Possibly not a healthy relationship...

[bcholmes]

An alternative path would be for [Canada] to simply remain committed to the values we hold -- and to try to advocate them in the world -- regardless of the contrary direction the United States might take. [Canadian Ambassador to the US Allan] Gotlieb rejects this approach, suggesting instead that we avoid taking positions aimed at creating "counter-weights to U.S. power." Rather, Canada should simply accept U.S. power as "the dominant feature of the contemporary international order" and avoid asserting positions -- even on morally important issues -- that put us at odds with Washington. Even when the U.S. does things that offend our sensibilities and our sense of justice, Gotlieb would apparently have us keep our eyes cast demurely downward.

So if the United States chooses to invade Iraq, to launch a lawless "war on terror," to start an arms race in space or to obstruct worldwide efforts on climate change, Canada should quietly stand by her man. Similarly, we should avoid supporting causes -- like banning land mines or protecting children in combat zones -- for fear that this sort of "sanctimonious" behaviour might annoy Washington. If we want to disagree with our powerful boyfriend, we should whisper softly in his ear, not embarrass him in public. We should confine ourselves to being the manipulative little woman behind the scenes, using our wiles to get what we want from him and using our position of influence over him as our ticket to status in the outside world.

Leaving aside for a minute any skepticism about the effectiveness of such a role -- whether the manipulative little woman really does manage to influence her man -- there is the aching question of what it means for us as a nation to take on this role.

It is hard to imagine a more demeaning vision for a woman -- or a country.

— Linda McQuaig, Holding the Bully's Coat: Canada and the U.S. Empire

I'm enjoying this book, although I think it suffers from an unwillingness to view Canada as a nation that pursues an imperialist agenda over those nations (such as Haiti) where it has the strength to play that role. In McQuaig's worldview, when we're good, it's because Canada is Good! And when we're bad, it's because we're being sycophantic puppets of the U.S.

Comments

[sarah-dragon.livejournal.com]

I really need to read this book. I am sure I would probably disagree with many of her opinions but it has to be a good read. For me I have never seen Canada as more than a good neighbor and good ally. Perhaps thats a bit naive of me but we have such a cross-pollination of society that it never occurs to me worry over the relationship. I assumed Canada did what Canada wanted. I mean, even in the present admin the concept that America is going to "lean" on Canada seems absurd. Its not like we can really do anything, and I doubt we would ever consider "effin nukin Canada back to effin Lord Stanley's day" kind of behavior. I figure the most we would do is steal another hockey franchise.

However, thats my prejudice in taking Canada for granted and my naivete' with regard to the relationship between the two nations.

One thing though, and this could just generally be the fact that I have only seen snippets of the book on your journal, is that she sounds... nationalistic? And I mean in the same vein as the Kaiser, not run of the mill national pride. I have to be wrong about that but maybe the nationalistic undertone is part of the unwillingness you mention.

[jmthane.livejournal.com]

So Gotlieb's a fool?

[nex0s.livejournal.com]

n McQuaig's worldview, when we're good, it's because Canada is Good! And when we're bad, it's because we're being sycophantic puppets of the U.S.

This is the view that I've been subjected to by most Canadians I've discussed politics with. Including ones who went so far as to say that there was no racism in Canada. When I asked about the racism my friend experienced there, I was told it was because he was an American ... despite the fact that the white Americans he was with were not treated the way he was in the incident.

So, um. Yeah. Dunno what to say about that. Maybe I shouldn't post this?

I guess my point is that every country has it's marvelous, and it's awful. It think it's important to acknowledge each thing in each country.

N.

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

I, for one, am glad you posted it. It occurs to me now that the only criticism of Canada from the US that I generally see is from the right.

And for what it's worth, I know that there's racism in Canada; it's one of our ugly qualities.

[avt-tor.livejournal.com]

I think Canada has less of the bad and more of the good, but that these are just shades of grey.

To the extent there are actual substantive differences, I think these are more systemic than cultural. Canada doesn't have a "right to bear arms" or death penalty; it has government-funded health-care; it didn't support the war in Vietnam and isn't at war on the ground in Iraq. Canada abolished slavery 70 years before the United States did; Canada doesn't have the sharp edges of racial conflict that exist in American history or some American cities today. But thanks to the media, Canada imports racist attitudes and a lot of other cultural memes from the US.

It's naive to think Canada doesn't have these social problems; it's absurdly cynical to think that the problems in Canada are equivalent in scale to those in the US.

[nex0s.livejournal.com]

. But thanks to the media, Canada imports
racist attitudes and a lot of other cultural memes from the US

So...

Your racial issues are our fault?

Good to know.

N.

[necturus.livejournal.com]

But thanks to the media, Canada imports
racist attitudes and a lot of other cultural memes from the US

Your racial issues are our fault?

No, they're *my* fault. You don't work in the media.

[nex0s.livejournal.com]

To be perfectly clear, I think Canada is great, and there are a lot of ways I wish the US was more like it.

But I don't think you should lay your racial attitudes at our feet.

N.

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

But I don't think you should lay your racial attitudes at our feet.

Well said.

[avt-tor.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure what you mean here by "your" and "our". But the cultural influences here are obvious; Canada's abolition of slavery positively influenced the US, while America's history of slavery and racism has and continues to negatively influence Canada's social attitudes. I really don't see how one can credibly argue that Canada's British and French origins are more significant here.

[nex0s.livejournal.com]

To repeat: To be perfectly clear, I think Canada is great, and there are a lot of ways I wish the US was more like it.

But I don't think you should lay your racial attitudes at our feet.

By "your" I mean Canadians, as themselves, as country. By "ours" I mean the United States.

Most Canadians I have met are insulted by the attitude that many Americans take, that Canada is the "51st State". I think if you want to claim that Canada's continued racial problems come from the United States, then you need to sort of accept that premise.

I think if you want to trumpet Canada's independence from the US, then you need to accept your own flaws even while showing yourselves to have many progressive policies and attitudes.

I do not deny that Canada likely influenced the abolistionists of 300 150 years ago. [ETA: Never post before coffee as my counting proves!] As a person of color* in America, I'm glad for it. However, I don't think that Canada is perfect, and I think it's disingenous to try and say that any racism that happens in Canada is the fault of the Big Bad USA.

As for historical roots of racism, the US was orginally colinized, almost simultaneously by the French, English, and the Dutch. Of all of these, the Dutch are the most historically progressive people. However all three have a long and undeniable history of oppression of people of color, either through colonialism, the slave trade, or both. Some of that even continues today! Mon dieu! Riots in the outskirts of Paris, anyone?!

N.
*My mother's family are Russian Jews. My father's family are African-American, Native American, and a bit of Irish, that particular mix going back to at least 1860.

[avt-tor.livejournal.com]

Why do you think I'm not American?

There are historical roots to racism, but the Enlightenment began to address those. The US took a wrong turn, which delayed its recognition of equality. Understanding that history helps resolve the problem in Canada, because of the disconnect between Canada's history and the media influences from the south.

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

I think nex0s's point is a parallel to my point about McQuaig's view of Canadian imperialism. I think it breaks down as follows:

1. Racism exists in Canada
2. Many Canadians deny that racism exists in Canada
3. Canadians who accept that racism exists in Canada tend to want to write that off as solely a product of the United States; because Canadians tend to view themselves as fundamentally good, all of our bad elements are blamed on the United States
4. Finally, nex0s is saying that not only is it true that racism exists in Canada, but every attempt to discuss the fact that racism exists is side-tracked by discussions of whether or not that's an artifact of the US.

For what it's worth, I agree with her. I think that racism exists in Canada, and it's something that we tend to avoid acknowledging by pointing the finger at the US. (Classic "I didn't do it" excuse making).

Why is it that Canadians must always say, "yes, there's racism, but in our defense..." rather than just, "yes, there's racism"? I believe that that kind of excuse-making helps to perpetuate racism.

[avt-tor.livejournal.com]

1. Racism exists in Canada
Agreed

2. Many Canadians deny that racism exists in Canada
I would say "Some", not "Many".

3. Canadians who accept that racism exists in Canada tend to want to write that off as solely a product of the United States;
"Solely" is an overstatement, and this whole point seems like just a different type of stereotyping. Obviously there may be some British (and French) antecedents in the distant past, but since 1793 Canada's history is different from the US in this respect.

because Canadians tend to view themselves as fundamentally good, all of our bad elements are blamed on the United States
Not strictly seeing the relevance here. This doesn't make the problem go away.

4. Finally, [info]nex0s is saying that not only is it true that racism exists in Canada, but every attempt to discuss the fact that racism exists is side-tracked by discussions of whether or not that's an artifact of the US.


Here's where I have to disagree. Acknowledging the source(s) of the problem makes it easier to solve the problem. In this particular case, identifying racism as a mainly imported cultural meme makes it easier to eliminate it. Racism is un-Canadian, and telling Canadians that they are acting like Americans will be persuasive in some cases.

Same thing in the US (or elsewhere); in order to dismantle prejudice, it's necessary to deconstruct it by identifying its origins and showing the errors at the point of origin. If you can show that initial assumptions are false, the conclusions drawn from those assumptions will also be discarded. Racism is particularly entrenched in the US because of the 19th-century history of slavery, where landed elites held onto a discriminatory and oppressive labor system to try to preserve their privileges, so a lot more effort was put into justifying and distributing racist paradigms.

[avt-tor.livejournal.com]

So Harper is the wife? (Or bottom?) That's more about him than it is about the two countries, IMO.

If we need to use a relationship metaphor, it might make more sense to describe Canada and the US as siblings and first cousins. Closely related and emotionally connected, but not always in agreement.