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Canadians slandered in The Economist magazine

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From letters to the editor of the Economist magazine, November 1st 2003:


"SIR- Canadians truly believe that their lagging incomes are simply a product of having fewer “rich folk” around and that their military impotence a result of being such “really good guys” that no one has a beef with them so they have no need of a military capability to defend their shores or foreign interests (Letters, October 25th).
The day I hear a Canadian admit that his country is wealthy, modern and free largely because it is nestled up against the world’s largest economy is the day I will stop considering Canada as a beautiful but ultimately myopic and naïve nation.
MICHAEL MCDANIEL
Oklahoma


SIR- Abraham Barrios says of politicians who want Canada to be more like America: “For decades, Canadians have kept these people where they belong: in opposition.” In fact, they have kept many productive, educated Canadians who value individual rights and freedom where we belong: in America.
ROBIN MOCKETT
Los Angeles


Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are being slandered in an international publication!
This magazine is circulated to Argentina, Barbados, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Spain, UK, USA, and Venezuela.
I challenge you to respond.
Be sure to address your letter to the editor: [email protected]
Keep it short, intelligent and polite and it may be published. Remember you are representing Canada in an international publication if your letter is chosen, so choose you words carefully.
 
The defence to a charge of slander is truth. And it is true. I don‘t like it, it makes me unhappy, but it‘s true.

lagging incomes are simply a product of having fewer “rich folk” around
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Yeah, our rich folk move to the US where taxes are lower.

their military impotence a result of being such “really good guys”
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How often have we heard a civvie say "Why do we need a military?" or "Canada has an army? Really? What do we need them for?" Our military impotence stems from Canadians who think we‘re such really good guys that we don‘t need an armed forces...and then public money is allocated accordingly. Let our guys fly ancient helicopters, defend the land with pointed sticks...but don‘t fire a sports commentator! There will be rioting in the streets!

politicians who want Canada to be more like America: “For decades, Canadians have kept these people where they belong: in opposition.”
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That‘s one interpretation. Another is that Canada is becoming more like America because the existing government does nothing to defend Canadian culture or values:

Peace? Cut funds to our armed forces. Soon, Americans may have to defend our country from bases within (as they did years ago) in order to be able to adequately protect their own borders. Who maintains the peace then?

Order? Cut funding to police services in favour of more dole programs, or so you can give money for "art" to some wacko who wants to make jewellery out of her own pubes. (It‘s true, look it up). Have stringent controls on immigration, but short circuit them all by allowing ANYONE to claim to be a refugee. Then, let the FBI or the CIA do all the legwork (since the Feds ignore the warnings of the RCMP and CSIS), and determine what Canadian hoops *some* Canadians will have to jump through in order to visit the US.

Good Government? Hah! When your own Ethics Commissioner, a political hack appointed by your own party is finding impropriety everywhere and the Auditor General routinely finds huge flaws in your accounting (and you do *nothing* about it), your government is anything but good!

And for the record, it sounds like the Robin Mockett who wrote the second letter IS Canadian.
they have kept many productive, educated Canadians who value individual rights and freedom where we belong: in America.
Click to expand...
I may write the Economist, but I can‘t promise I‘m gonna toe the party line for ya...
 
I see no slander in this article, just people giving an honest opinion that many Canadians would also agree with.

In fact, I‘m tempted to write in myself and agree with every single word. Thanks for the email address.
 
Yeah Marauder, it does.

Worst comment I ever heard an American make about Canada hurt the worst because I couldn‘t leap to her defense....it was true, and along the lines of the posting above...I forget the exact comment, but it was true and didn‘t make me happy.

Cheers!
 
lol, the truth - or is it? For the record, being "unable to leap to Canada‘s defense" does not mean the other person has spoken the truth, it just means that you lack the knowledge/linguistic abilities to form a suitable rebuttal.


"SIR- Canadians truly believe that their lagging incomes are simply a product of having fewer “rich folk” around and that their military impotence a result of being such “really good guys” that no one has a beef with them so they have no need of a military capability to defend their shores or foreign interests (Letters, October 25th).
The day I hear a Canadian admit that his country is wealthy, modern and free largely because it is nestled up against the world’s largest economy is the day I will stop considering Canada as a beautiful but ultimately myopic and naïve nation.
MICHAEL MCDANIEL
Oklahoma"


Does Canada need a military? I keep asking myself this, then remember my opinion doesn‘t count :) I suppose a better question would be, *why* does Canada need a military. To defend out interests? When was the last time a Canadian embassy was bombed? When was the last time Canada was under and foreign attack? People seem to enjoy using the
"what if" scenario, as well as the "America provides our security" one. God, I wish I was prime minister. All the soldiers and civilians who complain about not being able to defend ourselves would get the answer they were looking for. What if the full time military was cut by 3/4, and instead of going to afghanistan, bosnia etc, and contributing to UN and NATO missions, the military was JUST made for homeland defence, and things such as embassy defence was just left to the RCMP? No more costly tours or whatnot. Sure, no influence, and no incentive to join, but nobody seems to notice Canada‘s international reputation or contributions anyway. F*ck ‘em. What do you think?

As far as freedom goes, don‘t get me started. One of the oddest things I ever saw was a gay marriage taking place in Vancouver. The couple were Americans, from Hawaii, and insisted on flying an American flag at the ceremony. I thought it was ironic that they seemed so content to participate in that facade, pretending that their country (that gave superior individual freedoms!) supported, or recognized their way of life, their individuality. Tell me, how exactly DOES the BASTION OF FREEDOM THAT IS THE UNITED STATES differ from Canada, as far as freedoms? The freedom to what, carry a firearm? If you‘ve got that on the list, you‘ve got a pretty sh*tty, pointless list so far.

No, I‘m just saying that because i‘ve never written anything and been arrested by the CANADIAN GESTAPO. Enough of you seem content to write online about how much you hate JEAN CHRETIEN, despite the fact he‘s got more tenacity, and accomplished more, than a good number of you. I bet a number of you do the same thing in real life, mouthing off as such. Have you ever had CSIS or the RCMP at your door? Odd....because i hear of people all the time in the United States getting detained and questioned by the Seecret Service for threatening figureheads...

As for being wealthy or modern, who says that‘s because of the US? Countries such as Australia seem to do just fine in terms of quality of life when surrounded by water....wait. Could that be because counries tend to export in the closest, most convenient, and profitable markets available?

http://www.canadianembassy.org/trade/wltr-en.asp

as you can see, Canada-US trade is hardly a one way street. we are THEIR largest trading partner there. Were we situated next to Great Britain, guess what our largest trading partner would be, most likely?


SIR- Abraham Barrios says of politicians who want Canada to be more like America: “For decades, Canadians have kept these people where they belong: in opposition.” In fact, they have kept many productive, educated Canadians who value individual rights and freedom where we belong: in America.
ROBIN MOCKETT
Los Angeles


I almost hope that the military has it‘s personnel level drastically slashed, and throws a large group of people with limited career skills onto the street with no pensions. It would be so AMUSING to see just how many people would suddenly see how "individual rights and freedom" matter so little when you‘ve got to support yourself on a limited income. F*ck, I work two g*d**** jobs and am a fulltime student. I work just as hard at what i do as you do. if the cost of "individual rights and freedoms" means not selling out my life to the highese bidder, i say, take more off the **** paycheck.

i‘d point out a few websites with equally scathing critisims of the United States, but many of the conservatist types here would just write them off as trash and not even bother going. Just so you know though: America has it‘s own set of problems, and while Canada is certainly not a utopia, it‘s hardly an incompetent, bumbling cousin.

if the canada you want is one of the united states, why don‘t you just leave it, and go south? little frightening to see canada‘s soldiers lose their national pride, sense of sovereignty, and their teeth when they‘re not being paid.

EDIT: sorry for the typos, i just got off work and am a tad tired. here‘s a question....how do feces get UNDER a toilet seat?
 
?!?
...
I‘m tired...
what are we arguing about...
everbody just shutup and read Starship Troopers.
 
it just means that you lack the knowledge/linguistic abilities to form a suitable rebuttal.
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Or you happen to agree with the comment. Agreement doesn‘t imply a lack of knowlege.

Nor does a lack of rebuttal necessarily imply agreement. I do not agree with you on any of your points. I will not rebut them, as polemics is ultimately a futile exercise...at some point you have to rely on shared assumptions in order that your point be clear. You and I clearly do not share common principles.

However, rest assured that I believe that "the last time Canada was under foreign attack" isn‘t the standard by which one determines defence policy.

Nor is tenacity the standard by which one determines someone doing a good job.
 
Null,

I‘ll leave you with one of my favourite quotes from Winston Churchill:

"A man who, at age 20, is not a Liberal has no heart. A man who, at age 40, is not a Conservative has no brain."

See you in a few years.

Garry
 
Tell me, how exactly DOES the BASTION OF FREEDOM THAT IS THE UNITED STATES differ from Canada, as far as freedoms? The freedom to what, carry a firearm? If you‘ve got that on the list, you‘ve got a pretty sh*tty, pointless list so far.
Click to expand...
How about the "freedom" to have no viable choice for government other than a mob of geriatric socialist francophones who view citizens as a means to subsidize their retirement and perpetuate the welfare state?
I can only hope you are being facetious when suggesting we do away with any and all military organization in this country, or worse yet keep cutting it.
 
Marauder, brother...you can‘t be serious when you compare choice of geriatric frenchmen (which is correct, except you forgot to mention the fact that they are ALL LAWYERS) to a choice of spoiled-aristocratic-politicians-sons-who-dodged-the-vietnam-war-and-are-complete-ninnies (hmm...Bush...Gore...whats the difference)

Thats why we need to read Starship Troopers. If anyone wants, I‘ll give you my copy.
 
I finally bought Starship Troopers based on the recommendations of people here, and thought it sucked for the most part. As a descriptive for a well-ordered society, there are some interesting notions, and as a cutesy Army book there are some good stories such as the court martial sequence, but as entertaining fiction, I thought it lacked a certain something.
 
Michael‘s right. I read Starship Troopers the first time as a teen in the early 60s. Sounded good at the time, but the book hasn‘t aged well and the social system described isn‘t viable.

IMHO both the US and Canada have their strong points and problems. Purely for example and mostly at random, I offer my thoughts on two issues:

The US needs to figure out a medical care system that works for the majority of citizens. It‘s being worked on, but the war and economy have shoved it to the back burner for now.

Canada is considering on an overhaul of their Senate. Having Senators elected directly from their provinces is one way to do that -- ala the US. There are certainly other ways, but however it is done, the result should be a more representative government.

See? We‘re both works in progress -- and that‘s the beauty of a democratic form of government -- no matter what flavor. We get to choose.

Jim
 
I finally bought Starship Troopers based on the recommendations of people here, and thought it sucked for the most part.
Click to expand...
:eek:
 
We as Soldier‘s don‘t have to worry about what the "PUNDIT‘S" say or any one else.We know what we have done and can do!!!We as a small force are worth more because of our TRAINING and DEDICATION because we don‘t have all the baggage that come‘s with a large force!!
Yes we are a small force and we at time‘s do out perform the BIGGER Armies,but could you imagine if we had ten fold 2 V.P.‘s,3 R.C.R.‘s,Engineer‘s etc.then all would recognise us instead of pointing out our Govenment or our National fault‘s.

Think about it!!
 
The editor of that economy magazine is probably the kinda guy that throws garbage at puppies.
 
Originally posted by Michael Dorosh:
It was better than the movie by far, though... [/QB]
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I was the opposite, I really enjoyed the movie, the book wasn‘t bad but there is better military sci fi around. Then again I hated reading Lord of the Rings but the movies are awesome.
 
Originally posted by Michael Dorosh:
[qb] I finally bought Starship Troopers based on the recommendations of people here, and thought it sucked for the most part. As a descriptive for a well-ordered society, there are some interesting notions, and as a cutesy Army book there are some good stories such as the court martial sequence, but as entertaining fiction, I thought it lacked a certain something. [/qb]
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Heresy. Pure heresy.
 
Nobody respect‘s a country with a poor army, but everybody respect‘s a country with a good army.
I raise a toast to the Army of Finland.
Joesph Stalin 1948
 
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