Canada!

[Pegghead]

Well I'm an Australian and I've been to Canada, it was a pretty good place. Not hugely different from anywhere else, you guys do throw a mean Canada day celebration though.

But seriously, what is the point to this thread? We've got Loading ready run, being Canadian isn't that big of a deal on the escapist.

 

[Sacman]

I know Bioware is from canada, I know u kick our ass in hockey, I know we got our assess handed to us in that one war with you guys, I know Vancouver has a large indian population, I know that Call Of The Wild and White Fang are based in Canada,I know Celine Dion and The Bare Naked Ladies are from Canada,and I know you have the smallest amount of firearm related deaths or accidents in the world and that's about it...

 

[Denis Trailin]

Canada has health care and is way more socialized that america

 

[AcacianLeaves]

Apologies if someone beat me to it:


OT: Canada is like a loft apartment above a really great party.

 

[SongsOfDragons]

Canada!! You demonym is 'Canadian', one of your most famous exports is maple syrup which comes in four different grades (or at least the stuff in my fridge does, yum), you're home to several cold-accustomed native peoples called the First Nations which I believe include the Cree and Inuit (? am I right?), your flag is red with a white square and a red maple leaf in the centre, and you still call Queen Elizabeth II your monarch.

Well that's a lot, but then again I'm British. *hugs Commonwealth buddy*

 

[The Madman]

And I think that's a good description of Canada: There are many things you COULD mention about Canada: politics (ya'll have free universal health care, but if ya'll don't change it soon, you'll be bankrupt in 12 years)

And why would we be bankrupt? Financially, Canada is one of the most stable countries in the world, moreso even than our brothers to the south, and have already recovered in most every sector from troubles still plaguing much of the rest of the world. Plus universal healthcare is amazing, why Americans seem so against it I'll never know. Seems silly to me! Oh sure, it ain't perfect, but it's nice knowing if I get into an accident it wont hurt monetarily as well as physically.

hunting (Canada is one of two or three countries that legalizes seal hunting)

Commercial Seal hunting happens only during a short period every year and is heavily regulated. I've seen online movie that make it out to be some sort of horrendous massacre where fluffy cute seals are killed, but frankly that's melodrama meant to make bleeding hearts cry. Only reason anyone even gives a damn is because they're cute when they have fur, no one ever cries for the thousands of other, uglier species being hunted towards extinction or having their native habitat destroyed. But the Harp Seal, one of the most common and fast reproducing on the planet, oh no, can't hurt them, they're adorable. Bah!

and your liberalism (not in the political philosophy per se, but from the standpoint that Canada's a very free, loving people - even if they're dumbasses that never wrote a constitution and, thus, hypothetically a tyrant could rise and relatively easily manipulate teh system).

No. No one couldn't. Besides, we've already got a monarch, remember? And she's a very nice lady I'll have you know, she came to visit us just recently. Quite nice!

Beats religiously following a piece of old paper outlining outdated and easily misinterpreted or manipulated laws. Paper doesn't sip tea and act like our kindly old grandmother come to visit from afar!

Of course I'm nitpicking here, but I loves my country, what can I say? And your post just seemed way too condescending for my tastes, whether intended or not. The rest, oddly enough, I more or less agree with believe it or not. Canada doesn't really have much of an identity. I kinda like it that way actually, but that's just me!

 

[Exia91]

CANADA? WHAT IS THIS "CANADA" YOU SPEAK OF?

Honestly though, if someone says "Canadian" I think of the moose from Brother Bear.
Don't hurt me.

I Like your pic. It's very hypnotising!

OT:
You people eat, drink and live off maple syrup? [sub]Hail Maple Syrup!?[/sub]
No sorry, I have no clue. I'm from Europe, I probably shouldn't join this convo.

 

[ShakerSilver]

Oh you silly Non-Canadians and your silly uninformed opinions on Canada.

 

[Baldry]

Well I'm british so when I think of Canadians I think how they have amazing accents, are very forgiving, eat maple syrup and bacon, almost got taken over by Saddam Hussain...Wait no that was south park, and they have weird heads, no sorry still thinking about south park!
But all in all I know its quite a cool country and I would love to live there!

 

[MICKnight1]

One of my few experience with Canada/Canadians was when I accidentally made a wrong turn out of a McDonald's parking lot and ended up crossing the Blue Water Bridge.
All I can say is that Canadian customs officials are much more polite and friendly than American ones. It was too bad I didn't have my passport or I would have at least spent the day!

Also, from a Canadian friend, "America: Canada's basement. There's a lot of neat stuff down there to see, but only a moody teenager would want to live there."

 

[magma]

Plus universal healthcare is amazing, why Americans seem so against it I'll never know. Seems silly to me! Oh sure, it ain't perfect, but it's nice knowing if I get into an accident it wont hurt monetarily as well as physically.

I also don't see why anyone would think of healthcare as a bad thing. Last I checked keeping your population in proper health (while lowering their stress due to less fear of illness) actually increases productivity and reduces plague.

 

[Cabisco]

It's that place thats kinda the USA though shitter in every way?

Okay i'm kidding, your one of my countries colonies?

Okay again with the kidding, Canadas just a country like any other and as far as I can make out, quite a boring one.

Not boring, just less publicized that America.

Okay I'll run with this ball you've given me. Tell me a couple of awesome things about Canada?

edit: It might taken a while but some people did tell me some quite awesome things aboot canada, I expected their would be some awesomeness and I'm glad I was right. I would quote them all but it would take far too long.

 

[Grigori361]

Like most awesome countries, you've never really been involved in world wars?

Other examples: Switzerland, Ireland.

Actually well played a fairly large part in both World Wars, you know the "storm troopers" from star wars? The Germans made that term up to refer to us because they considered the the biggest bad asses in the allied army for both wars.

Of course the US has us outnumbered and outgunned by almost 100 to 1, so it's not like we can fight as much as a nation

Lies. Storm Troopers where the german special forces. They didnt use it for Canadians. So, Canadians are.. well, not dumb persay, but misinformed?

That was the first time they used it to refer to their own soldier in ww1, though admittedly it IS a technical mistranslation, it's actually "assault troopers", or some-such, sadly I don't speak fluent German so I'm not sure. That unit was a response to us, Ever heard of Vimy Ridge? America couldn't take it, England couldn't, and don't even get me started on the French. I won't get into details, but after rehearsing the battle plan for about a month we took it in a matter of hours. First time all our units were given free rein to plan the battle (at the time we were still a British Colony, of sorts)

Speaking of details, wasn't the commander of the battle British? And weren't about half of the Canadian Corps, well, non-Canadian?

Sort of, recall I mentioned that Canada at this point was a British Colony ?

Well to get into detail our boy was overseen by British, and most of the artillery support was British, the actual combat units however were purely Canadian.

At least as far as I know, though to their credit the French assault did inflict VERY heavy casualties on the Germans.

Anyways back to the issue of British involvement, Sir Julian Byng, who later became Governor General of Canada, was the Technical "commander" of the Canadian Forces within britan's army, The Commander of the First Division was Major-General Arthur Currie, who was the man planning the whole thing, we was also a very very talented and intelligent mastermind behind an embezzling scheme back "home".


Yeah he was totally crooked.

 

[Grigori361]

Like most awesome countries, you've never really been involved in world wars?

Other examples: Switzerland, Ireland.

Actually well played a fairly large part in both World Wars, you know the "storm troopers" from star wars? The Germans made that term up to refer to us because they considered the the biggest bad asses in the allied army for both wars.

Of course the US has us outnumbered and outgunned by almost 100 to 1, so it's not like we can fight as much as a nation

That is not where the Stormtroopers came from. The Stormtroopers are these guys: http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=3078

and anyways, why would the Canadians be on the Dark side?

"The term "storm trooper" was first used by the Germans in the First World War to describe the Canadian troops that they had to fight against. Canadian troops were most feared by the Germans during the First World War, and the German army always prepared for the worst when an attack was spearheaded by the Canadian army.
The term was then used again by Hitler before the Second World War for his army of soldiers when first forming the National Socialist Party. They were his elite troops, and when his infamous Beer Hall Putsch failed, and some of his storm troopers were killed by police, he forced the German people to honour them and salute every time they walked by a memorial plaque dedicated to them.
The term was used a third time by George Lucas in Star Wars as a name for the white-armour-clad soldiers of the evil Empire. Much like the National Socialist storm troopers, they were trained to show no fear or emotion. "

I don't really have the time to get into a long drawn out debate so I'll just use this quote from here

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_a_stormtrooper

now go up a few posts and look at the Wikipedia page some fine soul posted

Now look down and compare the years Mr bright shining star, we have 1920 for the use of the "storm trooper" previous to ww2, and the reference to Canadians as such during ww1, years earlier.

Just in case you don't.

When did ww1 end ?

1918

You do that math

 

[Grigori361]

It's that place thats kinda the USA though shitter in every way?

Okay i'm kidding, your one of my countries colonies?

Okay again with the kidding, Canadas just a country like any other and as far as I can make out, quite a boring one.

Not boring, just less publicized that America.

Okay I'll run with this ball you've given me. Tell me a couple of awesome things about Canada?

One pretty awesome thing (I think) is our border with the US, completely unguarded, and the longest unguarded border in the world, possibly ever, combine that with 90% of Canada's population being with arms reach of that border, I'd call that quite the act of peace to maintain that with the US wouldn't you say?

edit: It might taken a while but some people did tell me some quite awesome things aboot canada, I expected their would be some awesomeness and I'm glad I was right. I would quote them all but it would take far too long.

 

[Thedayrecker]

Oh Canada....

Aren't you a commonwealth of Great Britain.... or the UK..... or whatever?

 

[Omikron009]

Being a Canadian, I can tell you that we all live in igloos and travel everywhere on dogsleds. Not really. It just rains a lot. At least here in Vancouver.

 

[neoman10]

Like most awesome countries, you've never really been involved in world wars?

Other examples: Switzerland, Ireland.

Actually well played a fairly large part in both World Wars, you know the "storm troopers" from star wars? The Germans made that term up to refer to us because they considered the the biggest bad asses in the allied army for both wars.

Of course the US has us outnumbered and outgunned by almost 100 to 1, so it's not like we can fight as much as a nation

That is not where the Stormtroopers came from. The Stormtroopers are these guys: http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=3078

and anyways, why would the Canadians be on the Dark side?

"The term "storm trooper" was first used by the Germans in the First World War to describe the Canadian troops that they had to fight against. Canadian troops were most feared by the Germans during the First World War, and the German army always prepared for the worst when an attack was spearheaded by the Canadian army.
The term was then used again by Hitler before the Second World War for his army of soldiers when first forming the National Socialist Party. They were his elite troops, and when his infamous Beer Hall Putsch failed, and some of his storm troopers were killed by police, he forced the German people to honour them and salute every time they walked by a memorial plaque dedicated to them.
The term was used a third time by George Lucas in Star Wars as a name for the white-armour-clad soldiers of the evil Empire. Much like the National Socialist storm troopers, they were trained to show no fear or emotion. "

I don't really have the time to get into a long drawn out debate so I'll just use this quote from here

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_a_stormtrooper

now go up a few posts and look at the Wikipedia page some fine soul posted

Now look down and compare the years Mr bright shining star, we have 1920 for the use of the "storm trooper" previous to ww2, and the reference to Canadians as such during ww1, years earlier.

Just in case you don't.

When did ww1 end ?

1918

You do that math

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storm_trooper

<quote=Wikipedia>Stormtroopers (in German Stoßtruppen, "shock troops") were specialist soldiers of the German Army in World War I. In the last years of the war, Stoßtruppen were trained to fight with "infiltration tactics", part of the Germans' new method of attack on enemy trenches. Men trained in these methods were known in Germany as Sturmmann (literally "assault man" but usually translated as Stormtrooper), formed into companies of Sturmtruppen ("assault troops", more often and less exactly Storm Troops). The infiltration tactics of the stormtroopers are still in use today, in one form or another. Other armies have also used the term "assault troops", "shock troops" or fireteams for specialist soldiers who perform the infiltration tasks of stormtroopers.

 

[yanipheonu]

Y'know what's bullshit?

Blazblue: CS is STILL NOT OUT IN CANADA AGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!

 

[alittlepepper]

What I know of Canada is pretty limited. I'm an American (Texan, even, so by default I am one of the many stereotypes of Americans...especially by the Japanese, if you take into consideration their video game characters and anime characters, but I digress). What I *do* know (or assume) is that much of it is vast boreal forest, has harsh and cold winters, but is really quite a lovely place in spite of it.
Almost half of Canada's GNP comes from trade which includes just about everything under the sun, there's a free health care system up there that sorta works, and Quebec is kind of a black sheep. Oh, and Les Stroud is from there and thus makes everything awesome, because he is awesome (and hot).
You also love your hockey and are generally a well mannered sort. Oh, and your cartoons are awesomely addictive as well, e.g.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEpPnTf_XGg

I like Canada, it's a cool place from what I can tell.