Company selling "Canada" Kit to Americans
 

T-shirt company helps Americans relax on vacation - by posing as Canadians

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...us_cda_t_shirt
- Okay aside from the patriotic issues involving this whole thing -
I have one concern (as a Canadian)... if this is acknowledged as such a "common" practice then perhaps 'Canadians' abroad might become targets because they may be US citizens mascarading as 'Canadians'?

Not a comforting thought for me at all...

Re: Company selling "Canada" Kit to Americans
 

I was thinking the same thing. If you can't travel as your own person from your own country then maybe it's time to rethink your behaviour.

Dumb idea.

As much as I respect Canada and its citizens, I'm happy and proud to be a US Citizen.

Re: Re: Company selling "Canada" Kit to Americans
 

We can travel as our own person from our own country. If some people feel they can't, they can always become Canadian.

-Rudey

Pretty ridiculous idea - Canada's ok, but I'm proud of being a citizen of the U.S. and wouldn't think of passing myself off as Canadian or anything else.

Like Rudey said - if you want to be Canadian, move to Canada.

Ditto!

And that's really the whole point. One should be proud of where they're from and if they aren't it's time to find out why and change something.

I concur. If travelling abroad in the next 4 years, I'll of course be happy to tell them that I voted for Bush. My money's still green though (or whatever color their money is).

I love Canadians, the same way I love people from other states in our Union. But I would look forward to dicussing politics, because one of the coolest things about being an American, if not the coolest, is that we can openly discuss how we feel and not suffer any gov't sanctioned conesquenses because of it. I can go anywhere in the world and say, "no, not all Americans support Bush." And I love that about my country, which is why I wouldn't pose as a Canadian. I would pose as either Bohemian or Luxembourgian though, just for the hell of it. I also think pretending to be from another country is an easy way out. You should have an opinion about the things you're country is doing. That makes the whole country look bad if you're like "who cares what my gov't is doing" People need more self confidance.

To alelevate RACoopers fear, I don't think people attack americans because of politics, at least not in a physichal sense. Plus, if a European or whatever started a fight with a Canadian, and I didn't like the way it was going, I would jump in on the Canadian side. North America is too cool of a continent not to be united like that.

Re: Re: Company selling "Canada" Kit to Americans
 

Exactly...just don't behave like the awful people (i.e. Jonathan) from THE AMAZING RACE and everything should be fine.

Um yeah...I'm thinking that this sentiment will last until around Day #2 of your vacation.
Ugly sentiments sting American tourists

It should be interesting when my fiancee and I go on our honeymoon - both of us are supporters of the President.

It's interesting to me that, in this thread, this has become a "Bush" issue as oppossed to an "American" one -- ie "The Ugly American" syndrome.

While this is only an opinion, it says two things to me. First, that the perceived "division" in the country is deemed to be real by non Americans; and second, that the man is perceived to be bigger than the office and the country itself.

I don't think either of those is good.

You're a Bush-voter in Boston... I'd say you're probably used to being around people that disagree with your political stances by now.

Re: Re: Company selling "Canada" Kit to Americans
 

Am I the only one who finds this amusing? The "Go Canadian" thing was started off when someone jokingly said they'll pretend to be Canadians so they don't have to deal with political BS on their vacation. It started off as a joke.. chill out people. I hardly doubt real Canadians will start getting harrassed in Europe. Maybe I don't know this because I live in Texas (which is pretty far from Canada ;)) but seriously -- how many Canadians would seriously walk all around Europe with the flag plastered everywhere? I would think that Canadians - like most other people wear regular clothes on an everyday basis.

Remember that "Marry an American" thing? (http://www.marryanamerican.ca/) that started off as a joke too.


People joke about America all the time ... we just roll with it.

As far as "rethinking" our behavior -- I am a productive citizen. I don't have a crimial record, I pay taxes, and all that jazz...but I'm only one person. There's not much I can do to change the way thousands of other countries' citizens feel about my country or their generalizations of my fellow Americans.

/soapbox

Re: Re: Re: Company selling "Canada" Kit to Americans
 

I own a Roots backpack with a Canadian flag patch on it. At Queen's University, it's common to see students with Canadian flag patches sewn on their faculty jackets (i.e. arts and science, engineering (aka applied science), education, nursing, music, etc) along with their major, "pass crest" (cannot be on the jacket until one completes first year courses) and graduation year.

Re: Re: Re: Company selling "Canada" Kit to Americans
 

No, Canadians don't "plaster" themselves with the Maple Leaf when abroad, but backpackers often / typically have the maple leaf sewed onto the outside of their packs.


No, in general Canadians are treated quite well when abroad (Europe, Australia). Whenever I spoke in Australia, my accent naturally betrayed that I was not a "local". When I said that I was from Canada, that was typically met with a positive response. (some "ruder" people would make negative American comments too...sorry! :( )

Re: Re: Re: Company selling "Canada" Kit to Americans
 

Actually many are urged to sport the maple leaf when they travel so as not to be mistaken for an American... besides you tend to get a little better treatment in some places when they know your a Canadian.... or at least a slightly more positive response ;)

Thing is the whole Americans passing themselves off as Canadians has been happening for quite awhile... my concerns are about the future security of Canadians; because the more common this practice becomes, the more likely Canadians will be targeted by America's enemies...

Or as summed up in a Toronto Star write-in:

It is wrong to attack someone based on nationality. Do people not understand this? Do not sit there saying you're worried you would get targeted because the issue isn't why you're getting targeted but the fact that you are being targeted in the first place.

Why are people so violent these days? Do they not get nooky?

-Rudey

It's because their mothers didn't love them enough.
It all stems back to Freud.

Re: Re: Re: Company selling "Canada" Kit to Americans
 

This is not a "Bush thing". Like RACooper said, this has been happening for quite some time. Not just since Bush took office.

Also, my suggestion that one "rethinks" their behaviour was not directed at you or anyone on this board. It was a general statement. If anyone thinks it is necessay to pose as a citizen of a different country then maybe it's because they are poorly behaved on their travels. One will find that if they are polite, resepectful, co-operative, etc. then they will be treated the same way. This also is not just an American thing. It applies to everyone. If you are a courteous traveller, then you will most likely be treated with courtesy.

And there are things that you can do as one person to change other views of your country. The problem with stereotypes is that they are partially true. Some people, somewhere are living up to them. You, as a single individual can not get caught up in the stereotype (and I am in no way suggesting that you perpetuate any kind of stereotype).

Basically, all I am saying is, if you (that's a general "you"), as a traveller, have found yourself to be treated badly along your journey, then maybe it's something you did, i.e poor behaviour, and not your country.

I apologize in advance because this is completely off-topic, but since there are so many Canadians posting in this thread I figured I could get a quick answer to my question :)

This is a completely random question, but I was just curious. I know that officially Canada uses the metric system, but do you guys understand the English system (inches, feet, pounds, etc.) as well? And, if that is the case, is it taught to you in school or is it just something you've picked up?

Thanks! :)

The Metric system is the only system taught in school... but we all understand and use the Imperial system as well, partly because of influence from the US and the UK and partly because our parents were raised with the ol'Imperial system as well...

So here's a breakdown (in general) of what system Canadians use by topic:
Height & Weight - Imperial (Metric on documents)
Construction - Imperial
Bar Supplies (glass/booze) - Imperial
Temperature - Metric
Distance - Metric (mosly - some older folks still use Imperial)
Speed - Metric
Groceries - mix of Metric and Imperial
Science - Metric (of course)

Re: Re: Re: Re: Company selling "Canada" Kit to Americans
 

hmmm i never said it was a Bush thing... and I don't think all hatred towards Americans is b/c of the president.

I'm a pretty courteous person. What if I was still to get harrassed about politics or whatever else just because in a nice conversation I say I'm from America?

The main reason this product was created was for that reason - so they won't get harrassed about random political stuff. It has nothing to do with their behavior.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Company selling "Canada" Kit to Americans
 

Ah yes... but while in the past there was some hostility towards American tourists ("the ugly/loud/arrogant/crass American" stereotype), it has I would argue reached new levels because of the interest and attention focused on the US and it's policies under Bush...

For example politics and policies were rarely the main topic of discussion at bars or pubs with Americans... mostly you talked sports, entertainment, whatever... but now that US policies are having such a large effect on the world at large people are now much more interested (and opinionated). Further I would argue that the "confrontational" nature of some people towards Americans and politics stems from the fact that world-opinion is marginized (or mocked) by the administration and most of the American media (that makes it out of the US) - people are seeing this as a chance to make their opinions known for better or worse; being the world's only super-power makes you the centre of attention and discussion...

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Company selling "Canada" Kit to Americans
 

It has little to do with who is President, and little to do with American policies. Its mostly jealousy because the U.S. is the most powerful nation on Earth. In many nations where contempt for America is strongest, its driven by government controlled media to deflect public opinion from local government corruption and incompetence.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Company selling "Canada" Kit to Americans
 

Bullshit.

What sports are you going to discuss with Americans? Hockey? Most don't care. Football? We play the real version, y'all's is bastardized. Soccer? Most Americans couldnt' name more than 3 players on our national team, let alone discuss strategy. Basketball? We own y'all. Baseball? I'm surprised y'all don't confuse it with cricket.

As far as the whole, "I'm American, but will pose as a Canadian overseas" thing....

I would MUCH RATHER be harassed or attacked as a TEXAN or AMERICAN then present myself as a canadian. Sorry, that's just how it is. I don't care how more 'world-friendly' your government is, and honestly, i'm glad that we're not seen as "ms. congeniality" by the rest of civilization. I would much rather be seen as the unstable girl in the corner, who cuts her own hair and wears White-Out as nail polish, and has the ability to make your life a living hell, then the girl that will compromise herself daily and bend over backwards to appease any and all comers.

Any person that is so ashamed of their heritage that will present themselves as fucking canadians abroad should be stripped of their US nationality and forced to wait on line to gain admittance to Canada.

KS 361 beers i've had tonight, so i'm on a bit of a rant

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Company selling "Canada" Kit to Americans
 

Believe you me you'd be attacked for being a crass, arrogant, asshole long before the American or Texan thing came up... although they might say it figures coming from the same state as Bush ;)

As for sports this may come as a shock to you but "American" style sports are played in Canada and Europe. Here is a breakdown of sports that you can talk about...

Hockey - last time I checked it was pretty much an international sport - in fact many NHL players are playing in Europe now.
Baseball - areas outside the US have interest in the sport, and you can catch the playoffs and World Series on most sports channels overseas.
Football - again we (Canada) invented it... so your version would technically be the bastardized version :D . But again it may suprise you to learn that Germany has sell-out crowds to "American" football in the World League (were as the soccer attendance is going down).
Soccer - hey Canadians couldn't name even one member of our national team... but then again we don't really watch the Canadian team - the Euros and World Cup are much more interesting.
Basketball - apparently you forgot that we (Canadians again) invented this sport too... :D
Rugby - too bad you didn't mention this... you might enjoy the sport.
Racing - not the Nascar, but the real racing that happens everywhere else in the world.
Yatching - yes I know America has pretty much ruled it lately... but it is fun to watch.
Horse Racing - you can pick it up anywhere, and it's easy to get into even a local event.
Cricket - umm... sorry don't understand it; but it is popular in the British Commonwealth (except here in Canada).
Tennis - again not my cup o'tea, but hey people watch and talk.
Olympics - you may not have noticed but every two years everyone is given something to talk about .

As for you comment about "fucking canadians"... two things...
1- Canadians - at least have the common decency to capitalize it moron.
2- You are the perfect example of the ugly, loud, obnoxious, arrogant, ignorant American that the steotype seems to be based on....

PS> 361 Beers... so with conversion that'd be what 36 real beers? :D

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Company selling "Canada" Kit to Americans
 

lol

and this is why i need a breathalyzer on my keyboard :D

KS 361