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Darque Pervert · 10-29-2007, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Video puts Canadian part of falls in US

By MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press Writer
Sun Oct 28, 6:18 PM ET

Oh, Canada! The USA is closer than ever.

The Bush administration appears to have annexed a major Canadian landmark as part of a slick new campaign to promote U.S. tourism and welcome foreign visitors to America.

A Disney-produced promotional video released last week by the departments of State and Homeland Security highlights majestic American landscapes, from New England's colorful fall foliage and the Grand Canyon to the Rocky Mountains and Hawaii's pounding surf.

Backed by a soaring orchestral soundtrack, shots of those attractions are interspersed with the smiling images of people of all creeds and colors. The video, "Welcome: Portraits of America," is to be played at select airports in the United States — starting at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C., and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston — and at U.S. embassies abroad.

About four minutes into the seven-minute production, viewers are treated to the impressive sight and sound of water roaring over Niagara Falls before the screen shifts to the Lincoln Memorial.

In showing the natural wonder, Disney's filmmakers, however, chose the Horseshoe Falls, the only one of Niagara's three waterfalls to lie almost entirely on the Canadian side of the border separating western New York state from southern Ontario province.

Making matters worse, a visitor to the U.S. would not even be able to get the same view of the falls in the video because the scene was shot from a vantage point in Canada, according to Paul Gromosiak, a Niagara Falls, N.Y., historian and author.

Also, he said the video leaves out the two cascades that actually are on U.S. territory, the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

"This is not the United States, this is 100 percent Canada, shot from the Canadian side," Gromosiak said after reviewing the video at the request of The Associated Press. "This is an insult."

Although brief, the appearance of the Horseshoe Falls in a U.S. tourism promotion effort is likely to also vex Canadians, who long have fought to distinguish themselves from their larger and more powerful neighbor to the South.

The political boundary is not marked with a line through the Niagara River that divides the two countries and connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. The distinction, however, is clear to most who have visited the Falls looking for a picture postcard photo to take home.

But it seems to have escaped the notice of the producers and those at the State Department and Homeland Security Department's Customs and Border Protection agency who presumably vetted the video before endorsing it and posting it to their Web sites.

In a separate "making of" video, Jay Rasulo, the chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts, speaks over the falls footage about the importance of showing would-be tourists "the great sites, the great vistas that they dream about all their lives when they dream about America."

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack could not speak to the scenery in the short film. But he stressed that Niagara Falls "is a shared natural wonder, a gateway for both our countries and anyone looking at the video will understand how proud America is to share it with Canada."

Calls to the Canadian Tourism Commission and the foreign affairs department were not immediately returned.

Karen Hughes, the undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, said in a posting to the department's blog Thursday that the production has the administration's blessing.

"This video clearly says: 'We want you to come to America, you will be most welcome,'" she said.

Hughes said she commissioned the work, which Disney shot and produced at no charge and donated, to overcome the pervasive post-Sept. 11 perception abroad that America is hostile to foreigners. She said the video is to be given maximum exposure.

"We have already sent the video and associated posters to embassies and consular offices across the world, where it will greet aspiring visitors long before they arrive on our shores," Hughes said.

"We're going to play it in waiting rooms and at embassy events — and we hope it will inspire many who otherwise might not have thought about traveling to America to come and see it for themselves." she wrote.

Or maybe Canada.

___

On the Net:

Video available at Discover America: Discover America

Video available at State Department: Welcome to Travel.State.Gov

Video available at Customs and Border Protection: Disney Donates ‘Welcome: Portraits of America’ Video to CBP Model Airport Project - CBP.gov

Karen Hughes' State Department blog posting: US Department of State Blog

**SpiralArchitect** · 10-29-2007, 11:58 PM

Quote:

anyone looking at the video will understand how proud America is to share it with Canada

Ah, exactly what I was thinking....

Although I, as many, were probably ashamed of the gov't before this - now I just want to start laughing at them.

Pretty stupid of them, like it would be hard to go to the many waterfalls of America and just shoot, I mean there are a million of them. To be honest this is just kind of petty, but it certainly is interesting. Thanks Darque.

Darque Pervert · 10-30-2007, 01:26 AM

I watched the video and it's actually very appealing. If I were a foreigner and saw the diverse landscapes, the equally diverse people and that cutie serving up hot coffee, I'd want to visit America, too!

But then again, I haven't seen a tourism vide that's not appealing. Hell, I'm sure Afghanistan or even Iraq could show the most picturesque landscapes available in those countries and produce a tourism video that would induce a desire to go there...

It's just slick marketing. In this case, slick marketing without any fact-checking.

ITG · 10-30-2007, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darque Pervert

Hell, I'm sure Afghanistan or even Iraq could show the most picturesque landscapes available in those countries and produce a tourism video that would induce a desire to go there

Well, I don't recall an actual tourism video on there, but have you seen Kurdistan - The Other Iraq?

And I'm actually willing to bet that they really thought it was in America, and this is all just them scrambling for an excuse. I've been losing my faith in the intelligence of your average person for the last several years.

Noeone · 10-30-2007, 01:45 AM

What pisses me off is every time the United States does stupid shit like this they piss
off more, people and by pissing off more people they help support the terrorists,
because at least they are doing something to stop us.

Shit we are killing thousands of people, innocent people, so we can stuff
companies like Halliburton full of money with no bid contracts. All the while stealing
the elections through the numerous flaws in the e-voting machines. Not that this
should be any surprise, from the CIA selling drugs to fund the Contras, to
COINTELPRO our government has consistently showed it's corruption and greed.
Remember well the Declaration of Independence, "That to secure these rights,
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the
consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes
destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and
to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and
organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their
Safety and Happiness."

Firefox · 11-02-2007, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darque Pervert

It's just slick marketing. In this case, slick marketing without any fact-checking.

Welcome to America!

The more time I spend living in Canada, the less I am impressed with America.

**dedbr** · 11-02-2007, 07:00 PM

Wait....You mean your upset because Bush was on Canadian territory, talking about america, Or your just pissed at the whole world.....Or maybe? Could you be a little more specific as to your emotions...?

Some Where In Ded Land..................................

Trocisp · 11-02-2007, 07:10 PM

I know my opinion isn't shared by most of the people here... but... Who gives a fuck?

It was probably file-footage that Disney had tagged "Niagara."

Jeeze, I dislike the guy too - but sometimes things just get fucked up and it's no ones fault... I'm not saying that this is one of those times, but it seems like it might be. It hardly seems like the US is trying to annex any part of Canada.

Darque Pervert · 11-02-2007, 08:53 PM

Is this video going to dissuade anyone from visting the USA? PRobably not.

I think that it's a shame that our government, members of which who signed off on the video (which is very well done, BTW) don't know what is US and what is Canada.

Hell, I know that Horseshoe Falls is in Canada...
Maybe that's what disqualifies me from running for an elected position.

green medicine · 11-04-2007, 01:35 PM

I am equally ashamed.
Though when compared to the pratfalls and mismanagement we've had over the last seven years it is miniscule and not surprising.

10-30-2007, 01:45 AM	#5
Noeone Sr. Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 478 Grams: 5,069.40 Groans: 1 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Thanks: 29 Thanked 172 Times in 89 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	What pisses me off is every time the United States does stupid shit like this they piss off more, people and by pissing off more people they help support the terrorists, because at least they are doing something to stop us. Shit we are killing thousands of people, innocent people, so we can stuff companies like Halliburton full of money with no bid contracts. All the while stealing the elections through the numerous flaws in the e-voting machines. Not that this should be any surprise, from the CIA selling drugs to fund the Contras, to COINTELPRO our government has consistently showed it's corruption and greed. Remember well the Declaration of Independence, "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." __________________ In any case civilization has made mankind if not more bloodthirsty, at least more vilely, more loathsomely bloodthirsty. In old days he saw justice in bloodshed and with his conscience at peace exterminated those he thought proper. Now we do think bloodshed abominable and yet we engage in this abomination, and with more energy than ever. Which is worse? -Fyodor Dostoevsky

11-02-2007, 07:00 PM	#7
dedbr Always Faithful Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 6,942 Grams: 35,482.95 Groans: 11 Groaned at 22 Times in 15 Posts Thanks: 2,469 Thanked 2,284 Times in 1,031 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	Wait....You mean your upset because Bush was on Canadian territory, talking about america, Or your just pissed at the whole world.....Or maybe? Could you be a little more specific as to your emotions...? Some Where In Ded Land.................................. __________________ "We have met the enemy, and he is us" .......... Pogo (for Prez...) Remember to check out our most wonderful Posting Guidelines!

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10-30-2007, 01:26 AM	#3
Darque Pervert Jive Honkey Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 5,639 Grams: 21,448.15 Groans: 12 Groaned at 15 Times in 13 Posts Thanks: 270 Thanked 753 Times in 475 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: -1.000%	I watched the video and it's actually very appealing. If I were a foreigner and saw the diverse landscapes, the equally diverse people and that cutie serving up hot coffee, I'd want to visit America, too! But then again, I haven't seen a tourism vide that's not appealing. Hell, I'm sure Afghanistan or even Iraq could show the most picturesque landscapes available in those countries and produce a tourism video that would induce a desire to go there... It's just slick marketing. In this case, slick marketing without any fact-checking.

11-02-2007, 07:10 PM	#8
Trocisp Banned Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 3,214 Grams: 28,395.67 Groans: 21 Groaned at 25 Times in 19 Posts Thanks: 783 Thanked 1,388 Times in 885 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	I know my opinion isn't shared by most of the people here... but... Who gives a fuck? It was probably file-footage that Disney had tagged "Niagara." Jeeze, I dislike the guy too - but sometimes things just get fucked up and it's no ones fault... I'm not saying that this is one of those times, but it seems like it might be. It hardly seems like the US is trying to annex any part of Canada.

11-02-2007, 08:53 PM	#9
Darque Pervert Jive Honkey Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 5,639 Grams: 21,448.15 Groans: 12 Groaned at 15 Times in 13 Posts Thanks: 270 Thanked 753 Times in 475 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: -1.000%	Is this video going to dissuade anyone from visting the USA? PRobably not. I think that it's a shame that our government, members of which who signed off on the video (which is very well done, BTW) don't know what is US and what is Canada. Hell, I know that Horseshoe Falls is in Canada... Maybe that's what disqualifies me from running for an elected position.

11-04-2007, 01:35 PM	#10
green medicine Jr. Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 186 Grams: 2,804.62 Groans: 0 Groaned at 1 Time in 1 Post Thanks: 62 Thanked 57 Times in 41 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	I am equally ashamed. Though when compared to the pratfalls and mismanagement we've had over the last seven years it is miniscule and not surprising.

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