Marijuana.com

Zilos

Zilos-note: Always good to know were our own country, and not being too influenced by the US.

OTTAWA (CP) - Canadians shouldn't worry about their sovereignty because in many ways this country and the United States have never been further apart, says the next ambassador to Washington.

Frank McKenna was grilled for 90 minutes by the Commons foreign affairs committee on Tuesday. And while the session was largely overshadowed by controversial comments on continental missile defence, the former New Brunswick premier had some interesting and candid insights on his new job.

McKenna thinks the U.S. should back off on criticisms of Canadian marijuana decriminalization. He worries about the gulf between Canadian and American understanding of one another. And he believes the two countries can't do enough to harmonize their shared border.

"I don't think I've ever seen the countries, in many ways, more different," McKenna told the committee.

"We're going in a very different direction from the United States of America."

By example, he cited legislative measures such as same-sex marriage, gun control and pot decriminalization.

And he said Canada's "whole approach with respect to preserving the social structure, social security in Canada, is dramatically different from the direction of the United States of America.

"We just seem to be much further apart than we've ever been before. So my view is Canadians have done a good job of protecting our cultural integrity and our sovereignty."

McKenna made a spirited defence of Canadian independence in matters such as marijuana, which many American legislators have sharply criticized.

It has been suggested if Canada decriminalizes pot, it could cause problems at border crossings. McKenna said Americans should examine their own lax gun laws first.

"One of the biggest problems Canada faces is with respect to guns from the United States coming across the border and being used in crimes in Canada. So we could make the argument that each of us should be entitled to our own domestic policy, even though it has some implications for the other country."

Americans, said McKenna, "are largely indifferent to Canadians" and need to be constantly reminded of the importance of Canada's import and export markets.

And Canadians don't appreciate the psychological impact the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks had on American society.

Do Canadians "truly understand the sense to which the United States was traumatized and the sense to which that has driven their public policy since then?" McKenna asked.

"No. I don't think our citizenry overall have understood that."

Security trumps everything else in U.S. policy these days, and McKenna said he'd like to see the Canada-U.S. border "as seamless as possible" to assure our mutual interests.

But he also said that overly deep integration with U.S. policy could harm Canada's sovereignty.

"I think you could reach a stage where it would be a threat," said McKenna, citing occasional calls for a common currency.

McKenna was also asked what type of diplomat he'll be in Washington.

Paul Cellucci, the departing U.S. ambassador to Canada, frequently made headlines and raised hackles by criticizing Ottawa's domestic policies.

"I liked his style. You always knew where he was coming from," said McKenna.

"I like that kind of candour. I think it's very helpful."

__________________
:: Posting Guidelines :: 420 Lounge :: Hemp Cultivation :: Myths :: Canadian Laws :: U.S. Laws :: Recipes ::

 

S2

I guess they don't teach Candians about history-- 1812 and stuff....

HappyMan

I think Canada and the U.S. have far more in common. Our differences are mostly trivial.

__________________
Bla.

and

Marijuana.Com Community Posting Guidelines

Higher Logic

More than 75% of Canadians feel "we" shouldn't spread democracy in other countries. Obviously most of Americans feel the opposite.

Canadians differ in their beliefs about the role of a father in a family. Americans give a dominant role to fathers. In fact, 49% of Americans (in 2000) thought the father should be the master of the home, and increase from 42% in 1992. Only 18% of Canadians agree with that idea, a number that fell from 26% in 1992 to what it is at now.

More Americans (than Canadians) would rather have one leader make decisions and that men are naturally superior.

Canadians believe that just "living together" constitutes a family.

When it comes to violence, 31% (a number that was only 14% in 1992) of Americans feel it's no big deal, only 14% of Canadians agree with that.

25% of Americans think non-whites should not be allowed to immigrate to America (2000), an increase from 16% in 1992. Only 11% of Canadians feel the same way. I imagine that the American figure would be higher now though, considering this was before 9/11.

Canadians are more health conscious than Americans, have more sense of personal autonomy, are less alienated from society, are more sceptical of consumer advertising and more sensitive to ethics and equality.

Canadians have national health care, no death penalty, and (in most cases) views abortion has a private matter between a woman and her doctor. Unlike the US, Canada has strict gun-control legislation.

The entire Canadian culture is moving away from American culture, despite what appearances may show. America was founded on "life, liberty, and the pursuit" of happiness. Canada was founded on "peace, order, and good government." If Canada is post-modernity, then America is modernity.

Canada is a liberal democracy, a far cry from what Americans call democracy. In fact, look at any liberal democracy and you'll see that compared to the US they are quite different.

And we can't forget their stance on cannabis and homosexuality (cough, same-sex marriage).

But alas, we are the same in a lot of ways: we're both largely of European origin; we stole land from Natives by conquest, extermination, and assimilation; and most of us speak English. Trivial indeed.

"Canada is a better country, the US is a greater country."

__________________
Crucial Web Hosting · Garden's Cure · Marijuana Recipes · Drug Testing Facts

Dilution · Substitution · Urine Testing · Hair Testing · Drug Testing FAQ

HappyMan

as I said, mostly trivial.


and I never trust statistics that say X% of people think something.

 

DonkeyPunch

Seems both countries agree that the NHL can go F itself...

__________________
Posting Guidelines

Higher Logic

*shrug* May I suggest the following book? It's where some of those statistics came from, but the book is by a sociological researcher. It's not full of stats either.

MickityMike

No ****.

And what's with the beady little eyes that Canadians have?

__________________
I'd be delighted to live in a country where happily married gay couples had closets full of assault weapons. - Glenn Reynolds

HappyMan

I'll take a look at it........

Higher Logic

It's a pretty good book actually, not because it's a "Canada v. America" type thing but because it's interesting to see an outside perspective of American culture. I say that because when you are immersed in the culture yourself, it's hard to see what it is you are standing in. The summaries and comments in the link are pretty true though, it is meant for a Canadian audience and if you get all uppity when someone talks about your country (read arrogant and prideful) then don't even bother reading it.