I just gotta say in Atwood's defence (me being a fellow Canuck and all) I
think he was joking. Scratch that, I KNOW he was joking. Americans have a
difficult time with Canadian Humour and Atwood's post was a copy/paste job
of a very Canadian satirical comedian by the name of Rick Mercer, so I guess
it's completely understandable that many of you Americans would get all
bristly and frothy about the mouth. But really for the good of our
cross-boarder relations, Americans are simply not meant to see Mr. Mercer's
Comedy. It's for Internal Canadian consumption only. That's why it's on the
CBC.
On a side note, for every foaming, heat-filled post that is made by an
American in response to Atwoods post is quite likely to generate a great
number of gaffahs among the Canadian audience of the list. It seems that we
as a nation simply love to jerk the chain of our American Cousins. And we
love seeing that chain jerked. Some might argue that it's akin to teasing a
large caged predatory carnivore with a stick. Some might also argue that
it's not exactly smart. And some might argue that you'll get no argument
from Canadians on that subject.
You need to BE Canadian to understand what it means to be Canadian. Even
then it takes YEARS of self-analysis, self-discovery, self-criticism,
self-contempt, and self-loathing. Really the entire Canadian population is
nothing but a bunch of inferiority complex sufferers. How could we not be
growing up next door to the Great American Republic and being inundated with
her culture and her ideals, yet still like any free and independent nation,
struggling to secure our own Cultural distinction and Identity.
It's why folks like Rick Mercer are not just labeled "Comedian", but instead
granted the title of "Canadian Comedian" and treated like cultural icons (no
not "Stars" those are American too)
It's ok tho, Americans aren't supposed to Understand it. That's part of the
Joke...
Oh! Ca! Na! Da!
-----Original Message-----
From: Cortlandt Wilson [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2003 11:46 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [HP3000-L] OT: A Canadian View Point (ad hominem)
Greg,
>Your post reinforces the attitude of most of the rest of the world,
>excluding the US-apologists, that the US is dominated by self-centred
>myopic arrogant aggressive testosterone-driven rednecks.
I say doom on all your houses. I submit that your email is proof that the
entire world is full of the kind of people you describe above. A man had a
knee-jerk reaction to several arrogant and aggressive pieces of sarcasm that
were calculated to get someone riled up. Wirt kicked in his bit. The
attack pieces worked. Someone got riled up. So what?
> ... you can leave at any time you wish. Do us all a favour.
So you respond back with insults. I submit that you got a bit riled up and
responded in kind. In other words, Greg I say you critise others for the
very behavior that you indulge in. I suggest sticking to logic, reasoned
arguments, and valid information. Leave the psychological analysis to
experts.
Side note: I would give some points to the Atwood-Atmar axis of venom; they
at least allowed a small sense of humor in their mud slinging.
>And the rest of your well-reasoned, intellectually advanced post
>continues on the same high level.
Hello? Until now very little in this entire "A Canadian View Point" has
been what I would call intellectual. Sarcastic, posturing, ad hominem,
full of name calling, yes. Intellectual, no. Take for instance your
first sentence which neatly pigeon-holes everyone who might not fit into
your global generalization as a US-apologist. I don't consider that line
as an example of a intellectually advanced argument. I know that
intellectuals do resort to this type of rhetoric (we are human after all)
but when we calm down the honest ones will own up to their error.
P.S. Regarding arrogance and all the rest. You can be arrogant and
history may still prove you right. I can be as meek as a lamb and be shown
to be tragically wrong. That is why ad hominem arguments are listed among
other logical fallacies.
http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/
Cortlandt Wilson
(650) 966-8555
>-----Original Message-----
>From: HP-3000 Systems Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
>Behalf Of Greg Chaplin
>Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2003 5:24 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [HP3000-L] OT: A Canadian View Point
>
>
>Wow, what a statement: "Nelson Mandela is a communist murderer".
>It certainly grabs one's attention.
>And the rest of your well-reasoned, intellectually advanced post
>continues on the same high level.
>
>Do you really think like that, or is your post tongue-in-cheek?
>
>If you hate the rest of the world so much then you, and others like
>you, can leave at any time you wish. Do us all a favour.
>
>Your post reinforces the attitude of most of the rest of the world,
>excluding the US-apologists, that the US is dominated by self-centred
>myopic arrogant aggressive testosterone-driven rednecks.
>
>I would like to believe that you are not typical of the average US
>citizen. I despair for the future of my children if you are.
>
>>>> "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]> 17/03/2003 08:36:27
>am >>>
>Nelson Mandela is a communist murderer. So who cares what he has tgo
>say.
>Perhaps the dixie chicks, and anyone else who hates us should take mr
>atwoods lead and just leave.
>If the canadians hate us so much then they can stop selling thier
>products
>here too.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Wirt Atmar" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2003 4:28 PM
>Subject: Re: [HP3000-L] OT: A Canadian View Point
>
>
>> Tim quotes a Canadian author:
>>
>> > I'm sorry we called George Bush a moron.
>> >
>> > He is a moron, but it wasn't nice of us to point it out. If it's
>any
>> > consolation, the fact that he's a moron shouldn't reflect poorly
>on the
>> > people of America. After all it's not like you actually elected
>him.
>>
>> That's all right. The Dixie Chicks just said four days ago while in
>England
>> that they too were ashamed that George Bush is president. Due to
>pressure
>at
>> home they were later forced to apologize (although I'm not sure that
>they
>> meant it). Nelson Mandela however remains steadfast in his belief
>that
>Bush
>> is a "person who doesn't know how to reason."
>>
>> ======================================
>>
>> NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 16) - The Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines, who
>told a
>> London audience earlier this week that she was ``ashamed'' of
>President
>Bush,
>> said Friday she's sorry for her comment.
>>
>> ``As a concerned American citizen, I apologize to President Bush
>because
>my
>> remark was disrespectful,'' the singer said in a statement. ``I feel
>that
>> whoever holds that office should be treated with the utmost
>respect.''
>>
>> The Dixie Chicks, who are from Texas, are on a European tour. While
>in
>> London, Maines told the audience, ``Just so you know, we're ashamed
>the
>> president of the United States is from Texas.''
>>
>> Angry phone calls flooded a Nashville radio station on Thursday,
>some
>calling
>> for a boycott of the trio's music. Two Dallas stations stopped
>playing the
>> group's music because of Maines' comments.
>>
>> The popular group won three Grammys last month for their
>multi-platinum
>disc
>> ``Home.'' They have the No. 1 country song with ``Travelin'
>Soldier,''
>about
>> a soldier in Vietnam.
>>
>> On Friday, Maines said the group is ``witnessing a huge
>anti-American
>> sentiment as a result of the perceived rush to war'' while on tour
>in
>Europe.
>>
>> ``While war may remain a viable option, as a mother, I just want to
>see
>every
>> possible alternative exhausted before children and American
>soldiers'
>lives
>> are lost,'' she said. ``I love my country. I am a proud American.''
>>
>> Maines' contrite statement is in contrast to her comments on
>Thursday,
>when
>> she said: ``I feel the president is ignoring the opinion of many in
>the
>U.S.
>> and alienating the rest of the world. My comments were made in
>frustration,
>> and one of the privileges of being an American is you are free to
>voice
>your
>> own point of view.''
>>
>> The Dixie Chicks will kick off a U.S. tour on May 1 in Greenville,
>S.C.
>The
>> group's other hits include ``Wide Open Spaces,'' ``Ready to Run''
>and
>> ``Landslide.''
>>
>> =======================================
>>
>> Wirt Atmar
>>
>> * To join/leave the list, search archives, change list settings, *
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>>
>
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>
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