Canada Vs. the U. S.

In 1867, Canada's Fathers of Confederation dedicated their country to "peace, order, and good government." Meanwhile, the ideals set out in Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence were "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." These very different sets of ideals have allowed Canada and the United States to grow up with significantly different characters and perspectives. Although both countries share a border and play the same sports, eat the same foods, watch the same movies, and are alike ethnically, they think and act very differently. Different laws, concerns, and approaches to dealing with issues and conflict show that Canada and the United States are not at all as similar as they are sometimes perceived to be.

As far back as the American Revolution, the United States proved that it was a country of confrontation and war when it sought to gain independence quickly and violently. In contrast, Canada gradually and peacefully gained sovereignty in 1867. Granted, it did take much longer, but independence was achieved without fighting any wars, without committing memorable atrocities, and without losing hundreds of thousands of lives. To this day, both Canada and the United States are recognized for the very different ways they go about resolving problems: the United States in a very direct and selfish manner, and Canada in a very peaceful and harmonious manner. This is demonstrated in the very different position both countries take on internationalism. When the United States announced that they would lead an invasion of Iraq, they were surprised and even outraged to find out that Canada would not be tagging along. Canada refused to get involved without U.N. approval, believing in coalition, while the United States felt it had the right and even the responsibility to invade Iraq despite what others may think. It's not just international issues that Canada and the United States manage differently. They have different laws and systems revealing what is really important to them and how they feel. Canadians seek to better their country through group rights and public institutions. They balance individual interests with a sense of collective responsibility, making decisions that benefit the community, and not just the individual. South of the border, Americans are motivated by individual rights and achievement, putting their personal interests and concerns first. These characteristics have allowed Canada and the United States to take very opposite stands on a variety of issues. Laws concerning gun control, capital punishment, drugs, sharing of music via the internet, and same-sex marriages reflects the difference between Canadians and Americans. The United States allows its citizens the right to carry guns, putting the protection of the individual first with the belief that every person has the right to protect him or herself. Canada, however, sees the situation very differently, realizing that guns among the public result in more deaths, negatively affecting society as a whole. In the United States there are a wide range of penalties and enforcements concerning drug possession, but in Canada, penalties have been eased for small amounts of drugs and increased for large amounts.

There has been much debate about same-sex marriages in both Canada and the United States. States such as Massachusetts and San Francisco have recently declared same-sex marriage legal, while the province of Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec have done the same. In Canada, there is no move to alter the Canadian Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage, and in fact, half of all Canadians agree with the Prime Minister's support of a federal law legalizing same-sex marriage. Canada's healthcare system is one of the biggest factors distinguishing it from the United States. Both countries began debating the idea of universal health care in the 1930's. While the idea was abandoned many times by American