Journal bouncingbean's Journal: Anti-American(ism) 1
Just read an article about the Canadian anti-Americanism. I thought the article was well written and it mentioned some very valid points about why Canadians are disgruntled about our cousins to the south. Such reasons were our anti-war attitude, the softwood dispute, Bush's attitude towards Canada, etc... I then read a bunch of readers comments, which were directed at Canada. Mostly poking fun at our armed forces or flames about how ungrateful we are to our bigger brother. It sort of rubbed me raw, much like our ingratitude rubs the Americans raw. However let me rant:
Why does Canada need a large military? During the cold war we did have a large military, over 100k members ready to help take on the red army. Well the cold war is over, who is our threat now? Terrorism? Well if so why do we need main battle tanks, stealth fighters, nuclear subs and air craft carriers? A small elite military should be more than able to take out any terrorist threat. Or is it to take on the terrorist nations? Well Canada works in coalitions and will never (not with our current military philosophy) work alone, so we can still help out in taking down terrorist nations effectively with a small military. Why we do we need a huge military budget? Sure more money would allow us to do more, but do we need to? We already help the world with our peace keeping efforts, what more does the world want us to do? Be involved in every action? Not even the states are involved in every action. Personally I think our military can be beefed up a bit, more infantry so that our tired soldiers can get some time off between deployments, some newer equipment for the soldiers safety. I don't think we need to go back to cold war size/capability. We don't have to defend against invasion, which ties into my next rant.
My second rant is about how the American feelings are hurt because we are ungrateful for the protection they have given us. Well first why should I feel grateful about the protection when I don't see a need for it? It's like me feeling grateful to my brother for telling off(beating up) the poor skinny kid when I'm more than able to do it. I don't want protection from the world, and I'm sure most Canadians don't want it either. We can handle it on our own. I just don't perceive the threat that the Americans seem to (what is that threat I don't know!). I don't see the massive fleets and armed invaders just waiting for the American forces to disband. I don't like having American protection and American policy jammed down my throat. It's all about being a sovereign.
Hmmmm yup, pointless. It's a rant. Personally I don't mind Americans, I figure they're the same as us Canadians.
Why does Canada need a large military? During the cold war we did have a large military, over 100k members ready to help take on the red army. Well the cold war is over, who is our threat now? Terrorism? Well if so why do we need main battle tanks, stealth fighters, nuclear subs and air craft carriers? A small elite military should be more than able to take out any terrorist threat. Or is it to take on the terrorist nations? Well Canada works in coalitions and will never (not with our current military philosophy) work alone, so we can still help out in taking down terrorist nations effectively with a small military. Why we do we need a huge military budget? Sure more money would allow us to do more, but do we need to? We already help the world with our peace keeping efforts, what more does the world want us to do? Be involved in every action? Not even the states are involved in every action. Personally I think our military can be beefed up a bit, more infantry so that our tired soldiers can get some time off between deployments, some newer equipment for the soldiers safety. I don't think we need to go back to cold war size/capability. We don't have to defend against invasion, which ties into my next rant.
My second rant is about how the American feelings are hurt because we are ungrateful for the protection they have given us. Well first why should I feel grateful about the protection when I don't see a need for it? It's like me feeling grateful to my brother for telling off(beating up) the poor skinny kid when I'm more than able to do it. I don't want protection from the world, and I'm sure most Canadians don't want it either. We can handle it on our own. I just don't perceive the threat that the Americans seem to (what is that threat I don't know!). I don't see the massive fleets and armed invaders just waiting for the American forces to disband. I don't like having American protection and American policy jammed down my throat. It's all about being a sovereign.
Hmmmm yup, pointless. It's a rant. Personally I don't mind Americans, I figure they're the same as us Canadians.
Yea... (Score:1)
Except we live in log cabins instead of igloos.