Although many Canadians might not like this clip especially in relation to the recent Fox News broadcast insulting the Canadian armed forces, it is good to recognize how laughable even the idea of war between the US and Canada is today. But, as many Canadians might tell you, "Canada" (actually British soldiers) already "defeated" (actually had more of a stalemate with) the US in the War of 1812. Here's a clip from the West Wing about the "Canadian-American War"...along with Canadian and American stereotypes:
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Given that the Americans were trying to defeat the British and Canadian troops so as to include Canada into the US I'm hesitant to call the conclusion of the War of 1812 a 'stalemate'. Perhaps in the larger geopolitical picture you can make that argument, but not when it comes to the existence of Canada as a separate country.
ReplyDeleteThe United States declared War to reassert its independence, and its conclusion "confirmed American nationhood and secured a new respect for the infant republic among the powers of Europe."
ReplyDelete"The 1814 Treaty of Ghent, which ended the war, merely affirmed the situation prevailing before the war began (the status quo antebellum)." (http://www.nps.gov/revwar/unfinished_revolution/war_of_1812.html)
The war ended in stalemate. The Treaty of GHENT, signed 24 Dec 1814, solved nothing (http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0008442)
While there was a belief by British Subjects in Canada (but not yet Canadians in the legal sense) that they had defeated the Americans from overcoming BRITISH authority in North America, Canada did not form as a dominion until 1867...so I don't see how you could argue Canada was a "separate country" 55 years earlier.
The the true birth of Canadian Nationalism was after the battle of Vimy Ridge during WWI. (http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20070402/vimy_90years_070402?hub=Ottawa)
"Although many Canadians might not like this clip especially in relation to the recent Fox News broadcast insulting the Canadian armed forces, it is good to recognize how laughable even the idea between the US and Canada is today."
ReplyDeleteIt's getting less laughable every day, with every new revelation of torture, illegal surveillance and financial mismanagement.
Posts like this don't help.
Anonymous #2. What are you saying? That because the U.S. tortures, they are going to invade Canada? That's something of a non-sequitor.
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