Canadians and americans

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I was so embarrassed when one of our dumber-than-a-box-of-rocks pols seriously proposed that we build a border fence along the Canadian border to keep Canadians out!

No offense taken. The problem is terrorists can come in from any country and the US is in general a high profile target. Unless you find they're packing explosives, illegal weaponry, and/or loads of ammunition you can't really tell the difference between a normal tourist and a terrorist. I don't know how often Canada gets targeted for that kind of nonsense violence but we get hit with it almost every other week these days. It's getting ridiculous and the police and army are rightfully scared for their lives since some of these religious zealots are targeting them directly.

Since I finally got around to making a trip down south to 4 different US states, I can say the most glaring difference (besides the Customs being much more difficult and serious on the US side) is that there are flags EVERYWHERE in the USA.

Since I finally got around to making a trip down south to 4 different US states, I can say the most glaring difference (besides the Customs being much more difficult and serious on the US side) is that there are flags EVERYWHERE in the USA. I love flags but it was a bit too much. I don't remember seeing a single state flag but the national flag was literally everywhere. In Quebec for example, flags were almost non-existent.

'Rednecks' were much more open on the American side: I saw anti-women, pro-gun, racist and anti-government bumper stickers on trucks and huge confederate flags painted on even bigger trucks even close to the Canadian border. You would NEVER see that in Canada. Americans seemed very friendly and welcoming but seem to be lacking in the intelligence side compared to most parts of Canada. One cashier never even heard of the letter "Zed" and she lived near Canada!

I also found that Canadians and especially those in Quebec and Newfoundland are MUCH more laid back. Probably explains why those two provinces have such low crime rates. I also laughed how I drove from Vermont (where for some reason I had to pay before fueling up) to Quebec where I did not when gas is much cheaper on the American side! Of course, I have to mention again I was in a community that was literally divided by the border. Derby Line Vermont/Stanstead Quebec. On the American side there were armed patrols everywhere (who were clearly bored out of their mind) and the Canadian side was wide open. Both sides of the community were nearly deserted due to the border politics and I can easily see why. The customs guy in Canada just asked about what I had and wished me a great day while the US side interrogated us police style about where we were going, where we worked, when we planned on leaving and searched our vehicle. They were professional but it was an unnerving experience to be treated like a potential criminal and watched like a hawk. There was also a big sign warning that you will be arrested and fined $5000 if you cross the street illegally into the USA. Parts of the USA reminded me of something you would see in North Korea with the huge displays of nationalism. Even though I did not speak the language on the Canadian (Quebec) side I felt much more at home there.

Speaking of Quebec, I also could not get over how friendly people in Quebec were. Every single person spoke nearly perfect English and usually picked up on my weak French seamlessly. Can't wait to return there especially when I heard so many bad things about that province: they bent over backwards to accommodate us! Their government might suck but their residents are so friendly and helpful! When I got back, I commented on how nice northern New Hampshire and Vermont were and it was too bad they were stuck on the wrong side of the border. All in all though there was little difference between the two countries and I enjoyed my visit to the States.

That may be true in Quebec, but I think as a whole Canada is far more patriotic and flag waving then the US is. I think it's hard to go any place in Canada (example Ontario) and not see a Canadian flag or a sign with a maple leaf on it, and I'm not talking on government buildings. It seems like almost every gas station in Canada has one of those giant Canadian flags flying over it. I don't every remember seeing a gas station with an America flag flying, unless it was a US national holiday.

In the US the letter "Z" is never pronounced "Zed" ever. The fact that an American would not have heard it pronounced would not be a reflection on their level of education, or how close they live to the Canadian Border. It's just something that is not taught.

You did hit the nail on the hear when you talk about rednecks in the US. The redneck problem in the US is the main big difference between the US and Canada and other countries. The US has a very large uneducated sub-class (Republicans, religious fanatics, gun nuts) that drags the country down. Unfortunately the problem is not going to improve. Because these illiterate, uneducated people are homeschooling their kids. So the kids don't have a chance. It's an endless cycle of ignorance.

'Rednecks' were much more open on the American side: I saw anti-women, pro-gun, racist and anti-government bumper stickers on trucks and huge confederate flags painted on even bigger trucks even close to the Canadian border. You would NEVER see that in Canada. Americans seemed very friendly and welcoming but seem to be lacking in the intelligence side compared to most parts of Canada. One cashier never even heard of the letter "Zed" and she lived near Canada!