Re: CHAT: "have a Canadian day"

Matt Pearson wrote:

> It's interesting that when Americans talk about the War of 1812, they
> speak of it as a war against the *British*, not the (British) Canadians.
When Usonians learn about the causes of the war, we mostly hear about imperial
actions like impressment of U.S. sailors, especially those born in Ireland
and other parts of the Empire.  (The U.S. had pretty lax
naturalization procedures at that time, and the Empire didn't recognize them.)
Then, of course, there was that piece of silliness the Battle of New Orleans,
which involved mostly English soldiers.

> I guess this makes sense, insofar as Canada was a British colony at the
> time, but it seems to imply that there were no Canadians involved in
> the war at all--or that all of the people living in Canada at the time were
> British.
"In politics, obedience and support are the same thing."
        --Hannah Arendt

But yes, it's usually said that "the British" burned Washington -- and the
fact that this was retaliation for the burning of Toronto is downplayed.

> It seems that the Americans' determination to ignore Canada extends
> even to discussions of wars which were fought with Canada.  :-)
Yup.  To say nothing of the Fenian invasion.

--

Schlingt dreifach einen Kreis vom dies! || John Cowan <jcowan@...>
Schliesst euer Aug vor heiliger Schau,  || http://www.reutershealth.com
Denn er genoss vom Honig-Tau,           || http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
Und trank die Milch vom Paradies.            -- Coleridge (tr. Politzer)