Help Me Understand
 

I was watching a torrent of the WSOP main event the other day and they showed a hand involving a Canadian player from Regina.

At this point Lon McEachern totally butchers the pronounciation of one of the larger cities in our fair country located just to the north of you.

So I post this on the message board of one of the fantasy baseball leagues I'm in. Probably a similar demographic to the posters of OOT.

Not one of 15 guys can say for sure how Regina is pronounced, and 2 of them know what province it is the capital of. The most provinces that any one of them can name is 6 (there are 10) Now none of this surprised me, but it did get me to thinking about the fact that most American have a vry limited knowledge of anything outside of their borders.

So why is it like that? Do you guys learn anything about Canada or Europe in high school history or geography? Maybe it's just my Canadian inferiority complex, but it kind of bothers me that we are so irrelevant, and it bothers me that some Americans think we live in Igloos.

Rick Mercer (Canadian TV personality) went down to the States and filmed a documentary where he asked Americans on the street questions about Canada. It was both extremely funny and sad at the same time. He had the mayor of Little Rock (if memory serves) convinced that the Canadian Prime Ministers name was Jean Poutine.

So I'm curious why I know how to pronounce Tucson properly, while Lon McEachern or any of a number of people editing the video or producing the program for ESPN didn't know how to pronounce Regina.

Why is it that I could name virtually every state on a US map, while probaby less than 10% of Americans could name 5 provinces.

Is it this general arrogance that makes Americans mostly despised throughout the world?

I love your country, your music, movies, TV shows, sports leagues, etc. and I'm grateful that you guys are around to cover our backs, but it still sometimes bothers me that we are lumped in with other countries when it comes to being a non-American.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

I learned about real countries in school. Why would anyone care about Canada?

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Regina - Does it rhyme with vagina?

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How do you pronounce "out"?

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what are you talking aboot?

Re: Help Me Understand
 

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How do you pronounce "out"?

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what are you talking aboot?

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The only time I hear anyone talk like this is when an American is trying to do an impression of a Canadian.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

I doubt you'll get any seriously replies. We just don't [censored] care enough about you eskimos.

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In HS we learned Canada was just a really large US state that didn't realize it yet.

You nutty Canucks you.


PS Seriously dude most American's can't name all 50 states correctly

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I pronounce Canada "America's Hat"

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As you said, it's a Canadian inferiority complex. Americans are indifferent to Canada. It's like the LA/San Francisco rivalry, or the Boston/NY rivalry. It matters to SF/Boston, not to LA/NY. It's not a snub; just learn to deal with your unimportance.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

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Quote:
How do you pronounce "out"?


Quote:
what are you talking aboot?



The only time I hear anyone talk like this is when an American is trying to do an impression of a Canadian.

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Almost everyone ive ever met from northern michigan has thi accent, so i would assume 25 miles north would be the same, no?

Re: Help Me Understand
 

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Why is it that I could name virtually every state on a US map, while probaby less than 10% of Americans could name 5 provinces.

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Because honestly we don't care much about Canada.

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I know all 10 provinces. I know how to pronounce Regina. I still think Canada blows.

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[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How do you pronounce "out"?

[/ QUOTE ]
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what are you talking aboot?

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The only time I hear anyone talk like this is when an American is trying to do an impression of a Canadian.

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I've spoken with numerous Canadians in and around Vancouver, BC and I hear it all the time.

OP,

The dumbest Canadians are probably just as ignorant as the dumbest Americans. We just have way more of them, so it looks worse than it is. Also, knowledge of the United States for foreigners is more important to most people than knowledge of Canada or Panama or Portugal or wherever is to Americans.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Quote:
How do you pronounce "out"?


Quote:
what are you talking aboot?



The only time I hear anyone talk like this is when an American is trying to do an impression of a Canadian.

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Almost everyone ive ever met from northern michigan has thi accent, so i would assume 25 miles north would be the same, no?

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I was born and raised in the U.P. and I always thought Canadians would talk like we did.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How do you pronounce "out"?

[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
what are you talking aboot?

[/ QUOTE ]

The only time I hear anyone talk like this is when an American is trying to do an impression of a Canadian.

[/ QUOTE ]

well that was one hell of an impression Peter Jennings did then.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

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Why is it that I could name virtually every state on a US map, while probaby less than 10% of Americans could name 5 provinces.

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Because honestly we don't care much about Canada.

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I think there is a big difference between "caring" and just being a generally informed person. I don't see how you can have a country that borders you (especially if you are in a northern state) and not out of curiosity looked at a map of these huge provinces and had some clue of where they are and what they are called.

It would be like me in Edmonton not having an idea where Montana, Idaho, and Washington are. That is mind boggling.

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I'm sure I could pick out many names from the US that you can't say correctly either, it proves nothing other then that everyone thinks they're more important then they really are.

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I bet Americans on average can name more Canadian provinces than Mexican states, and there's 3 times as many of those. Does that make you feel better neighbor?

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most canadians live near the US border. most americans do NOT live near the canadian border. that might be one reason.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

Indifferent is the best way to describe the way most americans feel about Canada. I like you guys, you seem pretty cool. If things continue to get f'ed up around here, I would consider a move up north.

Honestly, though, would it make any difference in my life if I could correctly recite all the facts you mentioned in your post? It wouldn't and you shouldn't take our lack of interest as a knock against your country.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

Short, probably inaccurate history of the States and Canada.

United States
-------------

Hi, we're a bunch of self-absorbed pricks that don't [censored] care about anything but ourselves, and our futures. So [censored] you Britain, and [censored] all you loyalist sons of bitches, we are gonna kill everyone that doesn't care only for themselves and make the greatest nation ever on this brand spanking new continent.

Canada
------

Wow, those crazy revolutionaries are [censored] crazy. Hey Britain, since we are over here now and fighting these crazy [censored], can we have our own country some day, maybe put the Queen's picture on our money or something? We'll make some good beer, mind our own business and breed some hot strippers? Please? Please?

Britain: Fine, you whiny bastards.

In conclusion, Americans don't even care about their own country let alone any other country. They only care about themselves and their families. There is nothing wrong with that, but it's [censored] impossible to get any respect from up here.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

You gave the world Céline Dion, isn't that enough?

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You spawn Brian Adams, and now you want respect?

p.s. lol, at 'America's Hat'

Re: Help Me Understand
 

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Why is it that I could name virtually every state on a US map, while probaby less than 10% of Americans could name 5 provinces.

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Because honestly we don't care much about Canada.

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I think there is a big difference between "caring" and just being a generally informed person. I don't see how you can have a country that borders you (especially if you are in a northern state) and not out of curiosity looked at a map of these huge provinces and had some clue of where they are and what they are called.

It would be like me in Edmonton not having an idea where Montana, Idaho, and Washington are. That is mind boggling.

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Does knowing where Saskatchewan(sp?) lies on a map make me a better American? Honestly, we don't care. Americans don't sit around the campfire telling stories aboot Canada.

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Does knowing where Saskatchewan(sp?) lies on a map make me a better American? Honestly, we don't care. Americans don't sit around the campfire telling stories aboot Canada.

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If I catch you sitting around a campfire dipping your marshmallows in Bailey's I'll go [censored] nuts.

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Check out part 3. The governer of Iowa comments on our 20 hour clock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCgbNhnfSBQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0y47PRlifs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kB74VDwU1w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTKJFlPGpUk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8uKECeb0FQ

Re: Help Me Understand
 

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Why is it that I could name virtually every state on a US map, while probaby less than 10% of Americans could name 5 provinces.

[/ QUOTE ]

Because honestly we don't care much about Canada.

[/ QUOTE ]


I think there is a big difference between "caring" and just being a generally informed person. I don't see how you can have a country that borders you (especially if you are in a northern state) and not out of curiosity looked at a map of these huge provinces and had some clue of where they are and what they are called.

It would be like me in Edmonton not having an idea where Montana, Idaho, and Washington are. That is mind boggling.

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Jesus, don't you get it? The US is important. Canada is NOT important. Why is that so hard to understand?

Re: Help Me Understand
 

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most canadians live near the US border. most americans do NOT live near the canadian border. that might be one reason.

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I was actually born and raised over 1500 miles from the US border. Somehow I overcame this and ended up not being ignorant.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

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I'm sure I could pick out many names from the US that you can't say correctly either, it proves nothing other then that everyone thinks they're more important then they really are.

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I'll guarantee you if it's a State capital I could pronounce it.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

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Check out part 3. The governer of Iowa comments on our 20 hour clock.


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What do you expect? I-O-W-A

Re: Help Me Understand
 

This could be done to canadians also, asking old people in front of a camera about stuff that doesn't exist is a sure fire way for them to just agree with what you're saying so as to not look stupid, they just dont know it makes them look even worse.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Why is it that I could name virtually every state on a US map, while probaby less than 10% of Americans could name 5 provinces.

[/ QUOTE ]

Because honestly we don't care much about Canada.

[/ QUOTE ]


I think there is a big difference between "caring" and just being a generally informed person. I don't see how you can have a country that borders you (especially if you are in a northern state) and not out of curiosity looked at a map of these huge provinces and had some clue of where they are and what they are called.

It would be like me in Edmonton not having an idea where Montana, Idaho, and Washington are. That is mind boggling.

[/ QUOTE ]

Jesus, don't you get it? The US is important. Canada is NOT important. Why is that so hard to understand?

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I guess I'm just a slow learner. Must be our inferior educational system.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

OP,

I can sorta see your point about the provinces, but why on earth would we concern ourselves with the pronounciation of Regina? Of what importance is it? When would it ever come up?

I'm not even sure I pronounce Helena, MT correctly, never mind Canada.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

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Jesus, don't you get it? The US is important. Canada is NOT important. Why is that so hard to understand?

[/ QUOTE ]

-Al

Re: Help Me Understand
 

[ QUOTE ]
This could be done to canadians also, asking old people in front of a camera about stuff that doesn't exist is a sure fire way for them to just agree with what you're saying so as to not look stupid, they just dont know it makes them look even worse.

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Old people??? Don't make me laugh. It looked to me that there were some 30 something white collar types that believed Canada used a 20 hour clock and had different time zones.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

Take off hoser.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
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[ QUOTE ]

Why is it that I could name virtually every state on a US map, while probaby less than 10% of Americans could name 5 provinces.

[/ QUOTE ]

Because honestly we don't care much about Canada.

[/ QUOTE ]


I think there is a big difference between "caring" and just being a generally informed person. I don't see how you can have a country that borders you (especially if you are in a northern state) and not out of curiosity looked at a map of these huge provinces and had some clue of where they are and what they are called.

It would be like me in Edmonton not having an idea where Montana, Idaho, and Washington are. That is mind boggling.

[/ QUOTE ]

Jesus, don't you get it? The US is important. Canada is NOT important. Why is that so hard to understand?

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess I'm just a slow learner. Must be our inferior educational system.

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Not a slow learner. Unwilling to accept reality.

Why do you think most international businesspeople speak English? It's not because of Ontario.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

I thought it was pronounced 'are-kan-zis' until I was like 8 or 10 - gives those guys on ESPN a break.

Re: Help Me Understand
 

[ QUOTE ]
OP,

I can sorta see your point about the provinces, but why on earth would we concern ourselves with the pronounciation of Regina? Of what importance is it? When would it ever come up?

I'm not even sure I pronounce Helena, MT correctly, never mind Canada.

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Because Helena is a hick town in Montana, while Regina is the capital of a province.

It would be like an announcer on a Canadian poker show saying a player was from Tuckson, Arizona or San Josie, California.