Canada's strong anti-americanism

<p>I'm currently a college student in the US studying political science. My school has an exchange program with Mcgill University and I'm considering it. It would be a good opportunity to learn french plus the fact that McGill's university has a strong political science program which I'm thinking will help me if I ever apply to graduate school there or anywhere else. However I've heard that canadians can be quite strongly anti-american. For example I've heard from some american friends in Canada that there was a lot of glee after the 9/11 attacks with many canadians happy that america finally got what it deserved.</p>

<p>So folks what's the extent of anti-americanism among canadians and especially among people at McGill?</p>

<p>I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Canada, and have never seen a shred of what you’re describing. Canadians took care of a lot of Americans after 9/11, as many planes that were diverted from US airspace went there to land. Canadians have always welcomed me and my family when we’ve visited. I have no idea where you’re hearing these rumors, and I don’t think your source is credible. I’m sure there are lots of Canadians who are critical of US policies post-9/11, but that’s true of many Americans as well!</p>

<p>You might be conflating the social sport of tweaking their neighbors to the south with anti-americanism as a serious polcital and/or social movement.</p>

<p>If you cannot handle either good natured teasing (well founded. . . I mean, who else but “Americans” appropriate the name of an entire for the name of their country thus dismissing other true (north) americans) . . . or honest critques of the hazards of imperialism (we spend more than all other nations combined on defense so I guess we need foreign locations to use that might) . . . or resistance to what seem to the rests of the First World to be retrograde social policies (health care, anyone?) then it might not be the place for you.</p>

<p>What we’ve found among the quebecois is that as soon as they realize that we are not english-speaking canadians all is OK :-)</p>

<p>P.S. Use the interweb to research canadian reactions to 911 in THEIR newspapers . . . you might be surprised!!!</p>

<p>I’m a Canadian student at McGill, so perhaps I can be of help. I’ve never felt that Canadians are widely anti-American, although it’s certainly not unheard of. Some Canadians think that Americans are ruder, more stupid, or more bigoted - and there’s perhaps an undercurrent of antipathy toward our southern neighbours. But on the whole, I’d be surprised if you had any issues in Canada, at least compared to any other foreign country. </p>

<p>Some people will hold negative stereotypes of Americans wherever you go, but McGill is actually a place with a lot of Americans - our student population is 10% American. One of my close friends is American, and she certainly doesn’t seem to have had any issues because of it.</p>

<p>“For example I’ve heard from some american friends in Canada that there was a lot of glee after the 9/11 attacks with many canadians happy that america finally got what it deserved.”</p>

<p>I mainly made an account to reply to this part. From my perspective, that’s totally outlandish and unbelievable. I can’t say I know what your friends experienced, but while we’re farther removed emotionally from 9/11 than Americans are, the idea that any Canadian would have a remotely positive reaction is a foreign idea to me. I can say that personally, I’ve never seen a single person express that kind of sentiment.</p>