The Washington Post on Canada

[Woodsheal]

Just a point: the article is from the Washington Times a much less respectable newspaper than the Washington Post. It is a much more politically motivated news outlet.

Ah yes, The Post - that bastion of objectivity...!

"Canadians are generally indistinguishable from Americans, and the surest way of telling the two apart is to make the observation to a Canadian."
- Richard Staines

"I don't even know what street Canada is on."
- Al Capone

[Bing]

Yes a person on the left would say that, but a person on the right would say the converse. A person in the middle would say that both have a point of view.

A person looking at the history and ownership would note that the Times was started by Rev. Sun Myung Moon of the Unification Church and owned by a media conglomerate closely associated with his church until late 2010. Yes that Rev. Moon who has preached that he is the personal reincarnation of Jesus, and who arranged his own coronation as such in 2004. The pejorative for the paper was The Moonie Times. While it had a decidedly conservative editorial policy I wondered why it was so closely allied with some factions in American conservative political circles. I would think that the social conservatives of the Religious Right would not appreciate a self-proclaimed Korean Messiah II. Strange bedfellows or big tent?

With new owners and editors come new perspective but I think the jury is still out on where the paper is going considering its origins.

[Lallans]

Ah yes, The Post - that bastion of objectivity...!

"Canadians are generally indistinguishable from Americans, and the surest way of telling the two apart is to make the observation to a Canadian."
- Richard Staines

"I don't even know what street Canada is on."
- Al Capone

Overseas publications tell foreigners who are coming to Canada that all Canadians just love hearing how different we are from Americans. (it must be confusing for the foreigners when they get here, since indeed there is virtually no difference at all). Anyway, that would mostly apply to the dimwit part of our population who, strangely enough, themselves slavishly follow the advice of US leftists regarding exactly what is wrong with the USA.

[artificer]

As this discussion rapidly teeters toward "the abyss of locked threads"

ith:

[xman]

As this discussion rapidly teeters toward "the abyss of locked threads"

ith:

Just what I was thinking.

[CDNSushi]

Yah, winter here IS ALWAYS long and very very cold, with lots and lots of snow, from October to the end of April, at least; and heating an igloo is also tough - but our sled dogs, and reindeer DO help, with that.

...Says the guy from Abbotsford. Easy for YOU to say.... Come live in Edmonton or Winnipeg for a decade. Born and raised Canadian, but I agree with dutchy kilted -- winters suck.

[CDNSushi]

A person looking at the history and ownership would note that the Times was started by Rev. Sun Myung Moon of the Unification Church and owned by a media conglomerate closely associated with his church until late 2010. Yes that Rev. Moon who has preached that he is the personal reincarnation of Jesus, and who arranged his own coronation as such in 2004. The pejorative for the paper was The Moonie Times. While it had a decidedly conservative editorial policy I wondered why it was so closely allied with some factions in American conservative political circles. I would think that the social conservatives of the Religious Right would not appreciate a self-proclaimed Korean Messiah II. Strange bedfellows or big tent?

With new owners and editors come new perspective but I think the jury is still out on where the paper is going considering its origins.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day, (as the saying goes). I wouldn't necessarily discount the article just because it appeared in the Washington Times rather than the Washington Post.

Likewise, I've read many quality articles in the Christian Science Monitor, knowing full well that newspaper's funding source and origins. I think that as long as one is AWARE that bias exists no matter what, arriving at the truth comes a bit easier, realizing that it's probably somewhere in the middle of two opposing opinions.

As for this particular article, it's certainly an op-ed piece, but it would be easy enough to backtrace his sources and find out whether his statistics hold water or not. What he's saying is neither revolutionary nor mind-blowing -- but certainly very interesting! (Even being Canadian).

[Gryphon noir]

In reference to the War of 1812, apparently the term "Canadian" was originally meant to be insulting, indicating a European who had "gone native." This would include a lot of Scots who were happy enough to trade with, and learn some of the local cultures: many married Native women. The difference between a 'proper' British subject and a "Canadian" was that the latter had no intention of leaving, and thus was crazy enough to vigourously defend his adopted land.
Some of the craziness inspired by these people included building enormous ships of the line--out of green timber! They didn't last long [rotted out pretty quickly] but they served their purpose securing Lake Ontario's shores. They didn't do so well on Lake Erie, which American forces mostly commanded, and which allowed numerous mill-burning raids into Southwestern Ontrario.
One of the crazier episodes involved taking control of Lake St. Clair and Lake Huron--with one ship. Even the British commanders couldn't rein in the band of men who sailed the "Nancy," a small armed schooner, captained by a Scotsman, of course.

RE: 1837
Montgomery's Tavern stood on the west side of Yonge St. just north of Eginton. I think my mother said that it was burned to the ground in the early 1930s. On its site is Toronto Postal Station "K" which has the distinction of being the only federal building in Canada where the coat of arms displays "E VIII R" standing for King Edward VIII. The building is reputed to be haunted, but then again, there have always been some sort of "spirits" there, whether they be erstwhile revolutionaries, or posties.

[jhockin]

...Says the guy from Abbotsford. Easy for YOU to say.... Come live in Edmonton or Winnipeg for a decade. Born and raised Canadian, but I agree with dutchy kilted -- winters suck.

having been born in Whitehorse, and then being a wee one at Log Cabin, Yukon, I am familiar with winter ( just trying to fuel the 'common view' of the Great White North , ..too many here already, Eh?)

[CDNSushi]

having been born in Whitehorse, and then being a wee one at Log Cabin, Yukon, I am familiar with winter ( just trying to fuel the 'common view' of the Great White North , ..too many here already, Eh?)

True... A good friend of mine who lived in S. Ontario was very fond of telling me the stories of people coming up across the border in June and July, asking directions to the nearest ski hill....

Here: fuel the common view some more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGjwe-BCfms