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CANADA
Living in
the
shadowof
theGIANT
The unique relationship be–
tween Canada and the United
States has been
a
general/y
unrecognized model of
na–
tions living in peace . Today
that relationship is undergo–
ing its severest tria/. Yet,
Ca
nada and
A
merica
can
resolve their differences if
they are willing to make the
necessary sacrifices.
by
Richard
C.
Peterson
A
CATCHY
RADIO
COMMERClAL,
sponsored by a local Savings and
Loan Association, is currently
making the rounds in Southern Califor–
nia.
The ad begins with two people con–
versing. One, a representative of the
S.
&
L., asks the other, a customer, over
the backyard fence, "What do you think
about our company ?" The customer,
preoccupied with a stubborn lawn
mower, replies curtly,
"1
don't! Why
should I? They never give me any
problems. !'ve got
other
things - like
this lawn mower - to think about
!"
To the customer, his savings associ–
ation was dependable and predictable,
but in his daily struggle in Jife, it was
rather inconsequential. It just quietly
went about its business - all the while
earning him a nice interest return on his
account.
Canadiao-U.S. Para llel
For years this kind of attitude has
been typical of many Americans re–
garding their Canadian neighbor.
No rational, knowledgeable American
would ever question Canada's immense
importance to the United States -
once
he thinks
abo11t
it. But that's precisely
the problem in the eyes of sensitive
Canadians.
With American eyes focused on one
crisis after another around the world,
Canadians have somehow escaped being
given the attention they deserve in
American thought. After
all,
Canada
"doesn't give the U. S. any problems."
But, it could, unless a sober re–
examination of the unique Canadian–
U. S. relationship is undertaken .
Glaring Ignoraoce
Not long ago, a survey was published
revealing the results of a test given to
two thousand youngsters - half of
them from Canada, the other half from
severa! American states along the Cana–
dian bordee. The results were rather
start ling. On one question, the thousand
Canadian youths were asked to name
the U. S. capital. Nine hundred ninety·
one did so correctly. On the American
side, however, only one third could
identify Ottawa as the capital of
Canada.
Answering another question, one
lone Canadian failed to name the Amer–
ican President. But again a mere one of
three students south of bordee could
identify the Canadian Prime Minister.
Asked to name two states, the Cana–
dians were successful in nearly every
case. But only 68% of the Americans
- again all of them living in states
bordering on Canada - could correctly
identify two provinces.
Canadians claim that they are
ignored and simply taken for granted
by their more populous neighbor to the
south. This point was painfully illus–
trated last October when President
Nixon told newsmen, after conferring