I was recently in Canada for a week with my family. What we found was that everyone is freakishly nice. Not "Stepford Wives" perfect nice, but just friendly, helpful nice. My mom described it as "devoid of assholes."
Two examples:
1. When we went out for sushi and were seated outdoors, we found that the umbrella on our table, unlike the others, would not move to block out the sun. There were only 4 tables outside in the first place, and the only other table that had a functional umbrella was too small. A group of three people, who were sitting at a larger table, said that they had been expecting some more people, but they probably weren't going to show up, and they offered us their table! We were completely shocked. Nothing like this had ever happened to us in the U.S.
2. We were driving along one evening, when my sister had to go to a bathroom. My dad pulled over and double parked in front of an alley near an organic food store/cafe. While we were waiting for my sister, I noticed that we were blocking someone who was trying to get out of the alley. She probably hadn't been there more than 15 seconds. In the U.S., this woman probably would have started screaming at us and honking, but noooooo... she waited there patiently until we realized she was there. This is the scariest part, when we moved out of her way she smiled at us and waved at us as she drove off. Now in the U.S., if you're in a car and you're in someone's way for more than two seconds, all hell breaks loose.
I also noticed that restaurant service was a lot slower than in the U.S. As our vacation went on, I realized that it wasn't actually SLOW, it was just a lot more relaxed. We're just so impatient here in the U.S.
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Posts in chronological order
"Typical Canadian coward's wrong facts."
While I don't think that Queenzone is an appropriate place to discuss politics, I'd like to respectfully remind you, scott_mercury, that it was Canadian Embassy staff in Iran who granted sanctuary and safe passage to US Embassy staff who managed to avoid capture by the Iranian "students" who held US citizens captive for more than a year in Tehran, starting in November of 1979. At great personal risk, the Canadian embassy staff shielded the US personnel and got them safely out of Tehran on Canadian passports. Up until then, Canada had been considered a kind of "neutral" country. When it became known that they shielded the US Embassy personnel, they relinquished that. For us.
I don't know about your personal experiences with Canadian citizens, but as a US citizen, I'll never forget what those Canadian Embassy staffers did for our Embassy staff, and I would think twice before calling any Canadian a coward.
--Cindy
i tell u why the US doesnt get Queen. because they are too much for them. i give a good example of the difference in the UK and the US the US are really stuck in the mud like the Janet Jackson Justin Timberlake showing a nipple thing, over here it would be a bit of fun in the US they went mad. anyone would think they machine gunned kittens on that stage or something. i mean what was all that about. Whats the fuss? if they cant handle that they cant handle Queen im sure
"Typical Canadian coward's wrong facts."
While I don't think that Queenzone is an appropriate place to discuss politics, I'd like to respectfully remind you, scott_mercury, that it was Canadian Embassy staff in Iran who granted sanctuary and safe passage to US Embassy staff who managed to avoid capture by the Iranian "students" who held US citizens captive for more than a year in Tehran, starting in November of 1979. At great personal risk, the Canadian embassy staff shielded the US personnel and got them safely out of Tehran on Canadian passports. Up until then, Canada had been considered a kind of "neutral" country. When it became known that they shielded the US Embassy personnel, they relinquished that. For us.
I don't know about your personal experiences with Canadian citizens, but as a US citizen, I'll never forget what those Canadian Embassy staffers did for our Embassy staff, and I would think twice before calling any Canadian a coward.
--Cindy
Tack onto that the Canadian involvement in WWI and WWII.
The Battle Of Vimy Ridge? That was all Canadian.
Some of us U.S. dwellers DO get it. I got it a LONG time ago. And I still get it. As I said a couple of weeks ago in a very similar thread, the U.S. doesn't appreciate Queen the way the rest of the world does, and the bottom line reason for it was because Queen's music is too intelligent for the average American. Face it - the average U.S. newspaper is written on a sixth grade level, the most popular TV shows are reality shows, the most popular music is (c)rap or whatever marketing strategies they are using to target the teens to 25 year olds...I was born in the 60's and have been a Queen fan since I heard Killer Queen in '74 - I have no desire to listen to whatever's out now and will only be out for the next 5 minutes - it all sounds the same and it's terrible. There's no variety in the music of today. Queen kept and held my attention because they dabbled in all different kinds of musical styles - they weren't afraid to try to do something that didn't have a 'rock' lable on it - and that's why they kept my attention this long. I don't just listen to rock and roll - I like Latin Jazz/flamenco styles, Brazilian, Classical, I live for FUNK (and yes, Hot Space IS one of my favorite Queen albums - see - ALBUMS - I AM OLD), reggae, and yes, rock and roll - basically anything that isn't country or (c)rap and I'm happy.
I GET IT PEOPLE AND I LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES.
Hopping off my soapbox now....
I GET IT PEOPLE AND I LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES.
Hopping off my soapbox now....
... the U.S. doesn't appreciate Queen the way the rest of the world does, and the bottom line reason for it was because Queen's music is too intelligent for the average American ....
I don't buy that for a moment. Average Americans are equal in intelligence to any average human being.
These assumptions that American culture is inferior, that Americans are less intelligent etc. are offensive.
Try to consider Queen's role in their lack of popularity in the U.S. after 1982.
They stopped touring North America after 1982. They made little attempt to connect with their North American fans. Out of sight out of mind.
There was a surge in Queen's popularity in the U.S. following the release of Wayne's World and following Freddie's death. People were aware of Queen again and their music had become available due to Hollywood Records. There are still some hardcore North American fans and there are new fans.
Clearly some in the U.S. do get it.
Wait and see how Queen + Paul Rodgers do in North America. They may do quite well but not if they ignore North America after the 2 shows in the autumn.
Well, the US is the richest colony in the world, and also the only country with complete freedom. Why else would we have millions of immigrants a year and mexicans jumping over the border eery day?????????/
U idiots..
U idiots..
Oh, and compared to the regalness af the great USA, Queen is miniscule. And you all are just too obsessed to realize that. Queen is awesome, but the US DEFINITELEY comes first. Queen is really just a dead gay guy and a bunch of old drug/sex addicts. They really aren't "too smart" for any country.
QUEEN ISNT ROYALTY!!!!!
Tack onto that the Canadian involvement in WWI and WWII.
The Battle Of Vimy Ridge? That was all Canadian.
Canada are to afraid to fight terror and doesn't do anything but get America to protect you.
Ummm...how do you know that Canada isn't fighting terrorism?
Because we aren't involved in Iraq?
Need I remind you about the LARGE Canadian involvement in Afghanistan right now.
Yeah, that's right, Afghanistan. The FIRST place that was bombed.
Speakin' of which, there were also the four Canadians that were killed in a training exercise.
By Americans.
Were they cowards? Or was the bomber pilot a fcukin' moron?
And is it just me, or are wars on words not really winable?
War On Drugs...
War On Terrorism...
War On Poverty...
All seem to be losing battles...
One more thing that just occured to me: who said the Americans are protecting us? We have our own military, thanks.
Then again, countries that don't piss off other nations and militant groups don't need that much protection.
BUT allow me to say something IN the United States' favour, Scott.
They aren't stupid.
Not in the least.
Just mis-prioritized.
Turn on a sports radio show, and revel in the astounding retention of facts.
If only other subjects in the world were as intriguing to the American psyche as sports, then we'd have some freakin' geniuses on our hands.
And then we have the case that the MINORITY of people in the United States have said they don't favour Queen. Namely, the people you've spoken to, the staff of Rolling Stone, etc.
All told, that can't be more than, what, 10,000 people tops?
In a nation of over 300,000,000, that is a teensy minority.
That's a lot of people who haven't had their opinion collected. Or who don't know about Queen.
So, maybe some kinda "Queen Lives!" campaign is in order for next year (Freddie's 60 b-day, and the 15th anniversary of his death), to raise interest, and sell tix for the NA tour of Q+PR.
They aren't stupid.
Not in the least.
Just mis-prioritized.
Turn on a sports radio show, and revel in the astounding retention of facts.
If only other subjects in the world were as intriguing to the American psyche as sports, then we'd have some freakin' geniuses on our hands.
And then we have the case that the MINORITY of people in the United States have said they don't favour Queen. Namely, the people you've spoken to, the staff of Rolling Stone, etc.
All told, that can't be more than, what, 10,000 people tops?
In a nation of over 300,000,000, that is a teensy minority.
That's a lot of people who haven't had their opinion collected. Or who don't know about Queen.
So, maybe some kinda "Queen Lives!" campaign is in order for next year (Freddie's 60 b-day, and the 15th anniversary of his death), to raise interest, and sell tix for the NA tour of Q+PR.
There are alot of variables anbout why the USA didn't ''get it''.
But first I want to say that I have been a fan of Queen since 1975, when I was 14 when I first heard and saw BoRhap, and I, myself, my friends and my Mom (RIP who turned me on to Queen) all pretty much knew from the get go that Freddie was Gay and never cared at all. We just loved the music. Maybe, and I want to rfeiterate, that MAYBE it is become I from what they term a blue state, Maryland, which is moderate and Queen played/toured here many times in the 70's and in the early 80's.
However, in terms of why the US didn't get it?
Again, a laundry list of variables. Not the best business/professional judgement and dicsions after they switched from Elektra...to and by both Capitol Records and Hollywood Records, Capitol Records payola scandal, Queen flopping with Hot Space, but not jumping right back on the horse and pushing The Works and AKOM right after their gazillion free PR to ride on from their show stealing performance at Live Aid, while the iron was still hot in the USA's minds...Queen losing relevance in the 1980's as they entered their 30's and didn't make the effort to overtake the upstart younger/newcomer music artists emerging on the mid to late 80's scene to keep attaining the NEW youth/teen markets while still mainstaining their original older fans, not doing press (not counting when Freddie got ill), not doing PR appearances, their different sense of humor, and of course the good old fashioned small narrow mindededness of bigoted/bible thumping/homophobes about Freddie being gay.
BUT...there is something else I want to bring into this. While I am not a fan of Oasis big time, I do think they are great songwriters. And the reason Oasis flopped in the USA market was their infighting and brawling and dissing every music artists on earth except the Beatles.
BUT..Oasis did make ONE mistake, one variable that Queen also made, that Oasis, now in their 30's, are only just realizing and working VERY hard to repair.
Liam, has always hated doing press (like Freddie did), and Oasis has always hated doing good will PR in store appearances (which Queen also hated doing).
Now...Liam is doing TONS of press, and in each interview, he openly admits and addresses that Oasis F**ked up in this area from the mid 90's til now. In one interview in Billboard Magazine...Liam also brings up a GOOD point that Queen failed to recognize or maybe did recognize, but refused to address.
...Which is as Liam says and admits, that the people and market of the USA...are an entirely different animal than that of the UK and Europe. He says that the people/market of the USA is a ''tender flower'' that needs alot of attention, good will PR, good will Interviews and press, good will in store appearances, all of which Oasis is only NOW doing. Last Friday, Liam even did an interview with 104.1, an indie teensy radio station here in Maryland, he was lovely and gracious. Who'd a figured, right? The DJ, Mathew Blades, after the interview also expressed how pleasantly surprised he was at Liam's being so open to do and in an in depth interview, and with a teensy, local, indie radio station. Oasis has also been doing a junket across the USA doing in store autograph signings and performing at places like Tower Records...and get this...Walmart!
Yes, maybe it sucks that the USA market, mentality, people are so very, very different in this PR regard. But...whether you are, or are not a fan of...
...U2...or The Rolling Stones..want to know why they STILL are as relevant and big in the USA as the 20 something new bands, in the age of rap and hip hop? Why they can still sell out 30,000 to 50,000 seat stadiums at $200 a pop?
Because U2, The Rolling Stones, Sir Paul McCartney (who is starting his sell out USA stadium tour in the USA 9/16/2005,) Coldplay, Oasis...do tons of PR and make themselves relevant to kids, teens, new USA audiences by doing in store appeara
But first I want to say that I have been a fan of Queen since 1975, when I was 14 when I first heard and saw BoRhap, and I, myself, my friends and my Mom (RIP who turned me on to Queen) all pretty much knew from the get go that Freddie was Gay and never cared at all. We just loved the music. Maybe, and I want to rfeiterate, that MAYBE it is become I from what they term a blue state, Maryland, which is moderate and Queen played/toured here many times in the 70's and in the early 80's.
However, in terms of why the US didn't get it?
Again, a laundry list of variables. Not the best business/professional judgement and dicsions after they switched from Elektra...to and by both Capitol Records and Hollywood Records, Capitol Records payola scandal, Queen flopping with Hot Space, but not jumping right back on the horse and pushing The Works and AKOM right after their gazillion free PR to ride on from their show stealing performance at Live Aid, while the iron was still hot in the USA's minds...Queen losing relevance in the 1980's as they entered their 30's and didn't make the effort to overtake the upstart younger/newcomer music artists emerging on the mid to late 80's scene to keep attaining the NEW youth/teen markets while still mainstaining their original older fans, not doing press (not counting when Freddie got ill), not doing PR appearances, their different sense of humor, and of course the good old fashioned small narrow mindededness of bigoted/bible thumping/homophobes about Freddie being gay.
BUT...there is something else I want to bring into this. While I am not a fan of Oasis big time, I do think they are great songwriters. And the reason Oasis flopped in the USA market was their infighting and brawling and dissing every music artists on earth except the Beatles.
BUT..Oasis did make ONE mistake, one variable that Queen also made, that Oasis, now in their 30's, are only just realizing and working VERY hard to repair.
Liam, has always hated doing press (like Freddie did), and Oasis has always hated doing good will PR in store appearances (which Queen also hated doing).
Now...Liam is doing TONS of press, and in each interview, he openly admits and addresses that Oasis F**ked up in this area from the mid 90's til now. In one interview in Billboard Magazine...Liam also brings up a GOOD point that Queen failed to recognize or maybe did recognize, but refused to address.
...Which is as Liam says and admits, that the people and market of the USA...are an entirely different animal than that of the UK and Europe. He says that the people/market of the USA is a ''tender flower'' that needs alot of attention, good will PR, good will Interviews and press, good will in store appearances, all of which Oasis is only NOW doing. Last Friday, Liam even did an interview with 104.1, an indie teensy radio station here in Maryland, he was lovely and gracious. Who'd a figured, right? The DJ, Mathew Blades, after the interview also expressed how pleasantly surprised he was at Liam's being so open to do and in an in depth interview, and with a teensy, local, indie radio station. Oasis has also been doing a junket across the USA doing in store autograph signings and performing at places like Tower Records...and get this...Walmart!
Yes, maybe it sucks that the USA market, mentality, people are so very, very different in this PR regard. But...whether you are, or are not a fan of...
...U2...or The Rolling Stones..want to know why they STILL are as relevant and big in the USA as the 20 something new bands, in the age of rap and hip hop? Why they can still sell out 30,000 to 50,000 seat stadiums at $200 a pop?
Because U2, The Rolling Stones, Sir Paul McCartney (who is starting his sell out USA stadium tour in the USA 9/16/2005,) Coldplay, Oasis...do tons of PR and make themselves relevant to kids, teens, new USA audiences by doing in store appeara
The States where colonized by Puritans in the 1600s and they always believed that they were the chosen ones and that they were always right in everything. That is despotism and the US suck real hard.
the us sucks?
ok, if that kind of stuff is appropriate on here, then:
Canada is the gayest country out there...every one who lives in canada has absolutely no taste in good music
Canada are stupid just because of some stupid myth from god knows when that says they thought theyre the chosen ones, and even though i know its a myth, im going to stereotype them just because im some stupid stuck up jerk who feels like its appropriate to say that another country sucks just because its not the one i live in
but im not going to really say that because im not a stupid stuck up jerk who feels like its appropriate to say that another country sucks just because its not the one i live in
Wow, sweden_man.
Thanks for not insulting my country. ^_^
Thanks for not insulting my country. ^_^