In which we add to my "Things I’ve Noticed About Americans" List

May 22, 2009

I am often asked “What are the big differences between Americans and Canadians?”
After all, I am Canadian (born and raised) but lived in the USA for 8 years and have an American husband.  So people often want to know what my perceptions are of both sides since I have those experiences.
Canadians want to know if American really do carry guns (yes).
Americans want to know if we really say “eh?” (yes) and if I know this guy they went to university with that lives in Toronto now (no).

It’s a very tough question to answer without making use of two of my FAVOURITE writing techniques:
1. Extreme hyperbole.
2. Vast, sweeping generalisations.
But a little exaggerations and stereotyping never hurt anyone, right?

For instance, I have noticed that Americans, in general:

  • Hug a lot more.
  • Talk to strangers.
  • Are incredibly friendly and outgoing.
  • Are very patriotic.
  • Have an amazing ability to talk religion and politics which are usually “off limits” subjects for the rest of us.
  • Have amazing food. If you’re like me and enjoy cheese and frying things, anyway.
  • Are very inventive.
  • Are open spiritually.

So away we go into this quagmire again. Let’s add another, shall we?

I think that Americans must love to be outraged.
Seriously.
It may have surpassed baseball as their national pastime.
And the nice thing is that, unlike most generalisations, this one actually applies to all regions, states, creeds and religions. They are all mad as a wet hen.
Have you ever watched American news? Those people are pissed. They yell at each other. They bring in regular folks and they’re just as ticked. Everyone yelling, everyone mad at each other, no one is doing it right.
In the past few weeks, after reading Facebook and Twitter updates, blogs and websites, I’ve noted that Americans are ticked off about:
  • paying taxes,
  • swine flu,
  • borders,
  • protocol,
  • presidential behaviours,
  • the name of the dog,
  • that Dick Cheney isn’t respected or
  • that he’s still around,
  • that they torture/don’t torture,
  • gay marriage (both sides),
  • the state of highways,
  • volunteerism,
  • hamsters,
  • pageants and
  • Britney Spears.

So many people with fierce, strong opinions on EVERYTHING.
I have to the conclusion that they must enjoy it. It must be a part of the game. I get so flustered when I’m angry that I try to avoid it. But everyone else watches these news pundits and reads propaganda websites/blogs (both sides, I’m sure) and get so mad at everyone else. It’s always “What are those guys (the other side) up to NOW, dear Jesus, save us!?” Previously I thought that they were just mad at each other. Now I think that they must enjoy it.
My friend, Brittaney, gave me her opinion that the reason why they’re all so angry at each other all the time is tied to their historically ”fierce independence”. Is that true?
It must be exhausting to be so opinionated.

I’d love to know if others agree or disagree with me…..? Any other suggestions?

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  • Sarah

    Harsh, my friend. I’m bummed there were only negative additions.
    4/27/2009 5:43 PM Sara (site) delete reply The list is fabulous. I’m an American with a Canadian husband, and I lived in Canada for 7 years. The only reservation I have about the list is the gun thing. Only a very small percentage of Americans actually carry a concealed weapon. Most Americans are opposed (http://www.gunguys.com/?p=885). And, that is kind of a regional difference as well. Guns are *very* unpopular in the Pacific Northwest, for instance (Texas is probably very different). Yet I would venture to say that this is the biggest misconceptions that Canadians have of Americans in general. And yes, our gun laws are *way* more relaxed than in Canada – so I can understand the perception.

    But I totally agree about the mad-as-a-wet-hen thing. Personally, I relaxed a lot after having lived in Canada and find I rant about things much less now. :) I think Brittaney is right… ever since the Boston Tea Party (when we first decided “We’re mad as hell, and we’re not taking it anymore!”) we have made outrage a national past-time. Funny. :) It’s good to laugh at yourself. And yes, we’re much bigger huggers – way more open and willing to talk to strangers. Making friends in Canada can be pretty dang hard. I always found it easier to make friends with other immigrants (none of which were American) when I lived there. On the other hand, no one ever yelled at me or gave me the finger while driving in the parking lot. :) That just doesn’t happen in Canada.
    5/22/2009 11:23 AM Sarah (site) delete reply Good afternoon. You are so funny. I read this all to Josh and we can so relate after living in California for 6 years:)
    5/22/2009 12:29 PM susanlepin (message) block delete reply I think it’s at least partially true. I personally turn off the television the minute any civilized discussion turns into interrupting and trying to speak over another person. I have no patience for it. Now…. we’re not mad about taxes. Taxes are necessary. What we’re ticked about is the way our politicians mishandle and misuse our tax money. And… there’s also a growing movement of people who want to give the fair tax a try.

    And… living in a rural area… I think rural America is pretty laid back. It’s the city folks who are the most angry, lol.
    5/22/2009 12:48 PM TheMoosePond (message) block delete reply Good post Sarah. I find this topic fascinating, but don’t have a very broad perspective as I am an American, and a Texan(you know that is separate from being American) living in America. I think sometimes that other nations might mistake our passion for anger. Although I wouldn’t disagree with you that there are alot of angry people, but I do think those who are truly passionate, get lumped in with those who are merely angry. Although after reading about the aftermath of the American Idol finale I wonder. I just want to yell, ‘It’s only television people!” Sheesh.
    5/22/2009 8:54 PM Brittaney delete reply

  • Sarah

    *WARNING – GROSS HYPERBOLE IMMINENT *

    I just want to say to ALL (there it is in case you missed it) my American friends AUSTRALIA ISN’T IN EUROPE!
    *grin*

    5/23/2009 5:36 AM Tez_T (message) block delete reply I really like this post Sarah. I find cultural differences fascinating. I would add that I think sometimes passion is mistaken for anger. I won’t deny that there are alot of angry people in America, but I also think that sometimes those who are truly passionate get lumped in with those who are merely angry. Americans are passionate but unlike the French our passion is focused on politics, causes and somtimes really stupid things too. For example, I’ve been reading the message boards and internet articles about the American Idol finale and good grief! You would think there was a conspiracy. I just want to yell, “It’s television people!” Sheesh.

    Anyway, now that I’ve read your post I’ve been thinking of some of the drawbacks/negative traits of being American. You’ve got me thinking. I might share later.
    5/23/2009 7:22 AM Brittaney delete reply Oops! Double posted. Sorry. My comment didn’t show up the first time, or so I thought.
    5/23/2009 7:23 AM Brittaney delete reply I wouldn’t mistake the tripe that comes from CNN, FoxNews, and MSNBC as news. In fact, it’s just the opposite. It’s really entertainment designed to look like news. Talk radio isn’t news either. Real news informs, it does not seek to persuade. If you want an example of what news can and should be, you need look no further than the nightly News Hour on PBS with Jim Lehrer. They go past the cheap sound bites and take a deep dive into stories, often spending 10-20 minutes on a single topic.

    I agree with Brittaney on the outrage issue. I think passion is sometimes mistaken for outrage. We all have causes that we embrace and internalize. They could be as trivial as rooting for the Dallas Cowboys or as meaningful as government fiscal and social policy. Unfortunately, as Americans, we often don’t do a really good job of separating the meaningful from the trivial in our own minds. It’s ALL important to us. But, I think that’s rooted in our culture to a great extent.
    5/23/2009 8:00 AM TRAIT (site) delete reply It is absolutely true that the outrage is born out of our fierce independence…and the onslaught nowadays to have that ripped from us.

    I guess after being the bastion of freedom and liberty and protecting and aiding the needy for over 225 years and now seeing those who do not value freedom try to break the USA down and tell us to be more like them–that will get us a bit outraged.

    Sarah..your stats on Americans not liking guns are not accurate. The question had to do with concealed carry in specific places. To label that as Americans not “liking guns” is not correct. Additionally, I would caution taking stats from advocacy groups that are on one side or the other. Here is some info. From NPR (a liberal bastion), no less.

    In a June 2008 poll taken by CNN, an overwhelming 87 percent of Americans opposed laws preventing all Americans from owning guns.

    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91966629

    We Americans overwhelmingly love our guns.

    5/23/2009 6:15 PM Venicestar (message) block delete reply

  • Sarah Bessey

    I’d agree with you, Mary, about the independence thing. But then why are they all so mad about even mundane ridiculous things?

  • Gina

    The major factor in this outrage issue has been slowly dawning on me, and I think I've finally figured it out. (And so help me, if you write the book before I do, you're *toast*.)

    It's about rights. Bottom-line. And about not giving them up. The whole "Don't Tread on Me" thing.

    We've been watching Rosemary & Thyme, a Brit mystery series and I've been surprised at the amount of times the characters defer to people insulting them.

    Imagine that! Deferring to someone else!! 8-l