Can West News Services, owners of several Canadian newspapers including the National Post as well as the Global Television Network commissioned a series of polls to determine how young people feel about the issues that were facing the country's voters. Dubbed "Youth Vote 2004", the polls, sponsored by the Dominion Institute and Navigator Ltd. were taken with a view to getting more young people involved in the political process.

In one telephone poll of teens between the ages of 14 and 18, over 40 per cent of the respondents described the United States as being "evil". That number rose to 64 per cent for French Canadian youth.

This being Canada, the amount of anti-Americanism that was found is not surprising. What is significant is the high number of teens who used the word "evil" to describe our southern neighbour. As Misty Harris pointed out in her column in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix, evil is usually associated with serial killers and "kids who tear the legs off baby spiders." These teens appear to equate George W. Bush and Americans with Osama bin Laden and Hitler, although it is unknown if the teens polled would describe the latter two as being evil. Whether someone who orders planes to be flown into heavily populated buildings would fit that description would make a good subject for a future poll.

The Liberal government came into power in 1993 gushing anti-Americanism. Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's communications director, Francoise Ducros, made headlines when she referred to President Bush as a moron. Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish was picked up on a boom microphone saying, "Damn Americans — I hate those bastards". Not only did Parrish not apologize for her remarks, but she later appeared on a television show hosted by alleged comedian Mike Bullard and laughed about the incident. Parrish played to the anti-Americanism of the youthful studio audience by saying that she couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't do it again.

Not only did then Prime Minister Jean Chrétien not take any action against his staff or caucus members, he himself engaged in America-bashing. The depth of his anti-Americanism surfaced shortly after the 9/11 attacks when he blamed the arrogance and greed of the West (read the United States) for those attacks.

When Paul Martin assumed office last December, the childish cheap shots ended but, if anything, anti-Americanism became stronger.

Anti-Americanism played a prominent role in the election strategy of the Liberals. Paul Martin portrayed himself as the saviour of Canadian medicare while saying that if Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada came to power they would introduce "American-style" health care. Martin was happy to take credit for cutting taxes and eliminating the deficit during the 1990s when he was Minister of Finance, but he referred to tax cuts included in the Conservative Party platform as being "American-style tax cuts". Canadians who favour lower taxes or the private delivery of health care services or smaller governments or anything similar to what is found in the United States were called "un-Canadian" by Paul Martin.

It is therefore not surprising that a high percentage of Canadian youth think that the United States is evil. Nor is it surprising that this feeling is more pronounced in Quebec where Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe said that he would rather live under the United Nations than the Stars and Stripes. The left wing Canadian political parties, aided by their supporters in the elite media don't seem to be able to say anything positive about Canada without denigrating the United States in the process.

The poll results reflect that anti-Americanism will be solidly entrenched in future generations of Canadians. As well as listening to the propaganda espoused by their political leaders and the media, these kids have no experience with what constitutes real evil. They live in a country that much like pre-9/11 America, thinks that terrorist attacks are something that happens in other countries. And as the World War II veterans slowly die off, they have no conviction of the evil that the allies risked their lives to defeat.

With anti-Americanism playing such a prominent role in this past election campaign, it is no wonder that the United States was viewed in such a negative light.

Arthur Weinreb is an author, columnist and Associate Editor of Canada Free Press. His work as appeared on Newsmax.com, Men's News Daily, the Drudge Report, Foxnews.com and The Rant. He can be reached at cfp@canadafreepress.com

September 29, 2004 -  According to a recent public opinion poll, most foreigners would vote for John Kerry for president. Citizens of thirty of the thirty-five nations surveyed prefer John Kerry for president. The poll was conducted from May to August, 2004 by GlobeScan, a Canadian research company, working with the University of Maryland and research institutes in each nation.

Kerry would win a landslide election in Canada. 61 percent of Canadians chose Kerry and only 16 percent chose Bush.

This is consistent with a May 2004, Ipsos-Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail poll that said, " …more than eight in 10 Canadians said they harbor a strong dislike for Bush. … nearly half (45%) said they believe that Canada's current relationship with Bush is worse than the country has had with any other American president in history. Seven-in-ten (70%) Canadians say the United States doesn't care how its actions impact Canada, and 75 percent do not believe that the American president even has a good understanding of Canada or of the Canadian people. "

A June 30, 2004 article by Canada Free Press said, " Can West News Services, owners of several Canadian newspapers, commissioned a series of polls to determine how young people feel about the issues that were facing the country's voters. Dubbed ‘Youth Vote 2004', the polls, sponsored by the Dominion Institute and Navigator Ltd. were taken with a view to getting more young people involved in the political process….In one telephone poll of teens between the ages of 14 and 18, over 40 per cent of the respondents described the United States as being ‘evil.' That number rose to 64 per cent for French Canadian youth.'

Why do Canadians hate President Bush so much? If you would like to know why most Canadians hate President Bush all you need to do is browse a Canadian bookstore.

During a recent vacation in Montreal, my daughter and I did just that. We went to the Chapters Bookstore, 1171 St. Catherine Street, Montreal. This store is located in the middle of Montreal's shopping and nightlife district - very close to McGill University and the University of Montreal.

My daughter was looking for some books to read during our trip and to learn exactly what it was Canadians like to read. What she noticed was that every Bush-bashing book ever printed was displayed prominently on the first floor near the main entrance to the bookstore.

The display contained a bilingual placard describing these books as "in the news.' Among the Bush-bashing books given prime shelf space were Al Franken's, " Lying Liars," Michael Moore's, " Dude Where's My Country.'

There were other books by lesser lights such as Molly Ivins', "Bushwhacked : Life in George W. Bush's America' and Maureen Dowd's "Bushworld: Enter at your own risk.' Although not household names, these two are syndicated, liberal columnists, who at least have some notoriety.

However, this display even included such books as Jim Hightower's, "Let's Stop Beating around the Bush,' which features a picture of Bush as the Devil. Hightower is not exactly a household name. Was anybody aware he wrote a book?

The Chapters' store management really had to use some creativity to arrange such a panoply of Bush-hating propaganda. Their political sympathies were displayed along with the books. Apparently, this was the only criterion for the arrangement. If it were not then it would be difficult to determine what was.

It could not be best-selling status. After all, Sean Hannity's, "Deliver Us from Evil : Defeating Terrorism, Despotism, and Liberalism, " or his "Let Freedom Ring' were not part of this section. Ann Coulter's ‘ Treason' was not displayed. Neither were, "Michael Moore Is a Big Fat Stupid White Man,' and "Unfit for Command' currently the most popular book available. All of these are or were bestsellers.

Yet, these books were available at Chapters. One needed to search for them though. They were located on the second floor in a remote corner of the store.

According to their website, Chapters " is the largest book retailer in Canada, operating bookstores in all provinces, under the names Chapters, Coles, SmithBooks, and World's Biggest Bookstore. Chapters is the top retail brand in Canada... "

Obviously, Chapters potential to influence Canadian public opinion is significant. It is just as obvious that Chapters is grinding an axe and that axe is trying to cleave President George W. Bush from the Canadian public.

While this admittedly anecdotal when considered with the fact that Fox News Channel is banned in Canada, it is easy to discern why Canadians do not like President Bush.

Commentary:
Not only has Bush divided the US but he's divided the world. There's a lot to be said about building consensus.