Why do Americans know so little about CANADA?

Question

and Canadians know so much about Americans? PEACE FROM CANADA...TO OUR AMERICAN NEIGHBORS...

Answer 1

I think it is because the education system, and other systems, in the US tend to be very inward looking, and pay attention only to the US, whereas in Canada the education system and other systems tend to be very outward looking, and pay attention to the whole world. The US is so big in population and economy that it can afford to be more insular, and can get away with it. Canada needs to be more aware of the rest of the world. It is just the way it is, and is not a reflection particularly on individuals from either country.

Answer 2

I live in Michigan and most people here know a lot about Canada. We are next door neighbors. You shouldn't make general statements like that. In fact Michigan has closer economic ties with Canada than other states. We also have a Canadian governor. Americans do watch alot of world news, but Canada is rarely in the world news.

Answer 3

So a lot of us don't know as much about your country as you claim to know about ours?



We really like you, and we think you're a lot like us, but certainly not with everything. Many Americans base their opinions on Canada on Canadians that we meet, rather than what we've read in a book. So what if we all don't know your day of Independence. Doesn't mean we don't like you as a nation? Is that so awful?



Why are you trying to stir the pot? This thread has done nothing but bring out a bunch of Canadians who feel the need to list all of the things that are wrong with the U.S. and its people, and then try to end it up with "we're your friends." Yeah, I guess. Odd way of showing it. I don't know why a point about the U.S. not knowing as much about Canada as Canada knows about the U.S., has to include stuff from some posters about how we're all so stupid, arrogant, and don't care about anyone else but ourselves.



You guys really think that about us? I think it would be difficult to be friends with someone whom you claim to have such negative overall characteristics. Seems that you guys manage it though. I guess we Americans should be happy that regardless of how low we are regarded by you guys, that you still find the time to like us. Whatever.

Answer 4

Because most *note- most, not all* Americans don't care about Canada. What has Canada done that is in the news? It isn't in the news, and thats why people don't know much about it. I get several Canadian news stations and they are always talking about the United States- Bush, the war in Iraq, the US policies, et cetera.



Sorry, but I'm speaking the truth. I know more about Canada than most people because I live right along the border(I could take a short walk and swim to Canada if I wanted to, and if it was legal), but a lot of people just don't know a lot bout it.

Answer 5

To the people who think that the whole country is French...

that's why they want to separate, because no one else cares but them.



To the people who think that Canada doesn't matter...

look at where you get your oil and electricity from.



To the people who think it's a cold country...

the west coast has better weather than about a third of the US. They've been mowing their lawns and going to the beach for a month by now.



To the people who think Canada does nothing...

who's doing your dirty work in Afghanistan?



To the people who think that it's white-washed and without immigration...

Both Toronto and Vancouver have *fifty percent* of the population born outside the country. The immigration rate is tremendous.

Canada is 10% larger in area, has incalculable oil, electricity diamond, water, mining, paper, and other resources, and may not have much political importance but has 1% of the world's population contributing 10% of the world's peacekeeping force.



We're also your neighbours. Peace.

Answer 6

Although I disagree with most everything Harry K usually says, he has a great point.



It is funny that the Americans who answered your question think that America is the only place that people immigrate to considering people from other countries are coming to Canada in droves!

Answer 7

An extensive study of Canada is not required in school. Our focus of life depends much upon our early experiences. Canada just wasn't talked about much, and I grew up in Ohio.



To be fair though, most Americans don't know much about their own country. Most cannot name all 50 states, much less their capitals. If required to pass the same test necessary for a foreigner to become a citizen, 90% of naturalized citizens would fail. So don't feel to disgruntled. Americans, by culture, are pretty narrow-minded with regard to the rest of the world outside their neighborhood.

Answer 8

from what i have seen Americans are ignorant about the rest of the world not just Canada

they are finding it hard to understand why their country is disliked the world over.i have traveled a fair bit and Americans are not well accepted in other countries



where would they be without Canadian oil?

Answer 9

was this kind of hate around before bush was elected? (I was in middle school around the time of 9/11 so pardon me for being ignorant of world views on the US before the bush administration.



Please don't say Americans are inherently less intelligent than _______. It is about the same as saying Whites are inherently more intelligent than ________. It seems it was compulsory for your class to learn this...not so in America.



If we were not a world power, would you bother to learn our geography then? Honest question, though technically unanswerable.

Answer 10

I have found that most Americans know very little about anyplace outside of their borders. I think its called being narrow minded and unwilling to expand their knowledge about the world.

Answer 11

For the same reason that juniors in High School know so much about the grade 12s. And none of the seniors know much about the juniors.



Canada lived in USA's shadow. To them we are insignificant. BUT as Canadians we look up to them and wanna be just like them when we grow up.

Answer 12

NOT BEING MEAN, I PROMISE!!

its because we dont care..what goes on in canada,doesnt really apply to us because we dont live there. I think that there are different political and religious things happening.

your country wasnt attacked, ours was. your economy isnt facing potential recession. your government is probably ran differently. your culture is, (basing this on pure assumption) of French influences. Ours is a melting pot with MANY different cultures. Your way of life may be similar to ours, but Im sure there are alot of differences too...

BY THE WAY, Canada is on my list of places Id like to visit...

I just dont know when,LOL

Answer 13

Typical Canadians smugness???



Actually, think about it. Canada has a population 1/10 that of the US. The state of Oklahoma has a population 1/10 that of Canada. I bet you that Americans know way more about Canadians than Canadians know about Oklahomans.



Edit:



to regina, thank you for proving my smugness point. And by the way googling cities in Oklahoma doesn't mean you know anything about it. Look I can google Saskatchewan:

http://www.l.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Saskatchewan+cities

And find Regina.



Edit:



Regina, are you for real?? 52 states??? Umm, sorry I take it back you are not smug, just ignorant.

Answer 14

I like the first answer best. Everyone knows that the rest of the world stereotypes Americans as obese, ignorant, uneducated, blindly patriotic, self-absorbed fools. Sorry, but for the vast majority of the US, it's true.



Ever seen the show "Talking to Americans"? Funny as hell, but also sad that so many Americans can be so gullible. I guess it makes it easy for political figures to gain followings they really should not have...



Most Americans probably have no idea that insulin (which saves millions of lives worldwide) was discovered in Canada, or that the telephone they use every day was invented by a Canadian (A.G. Bell).



Americans are the only 1st world country to not have some form of socialized healthcare, and you would not believe how bad it is in the US for those who cannot get/afford insurance. And yet they say, "I don't want a healthcare system like Canada", as American people are dropping dead left and right while Canada is ranked 3rd in the world for healthcare. Canada also scores high for education (top marks), not so much for the US (aside from Harvard, MIT, etc. which do not only accept Americans).



So why does your *typical* American know so little about Canada? Simple, they typically know very little about everything and anything.



All we need is another Michael Moore film convincing people that Canada is great...now we will have every American trying to infiltrate and pollute our beautiful country...



I dedicate this answer to all of the ignorant and disrepectful Americans who decided to answer this question showing their true colors...



Trust me, the last thing the US needs is to make more enemies...



P.S. "Every1"....Your country (USA) is Canada's biggest trading partner. If YOUR country is having a recession, then there is a good chance ours will follow suit. It's basic economics...



If there is a major terror attack (i.e. nuclear war) that affects our land, waters, or economy, we are affected as well. We share the same land mass, and our economy is closely linked. Why is this stuff not obvious to Americans?



Harryk...While you sound like a logical dude, your answer makes no sense. Because your major trading partner to the North is only 32 million people, you don't need to learn about them? You make it sound like Americans know basic info about Canada, but do they? I know that Oklahoma City and Tulsa are 2 of the largest cities in that state, but can you even name 1 city in the province of Saskatchewan? That was the point of the questioner, who is entirely correct.



Edit: JUST IN MY INBOX TODAY: Ok, the site is not scientific (really), but even AMERICANS know Americans are dumb! This newsletter is primarily FOR Americans!:



http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/3/11/embarrassingly-stupid-americans-one-in-five-believes-sun-revolves-around-earth.aspx



Big B, as much as I normally love your answers, I have to disagree. No, most Canadians DO NOT want to be like the US. That is why we did not fully commit to Iraq (we keep trying to pull out, because we're smart), draw attention towards ourselves for terrorist groups, kill innocent civillians, break up families, and basically make enemies with the world while causing a recession. The ego of the United States is going to be its demise. In Canada, we welcome people to *keep* their cultures, unlike the US, where everyone assimilates. It is this mindset that brainwashes people like you. And upsets those from other cultures. Can you blame them for being upset? The US has no business to try and assimilate the world. Aside from that, with it's gun crime and other issues, the US is not much of a role model.



We also don't want to abandon our top rate education, standard of living, and "free" equal healthcare for all.



What's the difference between God and the U.S.? God doesn't think he's the U.S.....



EDIT: Harryk, ironically, YOU have provided a smug answer. You are a typical self-serving American by "Googling" Saskatchewan and assuming I had to do the same for Oklaholma. I did not. I had to learn all 52 states as part of my grade 10 geography class. Can you say typical Americans even bother to learn the geography of Canada?



I am insulted that you think I am that stupid that I would have to do what you did....If you truly had to Google Saskatchewan, again, you have proved my point. And regardless, your orginal point made no sense...which was MY orginal point.



Morris...Thanks for posting an intelligent, rational, polite persepctive from an American. The U.S. needs more like you.



Harryk...hehe...yep, The U.S.A. has "52" states...the 48 continental, Hawaii and Alaska, plus the "expanded" States of "Canada" and "Mexico". As far as the US is concerned, they are all the same. Now you know that same feeling I get when I listen to ignorant Ameicans get their facts wrong. Interesting feeling of disbelief, huh? You sound like a cool guy, what are you doing living in the U.S. ? ;)



my2cents...Sorry, but I'm not really all that politically correct. I call it like I see it. Even Americans call Americans dumb..see my above link. And yes, most people outside of the U.S. (and some Americans) can't stand the current politics in your country. :(



All of that said, I'm not here to fight with anyone...I just wanted to prove my points, and say that I wish that typical Americans would bother to look outside the narrow constraints of their country. That's all.

Answer 15

maybe because we HAVE to learn about them...theyre everywhere...and they dont want to know anything about anyone else cuz theyre stuck on themselves...



to Every1♥'sMe: OUR CULTURE IS NOT INFLUENCED BY FRENCH PEOPLE..GO LEARN SOMETHING, WE ENCOURAGE MULTICULTURALISM....YOU ARE A F*****G MELTING POT.....to americans who gave thumbs down: she said it herself too

Answer 16

It's another country. How much do you know about, for instance, BanglaDesh?



Edit:

So what's wrong with BanglaDesh, eh?

Answer 17

because they dont care

Answer 18

It's "French" to me !! I'm far enough North without having to know anymore about them(you). That's a cold country... and I despise the cold. "Every race, color and creed come to the US. Everybody wants to know about us. Don't signal your country out as the only ones wanting to know about us. As far as I am concerned, The US has been infiltrated and I still want, "Freedom Fries".

Answer 19

Because we dont care.