Actually, Justinian, you just might not be evaluating culture from a utilitarian perspective enough. 

1: Around the world, culture is easily the definition for the boundaries of 90% of nations (the US and the Middle East are exceptions, but we can get to those if you want).  Japanese people primarily live in Japan.  French people live in France.  German people live in Germany.  Notice the pattern?

There's a reason behind this: Ever notice how the nation-state thrives through unity of the people?  Nations with strong cultural heritages, such as Germany, are able to keep the people unified behind them because the people can identify with the government.  Nations with weak national cultures (Austria-Hungary would be a good example), in contrast, create disassociations between the state and the people.  That's a formula for general unrest in the society.

Now, specifically, Canada is a perfect example.  Remember the Quebec secession movement?  A solid case of cultural disunity.  Canada could easily be trying to fight against Quebec's secession through cultural assimilation.

> Blind Guardian wrote:

> Canadians have culture? <

I lol'd (at the hypocrisy).

I believe the above are the three most useless posts ever!  Pat yourselves on the backs, guys!  You all get the award!  No go celebrate by giving yourselves vasectomies so future generations can't attempt to duplicate those posts!  X(

Are we done derailing the subject?

Zarf > second greatest idiot.

whether or not Canadians have culture is relevant to this topic. If they are mutts, then their regulations that protect their culture are just plain silly.

Bomb the lot

Stinkbombs, since they're NATO

stinkbombs, you mean like fat gassy americans? because we have those up the yin

From what I gather, the only real unifying aspect of Canadian culture is anti-Americanism (and I do not mean that disparagingly). But it almost seems an afterthought on top of their multiculturalism, as if to reassure themselves that they are still nothing like their multicultural neighbors to the south (despite overwhelming similarity).

"thats true of all first world countries. they feel the need to slander America inorder to prevent even large percentages of their populations from flocking to it."

That actually makes sense. Seeing as how most european countries do not have fast growing population. They wouldnt want to lose people to the US or any other country for that matter. And it seems like their population has grown sick and tired of immigrants. Slandering America is a way to maintain your population.

> BiefstukFriet wrote:

> Why would Europeans, other than the ones in the agricultural bussiness, flock to the US?

im not gonna go into specifics, but simply there are differences between the US and every european country; some of these differences, people think its better how the US does it. Some of the people that beleive that would be tempted to move here. To stop this, they are flooded propaganda by the state to encourage them to stay in the country and preserve the states power. Sure people still move here and live here, but at a substantially reduced rate.

with the improvements in technology, transportation has become so easy, you would think people would be more willing to move to a different country then ever before. but that really isnt the case because of stronger and stronger governments influencing their population's opinions on just about everything.

Now for some Americans on this forum this may sting but the Canadian government's efforts to preserve Canadian culture have very little to do with you.  Take some time to recover from the shock.  While it is true that it is partially an effort to prevent the Americanization of the country, it is mainly in place to protect us from ourselves.  The government's official policy has always been to allow and encourage those who come to our country to retain and honour their native culture forcing them only to conform to ours in so far as need be for the purposes of work, commerce, etc.  This policy is one many Canadians are very proud of however it does run the risk of our culture being subverted by those coming in.  As such the Federal and Provincial governments take measures to protect and preserve distinctly Canadian culture.

"whether or not Canadians have culture is relevant to this topic. If they are mutts, then their regulations that protect their culture are just plain silly."

I find this an interesting sentiment.  Are you saying that it is impossible for a unique culture to rise from a blending of other cultures?  That it must somehow arise spontaneously?  I realize this is off topic but I just find it odd that someone could look at something as fluid and dynamic as culture and deem that it could be nothing more than the sum of it's parts.

"From what I gather, the only real unifying aspect of Canadian culture is anti-Americanism (and I do not mean that disparagingly)."

Sir I take offence to that.  We also have beer, hockey, curling, maple syrup, anti-Quebecism (outside Quebec anyway), and an impractical politeness .

that impractical politeness is a myth; doesnt actually exist. its like saying sasquatch is a Canadian. Canadians are rude as hell. just look at dps's post "Now for some Americans on this forum this may sting but the Canadian government's efforts to preserve Canadian culture have very little to do with you. " thats polite?  this is what Canadians are like, take it from someone 20 mins from Canada http://www.hulu.com/watch/73399/king-of-the-hill-uh-oh-canada?c=Comedy

that sir is insulting to beer lovers across the globe.

btw, the link to a comedy show is a clue that my response wasnt serious either