Canadian Anti-American Rhetorical Analysis

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Throughout the entirety of the Canada-US relationship there has existed a debate surrounding the concept of Canadians anti-American ideology. Graeme Hamilton, a journalist with the National Post, has argued that Canadians have been anti-American for as long as there has been an American to oppose. Anti-Americanism exists amongst a diverse group of Canadians, ranging from elite politicians to the average everyday Canadian and exists with varying levels of intensity. Because of the vast similarities between the two countries Canadian anti-American rhetoric has the defining element of differentiation. In comparison to anti-American rhetoric that exists in other countries, Canadians feel the need to vigorously express the differences that exist between the two countries, especially the differences that show Canada as superior to the United States. Although anti-Americanism can be seen throughout Canadian history, there is a fluctuation in the degree in which Canadians are anti-American which …show more content…
Because of the large influence that the United States has on important Canadian factors like the economy and culture, Canadians feel the need to express the differences that exist between the two countries in order to show themselves, as well as others, that Canada is an independent country that is not an exact copy of the United States. According to political scientist Harvey M. Sapolsky some forms of Canadian anti-Americanism can be described as “low grade anti-Americanism” which creates the image that Canada is kinder, gentler and more nuanced country in comparison to the United States. Regardless of the validity of this portrayed image of Canada, the argument that Canada and its citizens are superior to Americans because of their friendly, open and accepting personalities is often used as a way to differentiate between the two