U.S. Patience, Tolerance Wearing Thin (Canadians begin to grate on Americans' nerves)

The Toronto Sun ^ | March 7, 2003 | Peter Worthington

[IvanT]

Handguns are a prohibited weapon up here, that's true, although I'm sure there's plenty who have them. What's pathetic is, I had a hand crossbow, which was also declared prohibited, so I hid it. Rifles and the like aren't prohibited, you just have to have a license for them. Believe it or not, to buy a crossbow, you now need what is called a 'crossbow acquisition license'. Luckily we still don't need a license for longbows so I can still get that combound bow I'm after.

Oh yes, and despite all the negative press, there are far more pro Americans than Anti Americans, and even the ones that don't necessarily agree with going to war without UN sanctions are not all Anti-American. Most of the anti-Americanism stuff I hear is usually just piss taking and nothing else - having a poke at your neighbours expense, however Parrish and Ducros are over the top.

;)

[IvanT]

Hey FC,

The Liberal backlash is beginning. There are a lot of angry Torontonians, and I mean real Torontonians, not imms, who are extremely pissed at them. They are losing votes, believe it. My locale pub is full of people who are going to be voting Alliance, and many of these are recent converts since Sept. 11th.

[Inspectorette]

Speaking as a "Canuck-American" (my mother was born in Sorel, PQ), I've always been very proud of my close association to Canada.

I will always be grateful to the brave Canadians who have stood by us during our worst times - one of those was during the Iran Hostage Crisis when the Canadian Embassy sheltered American diplomats from the mobs, at great risk to themselves.

Our good neighbor to the North is suffering the same misfortune as we are here in the States: not paying close enough attention, which allowed the leftists to take over our institutions and our government.

I am not going to allow the stupid remarks of a few stupid politicians to change my opinion of the good people of Canada.

[ApesForEvolution]

The number of communists in Canada, Mexico and the united States alone is staggering. So many communists...so little time.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

THanks for the perspective and info. I remember several years ago we were visiting an aunt in Michigan, and decided to drive into Canada just to say we'd been there. They asked when we were crossing the border if we had a handgun, and being good American citizens, we told the truth, and said yes. We turned it over, got a receipt, and picked it up on the way back.

That's amazing about the crossbow! But I guess they put that in the same category as any weapon with a trigger.

[Snowyman]

Handguns are a prohibited weapon up here

Got you terminology a little mixed up. You've always needed a hunting licence. Hand guns have been required to be licensed since way back in the 30's. But they are not prohibited. Long guns are what the failing registry was mainly about. Long guns are suppose to be registered. They are , Same gun 22,322 times. Couple of glue and staple guns. One nail gun. I know of 11 long guns not registered, 4 different owners. Because they're not registered Ottawa says they don't exist and no one is looking for them. OK.

[IvanT]

It's funny, my father is from Rochester, but I dare not call myself 'half American' I did that before on here and it landed me in alot of hot water. ;)

Canada's slowly waking up to what's going on. The bar at my pub has become a heated debate forum, and no one approves of the Liberals, or Chretien in particular. Unfortunately, that's just one neighbour, and a traditionally English one at that.

However, the next riding over from us is predominantly Jewish, and I've always noticed that traditionally they voted Liberal, as they used to in the States. But that's changing, the Liberals are looking more and more anti-Semetic in their eyes, and it looks like many of them are supporting the Alliance. I guess the stupid fiasco of not banning Hezbollah for so long has left a bad taste in their mouths. Can't say I blame them. The one thing that's upsetting everyone I know is the state of our military, the anti-American statements, and the jolt our prides taken from the resultant (and justified) bashing from America. There's a whole lot of bruised egos up here.

[albertabound]

Thank you for your kind and insiteful commentary. I think you hit the nail. Canada is suffering from a bad case of the trots, the libs will pass and we will feel a hell of a lot better once they have been dumped.

[IvanT]

Oh, thanks for the clarification Snowy...

I know a lot of people here in Toronto that aren't registering their rifles, just hiding them.

It's funny that they classified hand crossbows as prohibited....

[Hat-Trick]

Can we at least consider keeping the ice-hockey infrastructure and Canada's ongoing supply of NHL players? It would, after all, give the U.S. a more competitive Olympic Hockey team.

I'd even be willing to give up the high-quality Canadian whiskey.

Hat-Trick

[Snowyman]

I didn't know about the crossbow regs. I forgot about the 71 year old lady I know. She's got her late husband's 303 Lee Enfield. Bayonet too. No way she's registering . Says he'd never forgive her.

[X-FID]

Most of the anti-Americanism stuff I hear is usually just piss taking and nothing else - having a poke at your neighbours expense, however Parrish and Ducros are over the top.

I can't imagine that at all, when someone is attacked and wants support from supposed friends, having a poke at them isn't very funny.

We have had enough "piss taking" directed our way.

[swampmonster]

These remarks are unfortunate and I hope aren't indicative of the rest of Canada. Canadians do come down here through these southern states spending tons of money on their way to Florida. Maybe we should encourage the conservative Canadians to rid their government of the liberals who have hijacked it rather than write-off the whole country.

[albertabound]

We are agressively working on ousting the libs. It will not be easy since Canada's economy is very robust at the moment and many will not wish to upset the status quo. Having said that most Canadians are very angry about the Anti-American commentary coming out of the Cretienistas. They have no guts, vision or basic understanding of the changes that were caused by 9/11.

[IvanT]

Hey X-FID - I see your point, but you guys are just as guilty with the pokes at us, as we are at you. I've taken tonnes of verbal abuse when I'm down there in the States, and often from complete strangers.

Hell, taking pokes at Canada has been an American pastime on television for quite some time now. I tend to take it in stride, but yes, it pisses me off from time to time. Maybe neither of us should be doing it.

[Consort]

[Conspiracy Guy]

OK on the hockey even though I'm not a fan. I prefer Kentucky or Tennessee sippin whiskey over that too sweet Canadian Blend stuff.

[uncbob]

Well if the USA didn't have its own Media, Newspapers , TV , Schools chanting anti American slop and we didn't re-elect somebody like Clinton who should be in jail and have a dork like Gore win the popular vote and damn near get elected in 2000 and have a bunch of half baked idiots running all over the world dumping on us this crap would happen

America would be respected and feared

[IvanT]

Hey alberta - I'm a Torontonian, born and bred, and I'm about to become a card carrying member of the Canadian Alliance. Just mailing my payment tomorrow.

Several of my friends are as well.

So all hope is not lost, some of us easterners aren't completely brain dead.

[IvanT]

I think I'm with you on that Flurry - Canadian Club - yech...