4 ms·

>He absolutely didn't want to experience anything Canadian, because everything American is obviously superior. Did he tell you that or are you just talking out

by J3L2404 15y ago

>He absolutely didn't want to experience anything Canadian, because everything American is obviously superior. Did he tell you that or are you just talking out of your posterior? >ICE is a serious problem for America. No, ICE is a minor problem for rich people with an inflated sense of entitlement.

halostatue 15y ago
The specifics of this situation was that my wife was declaring several bags of ketchup-flavoured potato chips, which are quite popular in Canada but virtually unknown in the U.S. My wife said that a lot of people liked them, and his statement was something on the order of "they can't be that good because they're not available in America." So, yes: he told my wife that he believes that products available in America are superior to products available in Canada; it's not a far stretch to say that he "absolutely didn't want to experience anything Canadian, because everything American is obviously superior." Further, it's also not a big stretch to suggest that this man should be cycled back to the U.S. because he's an absolutely horrendous ambassador for Americans. Your other statement ("ICE is a minor problem…") is complete nonsense given the discussion at hand. ICE is often the first American face a foreigner sees coming into the U.S. The arrogance (and other negative attributes) displayed by many ICE officers is absolutely a problem for America, because it's a bad impression. I don't travel much to the U.S. (at most once or twice a year, and sometimes less despite the fact that most of my extended family is in the U.S.), and as an American citizen I can't be refused entry. Inasmuch as that matters, I don't care how asinine these folks are. However, I care deeply when the first view of Official America that a foreigner gets is someone with a bad attitude and distrust and/or dislike for non-Americans. (I also think that any ICE officer who is stationed in a foreign country needs to act like they like that foreign country and skip the whole America First act that I've seen far too often at Toronto Pearson. It's offensive.) EDIT: I'm rather offended that your immediate assumption is that someone is making something up when they say something. Maybe you haven't experienced it, but the Ugly American Syndrome is alive and well. It bothered me as a U.S. military brat when my father was stationed in both the Netherlands and in Japan, and it bothers me as an adult expat (and now dual citizen). America's a great place and has great people, but if you work for the government and are stationed in a foreign country, you are America to the people you're around. Act like you're representing your country well and don't be an ass.
- J3L2404 15y ago
  >I'm rather offended that your immediate assumption is that someone is making something up Well you could have included the entire story in the first place, but it sounds like sarcasm on the part of the agent. And there are much bigger problems like poverty and healthcare, so if you need to feel righteous indignance maybe start there.
  - halostatue 15y ago
    My wife is a teacher, and is fairly good at detecting vocal sarcasm. She said he sounded earnest in his statement. I've heard similar things throughout the years said by Americans. You're right: America has many problems, some of which will be unsolvable in any reasonable amount of time. Given that America prides itself on being an immigrant nation, I would suggest that ICE attitudes are fairly important. Fortunately, these problems aren't either/or problems, but often both/and. Improve the ICE experience (and other immigration-related problems) and you might find it easier to have someone come in who can meaningfully help solve problems like American poverty and healthcare. I don't have to deal with America's healthcare insanity—I have quality healthcare here in Canada. I don't have to deal with America's poverty problem—I am more worried about Canada's aboriginal poverty problem. The way that my life intersects with America these days is primarily ICE and related agencies. It's not a surprise that my worries about America would be in the areas where it affects my life directly.

by J3L2404 15y ago

halostatue 15y ago

The specifics of this situation was that my wife was declaring several bags of ketchup-flavoured potato chips, which are quite popular in Canada but virtually unknown in the U.S. My wife said that a lot of people liked them, and his statement was something on the order of "they can't be that good because they're not available in America." So, yes: he told my wife that he believes that products available in America are superior to products available in Canada; it's not a far stretch to say that he "absolutely didn't want to experience anything Canadian, because everything American is obviously superior." Further, it's also not a big stretch to suggest that this man should be cycled back to the U.S. because he's an absolutely horrendous ambassador for Americans. Your other statement ("ICE is a minor problem…") is complete nonsense given the discussion at hand. ICE is often the first American face a foreigner sees coming into the U.S. The arrogance (and other negative attributes) displayed by many ICE officers is absolutely a problem for America, because it's a bad impression. I don't travel much to the U.S. (at most once or twice a year, and sometimes less despite the fact that most of my extended family is in the U.S.), and as an American citizen I can't be refused entry. Inasmuch as that matters, I don't care how asinine these folks are. However, I care deeply when the first view of Official America that a foreigner gets is someone with a bad attitude and distrust and/or dislike for non-Americans. (I also think that any ICE officer who is stationed in a foreign country needs to act like they like that foreign country and skip the whole America First act that I've seen far too often at Toronto Pearson. It's offensive.) EDIT: I'm rather offended that your immediate assumption is that someone is making something up when they say something. Maybe you haven't experienced it, but the Ugly American Syndrome is alive and well. It bothered me as a U.S. military brat when my father was stationed in both the Netherlands and in Japan, and it bothers me as an adult expat (and now dual citizen). America's a great place and has great people, but if you work for the government and are stationed in a foreign country, you are America to the people you're around. Act like you're representing your country well and don't be an ass.

J3L2404 15y ago
>I'm rather offended that your immediate assumption is that someone is making something up Well you could have included the entire story in the first place, but it sounds like sarcasm on the part of the agent. And there are much bigger problems like poverty and healthcare, so if you need to feel righteous indignance maybe start there.
- halostatue 15y ago
  My wife is a teacher, and is fairly good at detecting vocal sarcasm. She said he sounded earnest in his statement. I've heard similar things throughout the years said by Americans. You're right: America has many problems, some of which will be unsolvable in any reasonable amount of time. Given that America prides itself on being an immigrant nation, I would suggest that ICE attitudes are fairly important. Fortunately, these problems aren't either/or problems, but often both/and. Improve the ICE experience (and other immigration-related problems) and you might find it easier to have someone come in who can meaningfully help solve problems like American poverty and healthcare. I don't have to deal with America's healthcare insanity—I have quality healthcare here in Canada. I don't have to deal with America's poverty problem—I am more worried about Canada's aboriginal poverty problem. The way that my life intersects with America these days is primarily ICE and related agencies. It's not a surprise that my worries about America would be in the areas where it affects my life directly.