Pipestone Flyer
With Canada Day just entering our rearview mirror, it is worth noting what some famous non-Canadians have said about our fair country. Most of it’s complimentary, while some of what’s been said as been downright surprising.
The Unanimous Voice of the Continent is "Canada must be ours; Quebec must be taken." – John Adams (Former US president 1776)
“As always, Canada will now bury its war dead, just as the rest of the world, as always, will forget its sacrifice, just as it always forgets nearly everything Canada ever does. It seems that Canada's historic mission is to come to the selfless aid both of its friends and of complete strangers, and then, once the crisis is over, to be well and truly ignored. Canada is the perpetual wallflower that stands on the edge of the hall, waiting for someone to come and ask her for a dance.” – Kevin Myer, British Journailst.
“There are no limits to the majestic future which lies before the mighty expanse of Canada with its virile, aspiring, cultured, and generous-hearted people. World.” – British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
“I've been to Canada, and I've always gotten the impression that I could take the country over in about two days. “ Jon Stewart, American Comedian, host of The Daily Show.
“I don’t even know what street Canada is on – American gangster Al Capone, when asked about an alleged hideout in Canada.
“It is as queen of Canada that I am here. Queen of Canada and all Canadians, not just one or two ancestral strains.” – Queen Elizabeth II, hat fancier.
“Our forms of government - though both cast in the democratic pattern - are greatly different. Indeed, sometimes it appears that many of our misunderstandings spring from an imperfect knowledge on the part of both of us of the dissimilarities in our forms of government.” - Dwight Eisenhower, Former US president in an address to parliament in 1958.
“I believe the world needs more Canada.” - Irish rocker and activist Bono.
"I'll get us that oil from Canada we deserve!” – US Republican Presidential hopeful, Mitt Romney.
"I'll get us that oil from Canada we deserve! Don't worry, our drones attack swiftly." – US left-wing documentary maker Michael Moore.
“Canada is one of the planet's most comfortable, and caring, societies. The United Nations Human Development Index cited the country as the most desirable place in the world to live. This year a World Bank study named Canada the globe's second wealthiest society after Australia.” – Time Magazine.
“Americans are a decade behind Canada when it comes to sex education and understanding their bodies.” Sue Johanson, TV and radio sex therapist.
“Not so much in Canada, but certainly in the US, as I'm sure you know, money is all, and if they can get another 26 programs of the same thing even though it advances the culture or those actor's careers not at all it doesn't matter. – Rowan Atkinson, British comedian known as ‘Mr. Bean’.
“The acquisition of Canada this year, as far as the neighborhood of Quebec, will be a mere matter of marching, and will give us experience for the attack of Halifax the next, and the final expulsion of England from the American continent”. – Thomas Jefferson Former US president and candidate for the Optimists Club (1812).
“Canada sets aside 36 percent of their visas for people with skills they think their country needs. We set aside six percent. We educate the doctors, and then don't give 'em a green card.” –US Financial expert Michael Bloomberg.
“I view the relationship with Canada as a vital relationship for the United States. The relationship, of course, is defined government-to-government. It's also defined people-to-people, and there's a lot of people in my country who respect Canada and have great relations with Canadians, and we intend to keep it that way.” – Former US president George W. Bush.
“President Bush left for Canada today to attend a trade summit. Reportedly, the trade summit got off to an awkward start when the president pulled out his baseball cards.” – Conan O’Brian, American comedian and talk show host.
“Canada has shown the world how to balance freedom with compassion and tradition with innovation, in your efforts to provide health care to all your citizens, to treat your senior citizens with the dignity and respect they deserve, to take on tough issues like the move afoot to outlaw automatic weapons designed for killing and not for hunting”. - Former US president Bill Clinton.
“We don't come to Canada for our health. We can think of other ways of enjoying ourselves.” -British Royal Prince Philip.
“Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners. And necessity has made us allies. Those whom nature hath so joined together, let no man put asunder. What unites us is far greater than what divides us.” – John F. Kennedy, former US President, 1962.