Canadians are fundamentally different from Americans. We speak almost the same language, wear the same clothes and eat the same food, but there is still a difference.
Canada is much bigger than the U.S. It's the second largest nation in the world. One of our provinces is five times the size of Texas. Quebec is slightly larger than all of Alaska. But our population is small, only about the size of California's. Our cities are smaller, and the distance between towns is greater.
The U.S. was settled by pioneers looking for political and religious freedom. Canada was settled by military men, sent by the kings of France and England to expand their power. Early U.S. settlers often fought with the native Americans, but the early Canadians cooperated and traded extensively with them. While Americans went to war for their independence, Canadians were quite happy to remain British subjects, and even fought against the Americans to preserve their status as subjects of the British government. Americans drew up their Constitution two hundred years ago, but Canada got its own Constitution only twenty years ago, in 1982. And we still hang on to our ties to Britain in our laws and government.
The American west was settled by wagon trains and six-guns, but Canada's west was opened by establishing branch stores of the Hudson Bay Company, an immensely prosperous fur and mineral trading monopoly and a well organized, very efficient national police force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, famous for their bright red jackets and tall shiny boots. As a result, settlement of Canada's west was a much quieter orderly process than in the "Wild West," with its famous gunfighters and sheriffs.
I think many Canadians tend to be more liberal than Americans. One of our popular political parties would be rated as communistic by many Americans. I don't think Canadians attend church as much as Americans do. We do have what I think is a stronger sense of community, as opposed to nationality. Canadians can get all riled up with words, but I think they are less likely to give you an actual punch in the nose. I think we also have less road rage, even on Highway 401 in the Toronto area, said to be the world's busiest highway.
Canadians both love and hate the U.S. Probably what is disliked the most is that sometimes Americans appear to be a bit too pushy and act like they own everything. But, then again, we country folk say the same thing about people from Toronto and Montreal. We admit to having an inferiority complex, and we even criticize our own products which aren't in the least inferior to those of competitors anywhere in the world.
I've lived in both countries for many years. I think the people of both countries are the most blessed in all the world. There are lots of things to complain about, but upon deep reflection I think there are no better places on the planet, and the people of both countries are generally as nice as a person can find anywhere.
