Yes, Rick Mercer is one of the world's best satirists right now. Yes, although we're all good friends, the USA does things that totally irritate their Canadian cousins (and vice versa I dare say). And YES, people should know more about Canada. This does well in portraying some of American's ignorance of Canada, which is more scary than it is funny. Sure.
But, he seems to miss three faults in which his logic holds.
1) Some people would say anything that seems relevant just to get on television and, despite anything they may think they know of Canada, go with what Rick Mercer tells them because afterall, he's supposedly a Canadian journalist and wouldn't lie on TV. So when he tells them Canada is building the "Peter Mansbridge", they may remember a newsanchor by that name, but it must have been misunderstood because "this Canadian actually tells me it's a real bridge". 2) People don't want to look the fool on television, so will go with what he says without argument if they cannot walk away. For example, George Bush JR. and PM "Putine". (Although he may have misheard Mercer too.) 3) The producers may cut out the people who actually call Rick Mercer's bluff on TV. After all, it's not funny when Americans are actually smart.
And there is also one more very vital flaw. Something even more frightning than American's ignorance on Canadian culture. And that is Canada's ignorance on Canadian culture! Ask someone from Ontario what the Bluenose is. Ask someone from southern BC who the first three leaders of this country were. Ask someone from the Maritimes if they know what a "cougar" is. Will they say "a mountain lion"? And can you name at least ten Canadian actors who still do most of their work *in Canada*? Yes, Rick Mercer should do a special on the Americanization of Canada and call it "Talking To Fellow Canadians". Then it won't seem so funny.
But, he seems to miss three faults in which his logic holds.
1) Some people would say anything that seems relevant just to get on television and, despite anything they may think they know of Canada, go with what Rick Mercer tells them because afterall, he's supposedly a Canadian journalist and wouldn't lie on TV. So when he tells them Canada is building the "Peter Mansbridge", they may remember a newsanchor by that name, but it must have been misunderstood because "this Canadian actually tells me it's a real bridge". 2) People don't want to look the fool on television, so will go with what he says without argument if they cannot walk away. For example, George Bush JR. and PM "Putine". (Although he may have misheard Mercer too.) 3) The producers may cut out the people who actually call Rick Mercer's bluff on TV. After all, it's not funny when Americans are actually smart.
And there is also one more very vital flaw. Something even more frightning than American's ignorance on Canadian culture. And that is Canada's ignorance on Canadian culture! Ask someone from Ontario what the Bluenose is. Ask someone from southern BC who the first three leaders of this country were. Ask someone from the Maritimes if they know what a "cougar" is. Will they say "a mountain lion"? And can you name at least ten Canadian actors who still do most of their work *in Canada*? Yes, Rick Mercer should do a special on the Americanization of Canada and call it "Talking To Fellow Canadians". Then it won't seem so funny.