one used his ulu. :)

I have been mistaken for an American many times in my travels and usually politely say, "No, I'm Canadian". What really gets my goat is when they reply "Oh really, are you from Toronto?" ;)

I usually tell people I am a Canadian-American.