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Well, ya. I thought we were doing the blustery thing, you know, like the stooges..."oh ya!", "ya!!"
But I really didn't get your last post, so it's always better to ask. You know how it is with the written word in this type of forum, you can't see the expression of the person on the other end.
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Friends. 
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Way to go, belMarduk.
As you can see, themilum, we are not as defenceless as you thought we were. :)
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BelM:
I believe that what themilum was saying was that it was the US which pulled Canada's chestnuts out of the fires of WW II and prevented those chestnuts from being consumed by a totalitarian regime (either Cummunist USSR or National Socialist Germany.) No mention was made of Japan or Italy, I noticed.
What themilum may not realize is that Canada's military losses during WW II were approximately 50 percent higher on a per capita basis than the losses by the United States.
To wit:
Canada in 1941 had a population of 11.5 million, and lost either 39,000 or 40,000 warriors during WW II, depending upon which internet source you use. The US's 1940 population was 132 million, and the dead warriors totaled 295,000. Simple division shows us a death rate of 3.4 per thousand for Canada (using the 39,000 figure for deaths) and 2.2 per thousand for the USA. 3.4 is pretty close to 50 percent higher than 2.2. Actually 54.5 percent, but I think you get the picture.
It is commonplace for USA citizens to believe that the USA won WW II, and to be completely convinced that the world would be either fascist or communist had it not been for our involvement.
With all due respect to veterans of every stripe who fought to contain and defeat the Axis powers, the 295,000 deaths incurred by US citizens are truly dwarfed by the 21.3 million people who died in the USSR and the 11.3 million who died in China.
And while it's probable (though I am too lazy to get the figures) that the US's dollar expenditures exceeded those of most other countries on a per capita basis, it's my belief that the true measure of devotion to the cause is by the number of battle deaths. And the US was far richer than most other countries to start with. In comparison to Canada, I think it's safe to say that we bought our way to victory while Canadians bled their way to victory. This is not meant to disparage all those who gave their lives, but simply to point out that themilum's post may have been out of line.
TEd
TEd
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While I'm busy kissing a duck, Milo, I'm pointing out that you widened the screen again with your link to Alanis Morisette. As has been pointed out before and elsewhere, you can use this: http://tinyurl.comor this: http://snipurl.com/to shorten your link. Having to scroll back and forth on wide screens tires old eyes. As a young'un, you wouldn't know about that but please respect your elders. Thank you.
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Real funny, Milo.... and we should be sending France greetings cards thanking them for not being called "The Colonies" anymore... Bullmoose! Commonality is determined by shared beliefs and mutual history and customs not proximity.Don't forget... "pride" is one of the seven deadly sins. 
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In reply to:
Canada in 1941 had a population of 11.5 million, and lost either 39,000 or 40,000 warriors during WW II, depending upon which internet source you use. The US's 1940 population was 132 million, and the dead warriors totaled 295,000. Simple division shows us a death rate of 3.4 per thousand for Canada (using the 39,000 figure for deaths) and 2.2 per thousand for the USA. 3.4 is pretty close to 50 percent higher than 2.2. Actually 54.5 percent, but I think you get the picture.
Ted, in our schools in the deep south we learned of the bravery of the Canadian soldiers and of their high ratio of representation to the mutual cause of freedom in WWII, both in the number of casualties suffered, and in the per capita percentage of soldiers sent to fight the Huns.
Let no one call the Canadian people cowards unless they like me to spit on their shoes.
Now here's a little known fact: "More brave Canadians boys crossed the border into the states and joined the US Army to fight in Viet Nam than the number of pot-smoking US hippie kids who fled to Canada and hid out for the duration to avoid the draft."
And as for me, I wouldn't bother insulting our friends the Canadians if I did not admire them greatly and think them worth saving, would I?
Of course I wouldn't.
TEd, did you see the movie "PATTON"? Good movie.
Here is a long URL that I have made short...
http://tinyurl.com/2f3ed
Orginally...
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeeches/moviespeech
patton3rdarmyaddress.html
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Pooh-Bah
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As for the strong reaction to not wanting to be American, I don't want to be Polish, Argentinian, or Australian either. This does not imply a judgement about any other country just pointing out that Canadians too are patriotic. (Would it be rude to mention 1812? Nothing a Canadian hates more than being rude. )
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Well, that is true Zed. It doesn't matter what nation might beckon, I wouldn't want to be any nationality but Canadian. I love it here. I love the mix of people, I love the different characters from one shore to the other and to the other northern one too. Just as no-one is perfect, I realize that no country is perfect but I believe I live in a country that actually values my opinion, one in which I can, if I really wish, help change the things that need to be.
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oh Zed were you here for the long discussion of the war of 1812--my it was fun..
everyone had a slightly different perspective, (each was mostly true)...
i remember, having 'D'oh' revelation.. i knew the american history of the war of 1812, and i knew the peice of music, the 1812 overture(with the cannons) and i had never --well --put it together! i 'saw' the war of 1812 as new US against England.. (and yeah, there was this, mumble, mumble, attempted invation of Canada, mumble mumble.. (glossing over the details!) but i never considered (not at all!) the action in europe..
the thread was great fun.. and included lyrics from the pop song about the andrew jackson, and the battle for New Orleans.
i KNOW my knowledge of history is incomplete.. (and i have been to canada--and Know its not all 'frozen north' and mounties in red jackets riding in the forest, (and singing duets!) but...
It is the nature of people (and goverments run by people) to paint history with a rosy glow.
I can love my country, and still reel in shame at facts about how we treated the japanese during WWII, and how we are treating all to many foriegn born(or just foriegn looking) citizens now.
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