What's the difference between a Canadian and an American?

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Å‹oÑThÎµÑÅ‹

There are many differences and similarities between butter and margarine,oh I mean a Canadian and an American but there are also many different variations primarily among margarines, oooops Americans and that makes your question a lot more complicated. Spreads is another category entirely, and makes this even more complicated. Why couldn't you just produce a volcano and make it erupt with baking soda and vinegar like everyone else at the science fair? lol :))))

Garry T

Ones born in America, Ones born in Canada

melancholia_religiosa

Well, the difference between any given Canadian and any given American really depends on the individuals, not as much on their nationality. But I can say what the differences between Canadian society and American society are, at least in the broad strokes.

The foundational narrative of the United States is that of revolution and expansion. The pilgrims came over and wanted to create a society in which they could worship freely. Then the Founding Fathers fought the British so that they could live in a free republic. Then off went the pioneers to expand the borders and live free on the frontier. Now America sees its sense of identity and its actual purpose as going around the world and spreading its particular idea of freedom, even by force if necessary. America is a country very much driven by an ideology, by a philosophical idea. They're on about "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness".

Canada's foundational narrative, on the other hand, is one of survival and negotiation. Canadian identity has always been tied to the land and how to survive in as rugged and harsh a landscape this is. It started with the First Nations people, extended to the English and French settlers carving out a niche in the country, and continues through the waves of immigrants that are drawn here and with whom we have to learn to cooperate in order to get along. We're not governed as much by ideology... what makes a "Real Canadian" (despite beer commercials and the Conservative Party)... We're governed by the principle of what needs to be done. That's why we have things like universal health care: because there are people that need it. We're on about "Peace, Order and Good Government".

Those are two very different mindsets and mark probably our greatest differences. A neat exercise in it is looking at Canadian vs. American historical art. In American art you get a lot of guys standing at the tops of mountains looking triumphantly down, the conquering heroes spreading their ideology. In Canada you get more people standing at the bottom of mountains, if there are even people in them at all. Nature is a more powerful force than whatever ideology we may have.

Of course, there are regional variations to this. For example, an average Albertan might have more in common with an average person from Montana than they do with someone from Ontario. Someone from Ontario might have more in common with someone from Michigan than they do with someone from Vancouver. Someone from Vancouver might have more in common with someone from Seattle or San Francisco. But the broad cultural strokes are still true, I think.

..No fear.

I'm dual citizen, so here's what's different. From what I can tell, Canadians are more care-free party type, but family is still a huge deal, which is nice, and Americans still party and such, but like to be more independent and don't really give a **** about their families. I live in the states, but personally I like Canada better, since the population is smaller, it's almost like living in a HUGE small town. Everyone is friendly, and willing to give you a helping hand, where as americans tend to be a little more self absorbed. And judge Canada before they've met a canadian or been to canada. Don't get me wrong, the states offer a lot more (Education and business wise) , but I just think Canada is a more friendly place to live... they have better food, and cooler people! (Quote from baby mama ha) Hokai, peace!

Goddess of Grammar

Canadians are better at driving in snow, and spell colour with a u.

jay k

WOW I don't think I've ever seen so much ignorance in one question. Christ we border each other, where's the love?

The difference? One's from Canada while the other's from the US. And judging by the answers, both are ignorant.

Dead Day Afternoon

A Canadian is a better educated version of an American with health care and gun control. Oh, and teeth.

isotope2007

Canadians dont wave flags and have them on their houses, Americans do. Americans are more vocal about patriotism.

IMO a lot of Amercans look alike ! They just do, its like they are cloned, well the men do anyhow.

Canadians are more laid back, and more tolerant as a group.

Canadians dont suspect every racial minority is a terrorist.

If someones car breaks down and they knock on our door at 2 AM to use our phone we dont shoot them, we ask what they want.

Americans eat too much junk food.

More Americans are over weight

Americans are higher consumers and buy a lot of useless junk IMO

Canadians dont go around bleating that they are superior, we just quietly think we are and know we are.

Canadians dont eat Canadian bacon, thats something the Americans dreamed up.

Canadians smile at and talk to strangers, Americans shoot them - (TIC)

North Hollywood doesnt make movies perpetuating stupid stereotypes about Americans like South Hollywood does about Canadians.

Canadians know what the climate is like in all the states, Americans as a majority have no idea about other countries.

Canadians know what farenheit is, even though we dont use it, Americans have no idea what celsius is and when its +30C show up in heavy winter clothing

Canadians can laugh at themselves, Americans cant, they just shoot you for making a joke at their expense (TIC)

The Americans think they won the War of 1812, see above post, we know we did. Americans cant admit they ever lost any war.

Canadians just go in quietly and save the Americans *** when they get into a situation and then the Americans claim they did it themselves.

Americans believe they fought WWII all by themselves, do you ever see any other country represented in their movies?

Americans have school textbooks that say the capital of Canada is Toronto. Canadians have text books that have rewritten and sanitized native history and conflicts so we are even on that score. Kids being taught Historical "facts" that are false.

And of course we Canadian women are way way more beautiful than our American counterparts :-) and smart too ! Everyone knows that !

Smiley Virus

About 300 pounds.

Physics 101

i don't think this sara retard has met a Canadian in her life. First of all, i've never heard anyone ever say aboot.

The differences are Americans are complete idiots, rude, violent and hated

Canadians are friendly, actually know what is going on outside their own country

And also we eat moose because we have but even with that being said i've never had it my self nor do i know anyone who eats it.

The difference between americans and Canadians is that Canadians are smart enough to know the difference americans just have no ******* clue so they say what they hear about a "typical" Canadian and repeat it with out any knowledge of who Canadians really are.

Americans suck and are one of the most hated countries.

Jay K how can u look at the answers and say Canadians are ignorant. Ignorant means UNEDUCATED, not rude like i'm assuming you think. Almost every Canadian that aanswered put lots of facts and details

pissy_old_lady

Garry T--lol
Physics 101--agree
Dead Day Afternoon--LOL love it, couldn't have said it better
Sara---Another example of a misinformed, uneducated American adding to the world renowned stereotype

kenoplayer

Canadians are more open-minded and tolerant of different races, politics, religion and cultural rituals, while Americans aren't.

Sara287

...Canadians?
Those milk-bag-sipping, knee-sock-wearing, frequently homosexual, Celine-Dion-worshiping freaks who say "aboot" far too much?
As compared to Americans...
Well, aside from the above, not only do they worship hockey and treat curling like it's a real sport, but they live off moose meat and constantly look strikingly similar to the opposite gender.
"Canada, where the men are men and the women are too".
Those beer-swilling, frostbitten, pacifist Monopoly-money-using maple-syrup-exporting nutjobs?
Canada is one big mental asylum.
They consume their weight in Kraft macaroni and frequently experience interesting dreams about zambonis.

Yup, Canada is a special, special place.

man

from canada -watching canada go down hill ,ppl are rude,govrn cuts mostly the weak,2nd worst greenhouse gass maker
i know if we keep going the way we are we better build up our forces or some country like the usa will invade with the right that we became global terriost - i know usa has way more human rights then us and now seems to hav a very good leader which we lack
oh and i spell it color not like some other retards here with a u

Canadians are nice, friendly intelligent, compassionate, benevolent people loved all over the world and americans are hateful, violent, rude, obnoxious, gun loving, racist, homophobic, obese war mongers and religious nuts... hope that helps..oh and americans like to wear a Canadian maple leaf when they travel so people will think they're Canadian instead of a wankee....

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