Just a different view from half way around the globe:

There is big Germany. A country with a lot of fight to form itself during
the last 300 years (resemblance recognised?).
But there is also Austria. The rest of a huge empire. At this moment: A
small country (8 millions on 80.000 km2).
Language (nearly) the same.
People (Austria and Germany) as different as Texans are from people in
Massachusetts (or US from Canada???).
Of course, we Austrians know that we are different and we talk about it
every second when meeting a German. Want some prejudices: Germans are
arrogant and Austrians are gentle. Germans are loud and Austrians play
music. Germans are winners and Austrians love life. Germans think and
Austrians laugh. German are intelligent and Austrians are social.

You know that Bavarians are also different. But, in reality, they just hate
the fact that they are in the same state as the rest of the Germans ....
Isn't it similar to Texas?

We, museum people, should make a not serious (but sometimes it seems that
humour is forbidden to enter museums) exhibition with the theme of
international comparison to the feelings of people. Who (New Zealand) hates
whom (Australia), who (Canadians) dislikes whom (US), who (German or Chicago
girls) loves whom (Italian or Texan boys) ...

Just contemplating

Peter, the giggling Rebernik
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-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: Kent Boese <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
An: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Datum: Mittwoch, 10. Februar 1999 22:07
Betreff: Re: O Canada


>This discussion is getting tired, yet to draw a parallel that many would
not probably think of immediately, this reminds me of my recent visit to
Australia and New Zealand.
>
>The Australians were wonderful hosts and did not say one negative thing
about New Zealand when I told them that I was headed there next.
>
>Yet, while in New Zealand I was constantly reminded how "superior" New
Zealand was to Australia. There were constantly snipes and (especially in
Auckland) occasional rude comments about Australia. Two young men in a book
store in Auckland went so far as to tell me that Australian's were "dicks
and convicts". (Their words not mine).
>
>Truth be told, it seemed like a "little country, big ego" complex to me.
This is not to say that the New Zealanders I encountered were not pleasant
or hospitable, just had this antagonism against Australia.
>
>I feel the U.S. and Canada are much the same way. Perhaps it is  due to the
fact that we are so similar that we have trouble seeing the differences.
It's not that I don't recognize Canada as a separate, wonderful, beautiful
country that has been hospitable during my visits.
>
>It's simply easy to forget that you are in a different country when the
phones work the same way, you still get the same TV networks, and the
language is so similar. I even have as many relatives in Canada as in the
U.S.
>
>I guess the bottom line for me...is that I don't see why we can't treat
each other with mutual respect. If I forget I'm a foreigner in Canada, that
should be a compliment to the hospitality of Canada - allowing me to feel at
home.
>
>Kent C. Boese
>[log in to unmask]
>
>
>>>> Elizabeth Watkins <[log in to unmask]> 02/10 3:08 PM >>>
>Sorry if _I_ sound cranky, but as an American who spent two wonderful,
>adventure-filled,
>wouldn't-trade-them-for-the-world-and-wish-I-could've-stayed-forever
>years doing a Master's in Canada, I got downright tired of seemingly
>every individual Canadian reminding me that Americans make poor
>neighbors [no "u"]  and are culturally,  politically, and behaviorally
>inferior to "the true North" and are as a whole  unpleasant members of
>the planet Earth. My experiences do not in any way support Ms.
>Wittrup's observations that Canadians don't consider themselves better
>than Americans. I honestly love Canada, but as a nation and a culture,
>it has an inferiority complex that must be dealt with in a more
>productive way than whining and sniping about the US.
>
>Another point to ponder: "Americans are benevloently ignorant about
>Canda, while Canadians are maliciously well-informed about the US." (I
>forget who said it.)
>
>Just my two cents.
>
>I should also add that Ms. Avdichuk is a long-time friend and mentor,
>and we've had this discussion many times. Hi Alex!
>
>-- Beth Watkins
>Master of Museum Studies
>University of Toronto, 1998
>
>
>_____________________________________
>Feel free to be offended.  I was, at Robert Handy's moronic comment
>masquerading as "good natured fun".
>
>Alex Avdichuk
>[log in to unmask]
>
>"The opinions expressed here are definitely my own, and if you don't
>like
>them, get some of your own."
>
>
>Sorry if I sound cranky, but Canadians are extremely proud of being
>different to Americans.  Not better or worse, different.  As a Canadian
>living in the US I get downright tired of the patronizing "aren't we all
>the same?"  Nope, we aren't.
>Susan J. Wittrup
>Volunteer Coordinator
>Tate Geological Museum
>Casper College
>Casper WY 82604
>"Robert T. Handy" wrote:
>> What?!!!  I thought Canada was just another state in the Union!  Are
>Canadians different from us?  :=>
>
>
>
>
>
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