AMERICAN BASHING ON AVCAN

[V2-OMG!]

I have an American friend who could lend much to this site. His logbook is fillled with some of the greatest aircraft you can only dream of flying: The A4 Skyhawk in Vietnam; the DC-3 and 6; the Constellation; the Northstar; the Boeing 707; the stretch DC-8, and some of the legendary single-engine civilian and military aircraft like the F4U Corsair. If you haven't heard of the Corsair, look it up. When he explained what it was like sitting in the cockpit of that incredible machine, the hair literally stood up on the back of my neck.

However, due to the pervasive anti-American comment here, how could I possibly invite his participation?

Whatever happened to the spirit of international airmanship? Wasn't it Lord Swinton who said "We want the air to unite the peoples, and not to divide them"?

What a collective loss.

[Four1oh]

IMHO, the Corsair is the most gorgeous aircraft of WWII. Followed closely by the later model Mustangs. It would be good to hear some more American's pipe up and put the jackasses in place who seem to think they can get away with bashing the best ally we have. Not to mention our bread and butter(#1 Trading partner, and the home of Phoenix, AZ!)

Invite him, but warn him. If he's internet savvy already, this place will be a walk in the park for him.

[Topspin]

It's not just Avcan, some days it seems to be Canada's national pastime. I mean it seems like people think our neighbors to the south are aliens from another planet or something.
Not just the spirit of international airmanship, what happened to being friendly neighbors?

[Just another canuck]

It's not that I so much dislike Americans... it's I dislike people who are living in the States.

Jokes... invite him.

...and remember, we probably take as much, or more abuse from the yanks than we give to them. I think it is they who need to be more open.

[hazatude]

NOT UNTIL THEY APOLOGIZE FOR PAULEY SHORE!

[Four1oh]

um, Celine? nuff said.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Why would anyone want to be involved in a forum where he would be spit on because he is an American?

Having just finished a three week trip down east half of which was flown in the USA the difference in the culture is best judged by the service we received at every American airport we landed at, in the USA we were made to feel important as customers...in Canada we generally were ignored as service seems to not be in the Canadian language.

The cost of most everything was far less...must be something to do with the taxes?

Oh...VFR flying in the USA is really well served by their ATC.

[iflyforpie]

I don't bash Americans, just their government. Just like I (and just about everyone else here) bashes the Canadian government.

Presidential hopeful John McCain got shot down in an A4 and W spent his early career avoiding flight in an F-102. Doesn't make me like them any more.

., I guess you weren't down there for the controller's strike a while back


But invite your friend. We can always use more guys like him. Just the other day I was shooting the shit with an American Airlines ex US Navy pilot and it was great. Didn't talk politics, just flying.

[Sasquash]

. is right, service tends to be better in the States. Although, I admit I have to get down to Hamilton and check that Haz guy one of these days......

[bandaid]

Funny, I just came back from a trip to Prague, czech republic. Met some english speaking people while walking around one of the many tourists areas and asked them where they are from. Canada they say. Then in a quieter voice, well we are actually Americans but we find we get treated nicer if we say we are Canadian. So even they bash themselves.

[Lloyd Christmas]

I agree with . aswell. I find I get far better treatment & customer service from Americans than I do Canadians. I really enjoy working in the US for this reason alone, and all my co-workers feel the same way. I think some Canadians need to spend more time working on their manners and customer service skills rather than bashing other Americans.

PS Anyone see the W-5 episode with William Shatener as narrator last week, it was called something like" where the hell did all the manners go?"

Lloyd

[Greg87]

Well we're talking about manners, how about not bashing all Canadian rampies?

I personally find a lot of cultural diferences between Canadians and Americans, but then I also find differences between being from Southern Ontario and people from other parts of Canada. I'll admit I'm guilty of making the occasional joke at the expense of Americans, but at the same time I make jokes about Canadians, even make fun of myself on a fairly regular basis. I don't think it's too bad on here that you should be embarassed to invite your friend here.

[Nark]

I've had nothing but warm reception from all the Yank's I've met.

I don't go tell the world that I was born in Canada, but when it finally comes up that I was a citizen for many years, they always tell me how beautiful it is, and the many fishing/hunting adventures they would take.

That, or coming across the border so they could drink and hit the strip clubs a 18/19.


Of course this all goes out the window during a game of football. Don't worry, I talk crap with the best of them, and back it up of course.

[sugarfree]

Same people who bash and discriminate against"Americains" are the first yelling out for "politically correct terminology"

Yeah bring him in, sure would love to hear some his stories.

SF./

[Lloyd Christmas]

Well we're talking about manners, how about not bashing all Canadian rampies?

I personally find a lot of cultural diferences between Canadians and Americans, but then I also find differences between being from Southern Ontario and people from other parts of Canada. I'll admit I'm guilty of making the occasional joke at the expense of Americans, but at the same time I make jokes about Canadians, even make fun of myself on a fairly regular basis. I don't think it's too bad on here that you should be embarassed to invite your friend here.

Greg87,

Not sure if your opening line was towards my reply or not? If so, you've misunderstood what I tried to say. My "opinion" regarding Americans and my experiences with them is not only regarding the aviation industry, but also many others, the hotel, restaurant, FB0's...the list goes on. I was in no way was bashing Canadian Rampies, how you got that I don't know? Hope I didn't misunderstand your reply.

Cheers, Lloyd

[Doc]

Good point about customer service. The Yanks have it all over us in that department. I hit Duluth MN last week to get measured for a new one piece riding suit. The folks at Aerostich sent two hours with me, making sure everything was "just right". I've NEVER had service like that in Canada. I had my Harley break down in some one dog town in WI on a Saturday afternoon ten minutes before closing time. They worked till 10:00 on the bike, and got my problem all sorted out. The bike had been out of warranty for two months. They ignored that fact. The Winnipeg dealer where I bought the bike basically had told me to "pound sand" only two weeks previously with another problem.
By all means get your buddy to sign on here. We'd love to hear from him!

[F,D and H]

There are a couple of "American" words that get lost in translation up here.

For example you say: "Thank you"
Typical Canadian responds: "Yip"

See in America (where all of those supposed rude assholes are) the typical response would be "your welcome"

It is understandable though as most Canadians rarely hear "Thank you". That being said, I don't understand how they can misinterpret it as being a question.

The same goes for all of the ridiculous anti Toronto sentiment displayed here. They watch "This hour" or "Air Farce" and get little snippets on Toronto or the US and take it to the bank. They've been told...Oooga USA is asshole...boooga Toronto have gangs... I'd be willing to bet that most that spout this garbage very rarely fly into the states or spend any real time in T.O.

I'm surprised that the knuckle draggers haven't gotten to the Italians....or the Irish yet...sheech

[SkyWolfe]

Sometimes I forget I live in Canada...

[Wild Cat]

F,D and H
you are bang on!

Also if I may say, I dont think people do as much bashing to america as america does to the world (in all sense). Also I've been told that I hate americans. WRONG. I dont hate americans, i just hate the american government with an absolute passion.
and no i'm not a liberal

[V2-OMG!]

Thanks for your messages; I will pass them on.

One thing my friend told me is this: Take a look at the captain's throttles on the Northstar (which he flew).
http://projectnorthstar.ca/gallery/albu ... it1949.jpg

Do you know why the left-seat throttles are higher?

When the flight crew was testing the Northstar prototype. the design engineers were also there. The captain, with his hands on the throttle, said "Give me another inch" (what he meant was another inch of manifold pressure) but the engineers thought he meant his throttles should be 1" higher!

[Icebound]

..

V2-OMG:

On the semi-anonymous internet, ANY individual... whether American or Canadian or anybody else.... gets
bashed by those(whether American or Canadian or anybody else) who disagree with him... .

We all know individual Americans who are the nicest people. And there is no question that Americans do "service" way better than anybody else.

But with all due respect and apologies to our American friends....
... it is unfortunate that through their media and their politicians.... COLLECTIVELY America comes across as arrogant.

And there is no greater target for bashing than arrogance. As a (Canadian) example: those people who cheered Conrad Black's conviction, did not do so just because he bent a few corporate rules.... they cheered mostly because he was arrogant about doing it.
...

But there IS hope.

For the first time IN AGES, last night two American politicians showed off America as a somewhat humble, thoughtful, reasonable nation. Perhaps it was the presence of Lehrer, perhaps it is the realization that crisis requires cooperation...but they finally carried a more-or-less civil, reasoned debate.... instead of the usual ideological cock-fight to which we have become accustomed.

(Can we expect the VICE-presidential debate to follow suit ???? or will it be a return to more of the same: ????)

...

[Siddley Hawker]

Do you know why the left-seat throttles are higher?

That's so when the Captain carried out the mixture - pitch - power part of the single engine drill, he wouldn't miss the 'power' part.

[Driving Rain]

America had it coming?
Bill Carroll
(Transcription of an on-air editorial from Friday, September 26th)

Anyone else noticing a decidedly negative anti-American ugly turn when you read the world press in the last 24-48 hours?

We’ve been waiting a long time to kick them when they’re down huh?

We just love to hate Americans.

Their greed... We despise that.

Unless of course we have a little money invested in the US stock market, in which case... Bring it on!

We should all be ashamed of ourselves, every country in the world.

Has one nation even hinted that it might help bail the US out of its financial crisis?

Just one?

This is a country that has always been among the first... in fact, it’s been expected to bail out other countries when they get in trouble.

Look it up. Go down the list of countries that Americans have bailed out with their hard earned cash when the time came.

You’ll find many of them.

Bill Clinton just the other day on Larry King bragging about how Mexico actually paid its money back early. Well where’s Mexico today?

Where’s Canada today?

Where’s Germany?

Well don’t count on Germany they can barely contain themselves they’re so excited about Americas troubles these days. Did you hear their finance minister? “Well its American greed, the blind drive for higher profits”. Because Germany’s been giving Mercedes away in the US out of the goodness of their heart all these years!!

We live in a country in Canada where we fought so that American investments could be protected in our retirement plans and not taxed because we knew that’s where there was money to be made.

And now?

Even Canadians are snickering behind Americans back saying “Well… they had it coming!”

You know I’ve always believed that what really is at heart, especially in Canada, just because I know this country better, what’s really going on here is envy. We have been jealous of Americas hard work, productivity and success. We’ve been jealous of a country that has always been there needed it.

They can’t win in America can they?

If there’s a genocide going on somewhere in Africa.. “Where’s America? Why don’t they have the guts to step up?”… They send troops… “Why don’t they mind their own business”.

I’ve always thought of America as a big brother. Sure we like to attack it once in a while, but… Now our big brother is in trouble… Isn’t it time to rally behind him?

But I don’t see any of that happening. I just see us rubbing our hands together thinking “now the mighty has fallen!’.

If you count America out right now, you’re making a huge mistake.

They will come back, they will get past this, and once again we will all be sucking on the American teat, and happy to have anything we can get from them.

We’re no less greedy than they are; they’re just a little better at doing it than we are.

I’m just so tired of the tone of the e-mails, and the conversations I’m having with people so happy to see America fall. People who don’t realize when a giant falls… he’s taking you with him!

[Driving Rain]

oops

[Dash-Ate]

fact is 90% of the world hates america! I guess america is right and the rest of the world is just mentally ill or "terrorists"...