Having recently reached the 100 member mark, I thought this might be a good time to encourage each of our members to write in their story about why they joined this group. Some of you have already shared some of your story on the wall. Although we have been exploring and debating political facets, there are other reasons for being here. There is an aspect that is not debatable: your personal story. Why did YOU join this group?

i dont hate america... sorry, thats all ive got.

I used to be one of those people who was anti-american for no reason. When we first moved to the States, all our family and friends in Canada warned us that moving here was going to be a big mistake. It turns out they were wrong, and after adjusting to the change, I ended up loving America.

I think its sad that Canadians are so easy to spew hateful thoughts about America in order to feel better about themselves. It's disgusting that I have to defend my new home to my friends in Canada whenever they attack it for no reason. You can hate the administration, but to hate everyone just cause they're American is..i dunno...stupid.

I guess the reason I joined the group was to let my good American friends know that I'm not an UGLY CANADIAN.

I think many Canadians are raised Anti-American either from family or the media. The idea that to be Canadian is to be be "not American" is a pretty crappy cultural benchmark. But alas, I will admit that in my less informed days I was like many other Canadians swinging my feet as the bandwagon drove over the bumpy trail. However I have spent some time working with Americans, living with American soldiers while in Afghaninstan, and traveling through many states and speaking with Americans and I have found that Americans are often painted by Canadians with the same brush and that should never happen. I will just say that there are a lot of intelligent Americans who are very caring people and want to help other countries. Most Americans I've spoken to are more informed about politics and foreign policies than Canadians are and at least when they share their opinion they know what they're talking about. Many Americans are great people, great neighbours, and an amazing ally and friend to Canada.

I am Canadian, and my dad and his family are Canadian, but my mom and her family is American. When people bash America it is totally unfair because in no way is my mom or my grandparents those arrogant idiots like everyone stereotypes americans to be. There's a reason America is more powerful than Canada, and I doubt its cause they're all idiots.

While traveling in my youth I noticed that fellow travelers from America were treated differently than myself and others. They were often harassed or at least not made to feel welcome. These individuals did not deserve any different treatment than the rest of us and I felt bad for them. Many Canadians wore the maple leaf on their backpacks not as a symbol of pride, but rather as a way to say "I'm not American". That also felt very wrong to me.

As I've grown up here in Canada I've observed that anti-Americanism seems to have become increasingly acceptable. It has crept into our lives at so many levels that for many people it has become "normal". Kid's are subtly fed it in their schools, our national broadcaster treats it as comedy, and our politicians use it to garner popular support. Rather than contributing to my national pride for me it is a source of shame.

Simply put, anti-Americanism is wrong.

I joined because as an American student studying at a Canadian university, I am constantly amazed and frustrated by just how socially acceptable it seems to be to spout anti-American sentiment. The country that issued my passport does not necessarily determine who I am as a person. Quite frankly, anti-Americanism hurts. So many preface their comments with: "You're not included, but all Americans..." That's wrong, and I thank those of you who realize this.

I don't really have any personal story like the ones above. It's merely that, I was raised in an anti-American family, and like most of Canada, I was quite anti-American in my formative years. Then I started to think for myself. Once that happened, I stopped believing in God and also stopped believing America was evil.. seems to follow naturally when you actually think for yourself and stop believing everything that's fed to you.

This group and these posts have touched my heart. I am an American who has been living in Canada for the past 25 years. I have heard the anti-American sentiments from friends, family, strangers, the media, etc. Oh yes, Anti-americanism is very hurtful.

I have 4 Canadian/American children and they too have felt the sting of anti-american sentiment at one time or another in their lives.

The absolute worst for us was after 9/11. As a former New Yorker, the attack on the USA and NY was personally horrifying. For many hours and days I wasn't sure if any of my family or friends had been killed. To see what had happened to my home town was heartbreaking and surreal. Then to hear on the CBC various broadcasts about how the Americans deserved what they got was like rubbing salt in this huge wound.

For years I've been telling my husband about the Anti-American sentiment in Canada and he denies its existence and minimizes it.

So, to read these entries today validates my feelings and in some way it helps to know that there are others out there who feel it and acknowledge that it is wrong.

To all of my facebook friends who read this posting, I hope this group and the sentiments expressed here help you become more aware.

I thank all of you.

I have family and friends in the states - I love them all and I respect their country!!!!!!!! ALso, when they visited me here in Canada they fell in love with Tim Hortons !!!

I joined this group because I would be proud to be American for many reasons. Americans tend to be much more patriotic and more willing to stand up for what they believe in than apathetic Canadians.

Love the shopping in Grand Forks...

Can't beat American History for interest....

Gotta love (or at least RESPECT) George W. Bush!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ms. Thompson,

You are very, very welcome....

And on a recent trip through NY state I discovered that Americans have a lot of Tim Hortons restaurants now too. Glad we could finally give back after all we've stolen. ;)

I was once surrounded by anti-American pessimists that expressed America equals evil. I may have thought that in the past due to my once narrow mind. The thing is, everyone in this world wants the same thing...health, happiness and to live the way they want to live. I have, since I have moved to California, loved the people, the customs and overall the people are just like you and me! Anti-Canadian sentiment does not ring around the conversations EVER down here. Every person you meet is extraordinary with a grand story to tell. Hatred is boring..Canadian media condones this philosophy which is sad...I love this place and my wife and daughter are Americans...and they are beautiful...peace out!

Just to let you know, I've seen quite a few Anti-Canadian groups on here. Most by highschool kids mind you, but still. It goes both ways apparently.

Maybe if you don't want to be discriminated against for where you live, you may not want to refer to us based on where we live as "ugly Canadians" Also, to infer that all Canadians are stupid for supposedly spewing hateful American rhetoric, aren't you just doing the same thing? You want us to give you credit, why don't you give us some?

Two things:
1. The "ugly Canadian" comment was, I'm almost certain, a 'parody' of the Ugly American, a term referring to Americans as arrogant and demeaning.

2. Sure, there may be plenty of "Canada Sucks!" groups by lame highschoolers throughout facebook but I can tell you with certainty that anti-Canadianism does not exist in America on even close to the same level that anti-Americanism exists in Canada. Yes, the South Park movie had that song, but for pete's sake, that's South Park, and a parody in itself. I have never, ever, heard any Americans say anything genuinely negative about Canada. I cannot say the same about Canadians.

For several years growing up I felt a pull towards the States. Nothing huge just wanted to go there and travel all over from State to State.

Then I finally got the chance to visist my aunt who lives in the States and was excited. I have to admit I left there hating Americans. Oh I knew that there were always exceptions, but my experience left me hurt. I was treated so poorly, and insulted on a constant basis. If I said anything different, when I came down from getting dressed, it was everything. I watched as a group of kids walked down the street, one tripped and fell, the others laughed and said "you're so canadain" It was horrible.

Now I know that those people aren't the majority, and after 9/11 hearing statements about how the US deserved it, disgusted me! No one, especially innocent ppl deserve that! I still have my moments when an American asks me a silly question about igloos etc, but I try very hard not to generalize about all Americans. We have rude and ignorant ppl in Canada too, I don't see what gives any of us the right to bash Americans.

I have heard some very disgusting comments from Americans towards Canadians. I'm in the Great Race-America group and some of the people there were very cruel. That being said, I have stayed in the group because I love almost every person there who posts and find them very nice. I am also a part of the Canadian race group and don't go there often because they're still bashing the states!

My point is that the bashing goes both ways and there is no reason for it. I'm all for tossing the stereotypical jokes back and forth but not down right bashing.

i want to know how i infered that all canadians are 'ugly'. i'm canadian, my mom is canadian, my sister is, so is my dad, my best friend in toronto, my family there, etc.,. i know they're not stupid *DUH*, and certainly know that we're not ugly canadians. maybe you didnt' realize that i'm canadian. just cause i know live in san jose, i'm still canadian, just so you know.

ugly canadians are the people who for no reason need to act arrogant for some reason that i cannot explain. those people include the idiots i have to put up with whenever i go back to canada and have to endure US bashing. those inlcude the idiots who have harassed my friends from california, who just happen to be visiting canada and left an awful taste in their mouth. I dont like Bush, or Kim Jong II, or Hussein, or Gaddafi, but you dont see me, or others, bashing the Koreans, or Iraqi's or Lybians.

No place is perfect, and neither are the people in any country. there are idiots everywhere, even in canada.

No doubt, I agree and apologize for misunderstanding you. I just thought you were reverse generalizing or something ha ha.

At the height of Anti-Americanism in 2003, I asked people at random, if they had relitives in the U.S. and it took me 96 people before I actually found one that didn't.

So when most people bash America they are infact also bashing their own family.

People confuse foreign policy and their particular dislike over some of the recent event with America as a whole, which is rediculous. Lost of American's are upset at US foreign policy as well.

Seperate the two, they are completely different issues.

Also remember simply put, in a crisis who is going to come to Canada's aid first the United States of Libia? In this perilis time of uncertain democracy, who is going to fight to preserve democracy, the United States or Iran? I don't mean to make this a them or us cenario, but it's kind of like why a sibbling will say rude and hurtful things about their brother or sister that they would never dream of saying to a friend or stranger, ...

until of course they GROW UP! and realize how foolish it is.

America is not perfect, but you can affect more positive change by postive feedback and reconmendations than when a member of our govt. stamps on a George Bush doll!

To put it quite simply, I have friends in the USA, and I have no reason to despise their country or their people. It's fine to debate the merits of foreign and domestic policies, but when the argument is "I hate America because of that stupid president they have there," it is Anti-Americanism. It should be said however, that the USA is a world leader and so it is correct to criticize its actions when its actions can easily affect the whole planet.

I joined this group because it's ignorant to be Anti-American. Americans have made our world a better place in many respects, and to reject this out of hand would be a mistake of anybody. There are many fine Americans and I am lucky to know a few of them. I'm hoping that our country can find its real soul and tell its stories rather than having a "negative identity" (i.e. I am not American).

Quite frankly, I was delighted when I found this group on Facebook and instantly joined. I have always been fascinated by the U.S. and have always wanted to make a living there after I'm done studying. I officially became fiercely pro-America after the 9/11 attacks. I have had an American flag magnet on the trunk of my car since August 2004 (when I got a car for the first time)

Strangely, Québec used to be the most pro-America province of Canada when I was a little younger (under Clinton). It is now the least. The rest of Canada's opinion on the U.S. has pretty much remained unchanged. I believe Canada's global unfavorable view of our neighbors is due to a critical lack of mutual understanding between the two countries, and to a LOT of die-hard stereotypes willingly entertained by the liberal media in this country.

But as one travels in the United States and meets people there, these stereotypes increasingly become irrelevant. I'm always shocked to find out that most people I meet who have a negative opinion of the U.S. have actually never set foot there. They know no Americans personally. In fact, it would be quite hard for them to interact with America here in Québec, since most of my fellow classmates back when I was in high school and Cégep only spoke French. All they know about America is what they've seen on Canadian/Québec TV.

Some seem to believe that hospitals in the U.S. will let you die if you have no money. Some seem to believe that there is no welfare in the U.S. And these same individuals also often believe that all Americans are fat, stupid, ignorant bastards without even an inkling of a culture and a total lack of class. Of course, you know as well as I do that absolutely none of this is true. But THEY still think that, because they don't know better. If only they were only hurting themselves... When 80% of what you produce gets sold south of the border, these are not very intelligent thoughts to have. And it's even more economically suicidal and stupid to say it out loud in the media. That doesn't stop people from doing it. We should be thankful Americans don't lavish more attention upon Canada and what we think of them. Gosh forbid they ever start focusing on our media, we'll be in for a rough ride.

I actually support a very close union of Canada with the United States and more political and economic integration of North America. We stand to gain a lot from such a thing and the U.S. does too.

Anti-Americanism is just a temporary fad, but it's potentially quite dangerous and should be dealt with seriously and promptly. It should also not be underestimated.

We should act as the friends we are, people.

My purpose for creating this group was quite simple. Although I am interested in the sociological aspect of Canadians smelling of anti-Americanism, I had no agenda. Just a personal story and a little curiosity…

Like many Canadians, I grew up around anti-Americanism. It’s subtle but everywhere. My father would be the first to admit his hatred. However, having been stigmatized as a young school girl, I learned early that judging on the surface of things is hurtful and usually a wrong assumption. At a young age, I questioned my father’s hatred of Americans because I had been hurt by presumptions, too. What if he was wrong and Americans aren’t the bastards he said they were? And it seems I may have been right….

After graduation from high school, I attended college in Wisconsin. It was there that I realized most profoundly that (“SHOCK!”) Americans are people a lot like me! As I grew to know and love my new Americans friends, the anti-American sentiments I heard when I came home began to hurt. It had become personal.

It became even more personal after I found an American guy I thought was wonderful enough to marry. Going home to Canada is always interesting as I watch my father try to hold back his hateful comment about the States. However, he doesn’t always do too well. My husband, who has been nothing but patient with him continues to endure comments like, “All Americans want to do is kill…” or some comment about how awful Bush is (or any president, for that matter). These comments are indirectly aimed at my husband. (This showed me how it is difficult to separate the government of a country from its people.) My brother once blurted out to him in anger, “You’re just pro-American!” (Just what does that mean?!) I can have respect for Canadians who have intelligent reasons to be anti-American but it is Canadians who are anti-American without thought that confound me.

I have called Minnesota home for the past 8 years. I mentioned in a prior post that I have three children who are dual American and Canadian citizens. I want them to proud of BOTH of their countries. However, if they experience the same stigma I have when I come home to Canada, I doubt they will feel as welcome there as they do in the States. We can politicize it all we want and argue socialism versus capitalism but when it all boils down Anti-Americanism is a deeply personal issue.

I took 9/11 personally, too. As I watched those planes fly into those towers, I was shocked and angry. For the first time, I was really for the Americans. I was ready to fight for them. And yet, shortly after the attacks, I heard Canadians joking about it saying that they deserved it and using it for comedy. It was disgusting to hear. For the first time, I was actually embarrassed to be a Canadian.

When I visit home, I have a Minnesotan license plate. I was driving through Winnipeg shortly after 9/11 when a fellow Canadian drove by and gave me the finger for no apparent reason than perhaps, I was American? This just made me realize how disgusting we can be.

I am now an American citizen as well as Canadian. Because of this, I have American I.D. It is always an experience for me when I have to show my I.D. in Canada. I consciously think, “Should I show American I.D. or my Canadian I.D?” I consider this because when I show American I.D. I am treated shortly and sometimes rudely. However, when I show Canadian I.D. I get a more friendly response. This is my fun experiment whenever I get to come home.

My assumptions continue to fall to the wayside as I learn to think for myself about America and its citizens. I have learned that most Americans are proud and patriotic, not arrogant. I have learned that they fight for peace and have made many positive changes in the world. I have gained a deeper appreciation not only for Americans but for the many, many good things about America as a country.

Not only did I create this group because of my personal connections to the States, I also created this group out of curiosity. Was I alone? Was I the only Canadian who was tired of the anti-Americanism? How aware of it are we? Slowly, but surely, people began joining the group and I must say, I have been encouraged.

I created this group to create discussion and visit about how we can impact our Canadian culture for the better.

Pamela

I just want to say as a Canadian, that when 9/11 happened I felt it too. I cried for Amercia and wanted to do anything to help them. I've never heard ANYONE say Americans desverved it, though I've seen it said on here that apparently that's what Canada was like when it happened. I think this is totally incorrect and it offends me to hear people saying that this is what we were like. If you heard one person say totally ignorant things like that, or two, fine. But I never have and I think it's outrageous to believe any Candians felt like that.

Thanks for being one of the only people to say SOME Canadians are ignorant and not lumping us all together. It's funny that this a group against Anti-Americanism and preaches not stereotyping and judging based on a few people, yet everyone here seems to assume that ALL Canadians are anti-American and hate them for no reason.

I'm sorry or glad, that you didn't hear it, but sadly, SOME people in canada expressed some kindof...i dunno...gratitude? that 911 happened, like the states deserved it somehow. Its not totally incorrect, and its not surprising that SOME canadians would feel that way. Look at the way we've been brought up...we've been brought up to be anti-american. i've said it before, and i'll say it again and again and again, i was one of those people, and i only changed when i got to live in the states.

Also, we're not lumping ALL canadians together. whether you like it or not, there is predominant anti-americanism in canada, and it is supported through the media and no one says anything about it. i'm sure there are SOME canadians in canada who aren't, but i haven't met them.

I joined this group because I'm an American who loves Canada.

I'm originally from North Dakota and our broadcast media growing up was almost as much Canadian as American. I can still sing the Winnipeg "Chicken Delight" commercial from CKRC ("Where the Hits Keep Happening" - scary) and do a fair impression of Gren Marsh from CBW. We always followed Canadian politics because we regularly discussed it with Canadian visitors in town for shopping. If I still can speak or understand any French it's from watching dubbed movies on the French CBC channel in Winnipeg while in college (I practiced for comprehension tests that way - scary again).

Canadians often seem concerned about "identity;" they needn't. Canada probably had a more certain "national identity" in 1967, during Expo, than they ever have had, before or since. I think Pierre Berton actually wrote a book about that, didn't he? Americans from the border states can always (usually affectionately) tell you the differences between Canadians and Americans.

It's sad about the CBC. It once (1960s - 1970s) was one of the finest TV/radio networks in the world and it's still OK. I don't know if the CBC led or merely has reflected the tedious anti-Americanism of the Canadian chattering classes, but this presence is illustrative of a decline from the first-rate programming of a generation ago. Anyone remember "The Age of Elegance" (CBC radio, 10-10:30 Wednesday evenings)? Probably not - most of you probably are too young. I first encountered Dean Swift's "Modest Proposal" on that program and almost fell out of bed I laughed so hard.

I often ended my day years ago with "God Save the Queen" when CBC AM signed off at Midnight. :)

Sorry for the rambling. Canada is GREAT!

Laura, as ugly as it sounds, the fact is there were many people around the world that felt America deserved what happened on 9/11. I heard it from some Canadians as well. For some perspective you might want to review the latest scandal that hit the Green Party:

http://www.canada.com/theprovince/story.html?id=ac5b2964-ae96-4fc5-b697-41431368a480&k=50966