Poll: over 40% of Canadian
teens think America is evil
Canada Free Press
by Arthur Weinreb, Associate Editor June 30, 2004
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
No Wonder Foreigners Dislike
Bush
The Rant.us
Michael Tremoglie
September 29, 2004
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.
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