According to a survey of 27 countries Canada ranked first as a positive influence in the world. The survey which was commissioned by the BBC asked over 28,000 people in 27 countries to rate 12 countries.
Britain, Canada, China, France, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, North Korea, Russia, the United States and Venezuela were all rated for having either a positive or negative influence in the world.
Canada came out on top with 54 per cent viewing it positively and 14 per cent negatively, followed by Japan and France. On the negative end the US came in third to last, followed by Iran then Israel. Venezuela had a fifty-fifty split.
Of the 14% who viewed Canada negatively, what reasons did they give?
Seriously, hating Canada? Isn't that like hating puppies or rainbows? It's the most inoffensive country in the world. If Canada were a guest at a party, it would be a slightly pudgy guy in a green sweatervest standing in the corner with a Diet Coke in his hand and a silly grin on his face.
The article didn't get into explanations of why. However If I had to hazard a guess, it could be due to incidents in Afghanistan, possibly due to Canada being a longtime US ally. Other than that, I'm not sure myself.
personally I would rather be hated then viewed as "a slightly pudgy guy in a green sweatervest standing in the corner with a Diet Coke in his hand and a silly grin on his face."
Is this really what you think of us? I am slightly insulted
But, as much as I love my country, there are a whole slew of reasons why people might see Canada negatively. Topping that list to me is the treatment of our native people.
Seriously, if you think that Canada's too cold, then you've never been here. There aren't igloos, we don't eat whale blubber, and we don't have glaciers following us on our daily commute. We don't need dog sleds either. My Honda works just fine, thank you. Oh yeah, we don't export ice either.
To the new world order, yeah you better watch out, emperor Bush is here to conquer the world, and make all you other countries America's slave countries. how fantastic.
to the 14% of the people who viewed it negatively. There is soon to be a Royal Commission to see how many tax payers' dollars can be wasted finding out why some people hate green sweater vests.
No offense intended, honestly. I love Canada and Canadians.
The guy I described is usually I end up talking to at the party. He's not being loud and obnoxious and trying to clamour for attention (US), trying to monopolize the song selection (UK), telling everyone to use a coaster and constantly emptying ashtrays (EU), or banging on the front door trying to be let in (Venezuela). Canada's just being unobtrusive and generally friendly. Always a welcome guest at any party.
@ classy: hey, it's ok to lose and look at the bright side... US came 3rd to losing, they didnt actually come at the bottom like Israel. You are still better off and there's no reason why Israel, Iran and the US can't change their image.
u like the cold then? It's 15 celsius and sunny here.. i was out in a t shirt and jeans already this morning. I've only had to endure barely-sub-zero temperatures a handful of times this winter, and I'm told this has been one of our colder ones. Canada isn't cold as a rule. We have our cold areas (many of them) but our warmer spots too. I was surprised to discover recently that the southern-most part of Canada is further south than the northern-most point of California
thank you... we are still in coats, gloves and after all this have red cold noses! no body is allowed to talk about warm weather till we get some in the UK!
I agree that it is much more positive than we (US) are. All you have to do is see how many of the us post on here and are divided or nasty to each other to see that the US can't get along with each other. How the hell are we going to get along with the rest of the world.
canada is the guy with the great beer in his hand and some hot blonde chick from any exotic country, and hes probaly cracking jokes about the americans and being friendly. In a green sweater though of course.
north strong and free.a union with the u.s is out of the cards. we would never leave our common wealth.u.s is building walls because they are worried they may be invaded.
i don't know if molson canadian is the best beer to represent us.
now alexander keith's on the other hand.. mmm..
and acg, i don't know what part of canada you're in, but i'm on the border to michigan and it's friggin freezing right now. :S won't be that way for long though!
History has shown it is better to be feared than respected bacause it is the human condition that fear is a stronger emotion than respect or being liked. It is sad that to be respected and listened to is that sometimes you need also to be feared. That is a fact that you might not like or agree with but cannot disprove. And the USA provides most of the defence of Canada so they don't need to confront anybody as they are protected buy the biggest kid on the block so don't assume that if all things being equal they would rate the same. It's a sick world and I'm a happy slightly pudgy guy in a green sweatervest standing in the corner with a Diet Coke in his hand and a silly grin on his face."
"And the USA provides most of the defence of Canada so they don't need to confront anybody as they are protected buy the biggest kid on the block so don't assume that if all things being equal they would rate the same"
Don't let the Americans fool you with their double-standards - they say this exact same crap about Europe. "Oh, we're always bailing you guys out. It's easy for you to invest so much money in the social system when you don't have to worry about defense." And yet the US actively tries to minimize the military role other nations can play; even allies are warned not to stock up their military too much.
So Europe is chided by the US for not having a strong military, but when Europe attempts to play a greater military role, the US stands in their way.
I just had to throw that in there before some American came swaggering in here making his World Cop talk.
Finally something about my own country and what i know most about. Canada is my home country. Lived in Canada for 22 years. When im out of college and saving money, I would indeed love to go on road trips around Canada. Explore my own country for once. Freedom of everything. :D :P
The truth hurts does it not. And I think Babe Ruth put it correctly when he stated " It's not bragging if you can do it" And to others I never once said I disliked Canada. Never not once. When Canada refused to go to Iraq with us it freed up four of transports which we keep on hold to haul thier troups arounds to carry our own guys. It is very impolite to talk smack about someone you reayyl do depende on for protection and 90% of you trade with.
I think you're missing my point: you can't simultaneously complain about having to "carry" other nations militarily and then stop them when they want to start carrying more of their own weight.
"It is very impolite to talk smack about someone you reayyl do depende on for protection and 90% of you trade with."
All friends are entitled to have disagreements, I would say. That is, of course, unless your idea of friendship is blind obedience.
I have never heard of the USA telling Canada they shouldn’t have a strong defense. With Canada I see as more of a cost issue really. We need their airspace to protect ourselves from attacks coming over the Artic Ice cap and they gain a defense partner who carriers the greater cost weight wouldn’t you agree, and they are part of NORAD unless that has changed recently. I would never use the term like parasite with someone like Canada but like boats on the same pond they raise and lower together but the boats are vastly different in size for many reasons. Please last time I was there I was put in jail so that might affect my feelings for Canada I guess. And they have really good fishing too when your not in jail:0)
i don't watch tv and this just reminded me why i don't! no country is bad it's how people see it. anyway, the guy is so misinformed, before freaking out about china he should see the scale of obesity in the US and how people still feast on fast food and sugary/ fatty food knowing it is bad for them. i don't see where the freedom of speech was when they forced people to take off their clothes in the middle of an airport because they were too ignorant to understand the writing or simply thought the writing will bomb the airoplane because it is "terroristic". Anyway, i understand it is a comedy thing but using it in such a thread and the fact many ameircans will believe this sh!te is just wrong. I like america, iran and israel, but the more anyone tries to protect these countries or any country by making others look back they will just lose my respect. oh by the way... urine is used if u r in the wild and u r stung by speific creatures! guess the guy didn't know that because the moment he is stung by an ant a 911 call and an ambulance is readily waiting by his front door! don't trash other cultures, it only brreds ignorance, intollerance and more hate.
You know when I saw this story I was going to post a comment saying "Canada is so much better than America in every single way " not as a serious comment just because I knew exactly who would jump in to defend his nation ....lol I mean the reason being (if you’ve read Superpatriots by Michael Parenti) you’ll realize that Superpatriots in America have what is known as “number one syndrome” .. the book goes into considerable depth on this it’s like reading the psychological profile of some sn’ers ..actually I’ll send you a talk by Parenti on this …it’s hilarious .
if it wasn't for Canada, i wouldn't be able to proudly wear my toque and hork my friend's labat and molson. also we must thank Canada for the McKenzie brothers and SCTV. also, there's a lot of really awesome garage rock and punk rock bands from Canada. I also meet people from Toronto all the time when the Pens host the Maple Leafs cause they flood the bars and they're very friendly folk.
Canadians remember the war as a victory by avoiding conquest by the Americans, while the Americans celebrated victory in a "second war for independence" personified in the hero of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson.
You see you should read the book .It asks what that means exactly “I love my country” ….It something that’s very easy to say and difficult to explain ?
It's a good book ...worth picking up a copy if you have the time.
2 Did Ann Coulter ever get back to CBS with the facts when she said that Canada sent troops to Vietnam …. http://www.youtube.com/...
3 Did that Canadian Conservative weirdo who appears on Fox quite a lot ever have a career after CBS asked her about the two times she was charged with stalking http://www.youtube.com/...
why arent places like Australia and New Zealand on the list? Of course Canada came out on top, when compared to countries who are in the midst of war, enduring domestic terorrism, and several communist countries.
is it just me or are all your posts directly insulting? I will believe all candians are stupid if you provide good reasons. As far as i can see, they have good relations, many medical and scientific advancements happen there and from personal experience and stereotype, they are very friendly and welcoming. If that fits your definition of stupid then i guess they must be proud to be stupid and i definatly like stupid nations who put their citizens and peace as a priority than smart ones who kill their citizens and veto life saving research!
Chill out. I wasn't insulting cultures, races, blah, blah, blah.
The link is a joke. Lighten up and take it for what it is. Nothing wrong with a little levity, is there?
I posted the wrong link. The one I previously posted was cut-off at the end and didn't contain the jokes about Canada and their Feminist Porn Awards. Wtf is "Feminist Porn"?? Watch and find out...
Health Care, Leonard Cohen, AND media accountability? If it weren’t for their little weather problem (and we hear that’s changing!) Canada would be a gawl-derned Utopia.
The Ontario Press Council just ruled that the Toronto Star, the country’s largest-circulation daily newspapers, “lacked balance” in a series of articles on Venezuela. The paper apparently parroted rumors from the Venezuelan opposition without providing opposing views. In Canadian journalism, this is apparently “a significant deficiency.” Go figure.
Note to Canada: Well done! We totally forgive you for Celine Dion, sort of.
