> What I'm interested in hearing is mostly from non-US Rinkies who either have or have been exposed to anti-US feelings from countrymen at some point to attempt to give me an explanation for those feelings. If you present your views in a rational and non-emotional way I promise no to flame you.

While I am somewhat ashamed of it now, I grew up in an environment with a lot of US-bashing, and I took part in it quite a bit. Here's a little of what I think goes into that sort of thing in Canada.

First of all, we are very dependent on the US for protection and economic security. Some might argue that we are strong and independent, but they're blinding themselves to the truth of our situation. Our military is not capable of defending us from any kind of serious threat, and our economy seems to be irrevocably linked with that of the US. We're very good at making friends, and that's what gets us by.

The problem is, it's a pretty one-sided friendship in a lot of ways. Sure, we can help the US out in some things, but our contribution often appears to be a token thing, sort of like a kid handing his father nails while the father is building a new house. I think that this breeds jealousy and resentment sometimes.

Fueling that fire is the media. American media shows a lot of very good things about the US, and Canadian media covers a lot of the same things. Unfortunately, a lot of those good things are unsurprisingly similar to the things we have here in Canada, and a lot of the normal Americans we see on TV look a lot like normal Canadians. Who do we remember, then? We remember the guy with the thick southern accent who appeared to have no idea what he was talking about. We remember the fanatic fatigue-wearing gun-toting extremist. We remember the dumb things, because they're the things that are different and unusual. Then we form cultural biases around them.

I think, mainly, that these feelings (at least in Canada) come from immaturity. It's the classic "friends in public, but behind your back I inflate your flaws and try to make you look dumb so I can feel better about myself". Fortunately, as I grow older, I see less and less of that sort of thing.

That's the other thing. Of course, my view is tainted by my youth. I haven't had much experience with what Canadian adults think of the US, because I haven't been one for long enough. As you mentioned, the point-of-view of younger people is very different from that of older folk.

I know that I've oversimplified things here, but I'm kind of tired. I drank too much maple syrup at hockey practice, and I'm not feeling well right now. ;-)

> -- Dave

Don Monkey