So Jerry Springer says to the UK 'leave Europe and become our 51st State?'
What do you reckon?
Quote by LeCygneNoir
Well, it's been a while that the UK has been pretending that, no, that's definitely not the french coast you can see from Dover and really they're an island in the middle of the Atlantic so...You never know.
Quote by Buz
Wouldn't that be cool? Especially considering that our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, is about us winning a battle against The UK. Sent 'em packin' back to not so merry ole England after that one. We were a bit ticked as the Brits had just burned our capitol building and the presidential palace. We couldn't get the burn marks off the presidential palace, so we had to paint the damn thing white. It became known as The White House. We followed all that up by giving The UK the worst battle drubbing in their military history at The Battle of New Orleans.
Don't believe everything that you read.
Quote by Just_A_Guy_You_Know
Many of those Brits were actually Canadians while we were still technically a British colony (remember Britain was actually engaged with fighting Napoleon at the time, which was a bit closer to home for them). In the war of 1812, the US was actually the aggressor in fact, believing they could annex Canada... ahem... "liberate" Canadians from British tyranny, only to find out we weren't really interested in being Americans (does the 'we'll be greeted as liberators' rhetoric sound familiar? Americans have been using this line for 200 years!). Resisting the American invasion was actually a major catalyst in the development of the Canadian national identity, which eventually led to confederation about 50 years later. Since the US wanted to invade Canada, and then didn't, we view the war as a victory for Canada. We also have the proud distinction of being the only people in history (and most likely forever) to burn down the white house. To be fair, you burned down our parliament buildings first in Toronto, resulting in us moving the capital to Ottawa... because who the hell really wants to travel all the way to Ottawa?
Quote by Just_A_Guy_You_Know
Many of those Brits were actually Canadians while we were still technically a British colony (remember Britain was actually engaged with fighting Napoleon at the time, which was a bit closer to home for them). In the war of 1812, the US was actually the aggressor in fact, believing they could annex Canada... ahem... "liberate" Canadians from British tyranny, only to find out we weren't really interested in being Americans (does the 'we'll be greeted as liberators' rhetoric sound familiar? Americans have been using this line for 200 years!). Resisting the American invasion was actually a major catalyst in the development of the Canadian national identity, which eventually led to confederation about 50 years later. Since the US wanted to invade Canada, and then didn't, we view the war as a victory for Canada. We also have the proud distinction of being the only people in history (and most likely forever) to burn down the white house. To be fair, you burned down our parliament buildings first in Toronto, resulting in us moving the capital to Ottawa... because who the hell really wants to travel all the way to Ottawa?
Quote by HeraTeleia
We do try.
That said, the most surprising thing I learned in this thread is that Jerry Springer is a) still alive and b) still on television.
Quote by BethanyFrasier
How 'bout if Texas carries out its heretofore empty threat to secede from the union (don't let Oklahoma hit you on the way out), and we add Puerto Rico instead! That way we don't have that awkward problem of where to place the 51st star on the flag.
Quote by Buz
Love me some Canadians!
Jerry Springer is an interesting guy. His parents were Jewish folks who escaped from Germany during the Holocaust era and came to the USA. He had grandparents and other relatives die at the hands of the Nazis in the Holocaust.
Springer was once a political campaign advisor to Bobby Kennedy. And Springer once unsuccessfully ran for US Congress. He used to be mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, a major city. He has made a large fortune in the television business.
Quote by ChuckEPoo
Damn! You impress me Buz. Interesting history lesson. That was kinda a bad century for the UK.
Quote by Buz
As it worked out, the USA, the UK, and Canada seem to have learned a long time ago, how to get along with each other and thrive as allies.
In fact, according to your bio, it looks as if you choose to reside in Nebraska now. Myself, I am very fond of Canadians and British people. I have thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality in both places. And I must add, that Canadian hospitality is always outstanding.
Don't believe everything that you read.
Quote by Just_A_Guy_You_Know
Becoming one nation would be great, but instead of us becoming the 51st state, you should consider becoming the 11th through 60th provinces. Given the choice between Trump and Trudeau, you know it makes sense.
Quote by HeraTeleia
Shannon, thank you very much for the offer to "merge" the U.S. with Canada, but Canadians as a whole are not super keen on that, for assorted reasons. It would make much more sense to make Puerto Rico the 51st state; it's not all "debt and crime", it's also spectacular wildlife refuges and Punta Gorda and some amazing land.
The "Canadian Lemmings" cartoon is spot-on, though.
Quote by Warlock
My thought is there are too many huge states and too many tiny states. So my plan would be to divide California into 3 states; Texas into 4 states; Montana into 2 states; split West Virginia between Ohio and Virginia; combine Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut; combine New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington, DC, Maryland. And let's cut that screwy tip off of Idaho and give it to Washington. Forget the UK. They talk funny and don't carry guns.
Quote by Buz
It's funny, but not funny, that too many Americans don't know Canada is a separate nation