Is Canada not pulling their weight?

I heard this story this morning and it slightly pi%%ed me off.

A recent Republican campaign ad aired recently which depicts Canada as a nation of freeloaders riding on everyone else's tail coats.

The ad also displays racial overtones which have offended others as well. What are these people thinking?

OTTAWA — The Canadian government has lodged a complaint with the Bush administration over a Republican election ad that belittles Canada as a global freeloader.

As a Canadian, and as many other Canadians I'm sure, feel we are doing more than enough in regards to the current world threats.

We are thought of as a 'peace keeping' nation, and I for one, am happy with that.

I would like to think we help out wherever we are needed in the world, and portray the utmost professionalism in the process.

To have someone insinuate on a televised commercial that we are doing any less than our share, is IMO, disgraceful.

One man in the ad says: “Canada can take care of North Korea. They're not busy.”

Low Blow

Down right appalling.

Political battles or not, just plain crap


Is this how the Majority perceive Canada????







[edit on 26-10-2006 by Grailkeeper]

Don't listen, they are republicans... they believe their own propaganda. And I just hope in the next election that Harper will get out of there so we can get out of Iraq, not merge with USA and Mexico, and return to our peacekeeping status. (even if we invaded Haiti and support a dictatorship in Afghanistan)


[edit on 26-10-2006 by Vitchilo]

Meh, it's just some idiot who's running out of mud to sling at his opponent so he aimed at our neighbors to the North.

Here's a tip for the world: If one of our politicians mouth's are moving, nine and a half times out of ten our citizens don't feel that way.

A quick google comes up with the following.

More than 3,000 Canadian soldiers, sailors and Air Force personnel are deployed overseas on operational missions. On any given day, about 8,000 Canadian Forces members - one third of our deployable force - are preparing for, engaged in or returning from an overseas mission.

Canadian Military Operations

Should we draft more people to help serve the USA?

[cheap-shots off]

Originally posted by Grailkeeper
A quick google comes up with the following.

More than 3,000 Canadian soldiers, sailors and Air Force personnel are deployed overseas on operational missions. On any given day, about 8,000 Canadian Forces members - one third of our deployable force - are preparing for, engaged in or returning from an overseas mission.

Canadian Military Operations

Should we draft more people to help serve the USA?

[cheap-shots off]

Good god, no. We'll just send more back to you in body bags from friendly fire.

What was the last war Canada Started?? If I recall it was against the US. Iraq is our very own mess we the people knw what was going to happen on the way in. But Bu$h and company went in against the peoples will and here we have Vietnam II or III.


mikell

Originally posted by mikellmikell
What was the last war Canada Started?? If I recall it was against the US.

you mean the War of 1812?

that was British North America against a young United States. In theory, Canada did not exist then.

During the Civil War, i think Canada was a haven for Confederate agents.

Just wait until THEY need our water... we'll see who's pulling the weight then...

then again, as sad as is it, the US can just come in and take it... However, I'm sure they'll run into a lot of resistance in the form of 'insurrgents' SP?....

The last war we started(canada) was the funding of haiti's rebel groups, then we invaded Haiti, with USA and France to kick out a democratic elected leader to put a puppet. And this is a shame, and Paul Martin should go to jail for this.

I'm a republican(registered), and I dont think this. I think Canada pulls all the weight it can, and you cant ask more than that. Canadian troops in Afghanistan to my understanding are very professional fighters, and very good at what they do. I dont know what the purpose of the ad was, but it was a downright moronic move.

Originally posted by ludaChris
I'm a republican(registered), and I dont think this. I think Canada pulls all the weight it can, and you cant ask more than that. Canadian troops in Afghanistan to my understanding are very professional fighters, and very good at what they do. I dont know what the purpose of the ad was, but it was a downright moronic move.

Not lookin for ego points, but I must say it is nice to hear someone from the 'camp in question' speak in positive nature about Canada and its contributions. I don't judge all, by judging a few.

Very nice thing to say, Canada thanks you

I can't propperly express my personal feelings on this without violating the hell out of the forum rules on lanauge.

But here's my best shot at "keeping it civil":

Certain numbskull Yank Politicals really need to extract their craniums from their rear orifices before us freeloading Canadians deside to shut down our energy exports (which we haven't been paid for in years) and plunge the whole of the mighty US into darkness.

That said, I'm plesently suprised by the comments made here so far. Nice to see that the people of the US understand better who their friends are and how they should be treated.

Still, I've seen way to many blatent smear attacks on Canada from US mass-media. It makes me a little cranky, to say the least.

I think when the President of the United States drops in for visit on the fly (Nova Scotia) a few months ago to thank Canadians for taking in all the US flights on 09/11/01, and Condoleeza Rice, his Sec/State, most recently both while on other business, that sums up in my mind how our two Countries are closer than just proximity. WMD and Terrorist is a big concern of both Countries. Perhaps Mexico too. We are united in ways outspoken politicians and media mumbo jumbos should but may not know.

Dallas

Originally posted by Dallas

I think when the President of the United States drops in for visit on the fly (Nova Scotia) a few months ago to thank Canadians for taking in all the US flights on 09/11/01, and Condoleeza Rice, his Sec/State, most recently both while on other business, that sums up in my mind how our two Countries are closer than just proximity. WMD and Terrorist is a big concern of both Countries. Perhaps Mexico too. We are united in ways outspoken politicians and media mumbo jumbos should but may not know.

Dallas

Ya see... here's the big difference:

Canada has never pissed off the rest of the world. Ok, our seal hunts tend to be a little on the unpopular side, but clubbing a few cute big, brown-eyed seal pups to death is a far cry from rampently imposing our beliefs and systems on people who don't want them.

Canada is not under threat of WMD attack (unless NK launches and their less-than-reliable missle manages to fall on us). There has been NO instances of Al-quada related attacks (or even atempts) against Canadian targets. When Canadians travel over-seas, we don't have to hide our nationality.

All our efforts against terrorism (which should NOT be underestimated, especially when it comes to CSIS) are on behalf of the US. We've been sticking our necks out for our southren brothers and endangering our position as being welcomed peace keepers and a rational member of the global community.

In short, we do NOT face the same threats. The US makes it's own enemies and we are under no obligation to fight their wars for them.

In my honest opinion, the next time (if there is a next time) Bush comes to visit Canada, we should arrest him as a war ciminal under internation laws set forth by the Nuremberg Trials.

[edit on 26-10-2006 by BitRaiser]

They're making you the new Castro - demonstrating that there is an alternative model for running a decent society / having a sensible foreign policy will never be popular in the 'land of the free'.

When they start leaking pictures of your troops getting heavy with some locals you'll really know they're on your case.

TBH I'm really surprised that they haven't tried harder to de-stabilise you / liberate you from you making the 'wrong' decisions

Originally posted by Strangerous
They're making you the new Castro - demonstrating that there is an alternative model for running a decent society / having a sensible foreign policy will never be popular in the 'land of the free'.

I do find it amusing that there is so much hatred in the US for socialistic government and the wide held belife that all socialism is evil. So many Americans are shocked to learn that Canada is, in fact, a Socialist Democracy.

When they start leaking pictures of your troops getting heavy with some locals you'll really know they're on your case.

They've already used that one... or rather we did ourselves. Some nasty pics and things came out some time ago. The thing is, we didn't dispute them or try to cover them up. We took responcibility. The people responcible were tried and convicted. Training was altered. In once case, an entire unit was disbanned.

It's hard to use that sort of spin when your target doesn't try to avoid the fallout.

TBH I'm really surprised that they haven't tried harder to de-stabilise you / liberate you from you making the 'wrong' decisions

Oh, there's pressure. Last year the leader of the Marijuana party (yes, it's a real political party) was aressted... under orders from the US.
Source
There's constant pressure on us to adopt the US party line. Gay Marrage, Civil liberties, "free" trade, and military actions are all things that have caused friction between our administration and the US.

Our historic interaction can be summed up thusly:
US: "Jump!"
Canada: "Er... naw."
US: "We said JUMP!"
Canada: "We don't feel like it. Sorry."
US: "Jump or we're going to screw you!!"
Canada: "Oh for crying out loud..." *hop* "Happy now?"
US: "Trators!"
Canada:

Or... if you prefer, here's a bit of real US/Canada interaction: Funny as hell

[edit on 26-10-2006 by BitRaiser]

Originally posted by ludaChris
I'm a republican(registered), and I dont think this. I think Canada pulls all the weight it can, and you cant ask more than that. Canadian troops in Afghanistan to my understanding are very professional fighters, and very good at what they do. I dont know what the purpose of the ad was, but it was a downright moronic move.

You have my vote for way above top secret dude!!! I am canadian and im an ex miltary.I'm glad you said what you did-Thanks!!

Come now, most Americans do not think negatively of Canadians at all. In fact the people I hang around with think Canada is pretty cool for allowing gay marriage and marijuana. It is funny how the American culture is ultra-liberal yet our government policies are not.

I don't know why he would say this, but I know of no politician who would agree with this statement. If anything, Canada with Britain seem to be our only true friends. And the United States would go to war if Canada was ever attacked.

We're friends

Originally posted by BitRaiser
That said, I'm plesently suprised by the comments made here so far. Nice to see that the people of the US understand better who their friends are and how they should be treated.

your damn right...this is over the line. I usually support republicans in MOST endeavors (keyword being MOST :lol but this is too far.

you cannot belittle an ally, who supports us with troops, etc. when many of our other supposed "allies" wont even do that. This was a major screw-up in my opinion of the GOP and Canada is RIGHT to complain about it.

I am an American and more than appreciate everythign canada has done, keeping in mind they dont owe us a damn thing.

If the Bush administration wants to try to alienate an ally, they can do it on their own. WOW.....for the first time in a long time I have actually distanced myself from them .

Canada, keep your chin up...you dont have anything to be ashamed about. I hope this protest smacks some since into the morons who made this ad.

I appreciate all the input from our neighbors, nice to see the consensus going the way I had hoped.

The US 'citizens' tend to get an unwarranted 'bad rap' quite often, and this helps to discredit those assumptions


Edit: to fix spelling

[edit on 27-10-2006 by Grailkeeper]