# Holy shit, Canadians burning American and British flags! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 23, 2003, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527 "2003-03-23T07:21:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/21 "2003-03-23T12:29:11Z")
I don’t understand. It’s an inept way four people (presumably more) have chosen to express how they disagree with US and UK policy. You want to make a big deal out of kids enacting simplistic, media-friendly, clichéd to the point of embarrassment ‘symbolic’ protest pieces to camera ? I wonder if the media supplied the flags and fuel this time ? Fwiw, if anything, I’d tend to worry about the lack of imagination in the education system. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/22 "2003-03-23T12:36:37Z")
Here is a Newsweek article that does a pretty good job at explaining why Canada and other nations are not too thrilled with the USA. It goes a lot deeper than just the Iraq issue, and has everything to do with Bush’s foreign relations. The article is well worth reading top to bottom: [http://www.msnbc.com/news/885222.asp](http://www.msnbc.com/news/885222.asp) ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/23 "2003-03-23T13:26:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gorsnak \* > \*\*The myth that Canadians burned the White House is pretty firmly entrenched in Canadian folklore, though. \*\* I would say that most Canadians are aware that it’s the Brits who burned the White House, but that we love to keep this myth alive in view of how much it annoys the Yanks 😛 ---
**Author:** ![finn1911](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d78d45/32.png) [@finn1911](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/finn1911)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/24 "2003-03-23T13:35:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by peepthis \* > \*\*What, is America, Jr. still mad we wouldn’t let them be the 51st state? \*\* This is exactly the type of attitude that makes people dislike americans. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/25 "2003-03-23T14:35:47Z")
Nonsense. Everybody loves America. If they know what’s good for them. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/26 "2003-03-23T14:55:12Z")
I used to get offended by flag burning though I’ve always seen it as a protected form of speech. Over the years I’ve seen so many American flags burned on television that it really doesn’t have the same impact it once did. I still don’t like it but it just doesn’t bother me these days. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/27 "2003-03-23T17:33:53Z")
peepthis - We have a certain portion of our population vocally protesting against the war in Iraq and a small number of those have decided that burning American and British flags is an acceptable means to deliver their anti war message. This is a small percentage of our population. If asked, I believe that you would find that an overwhelming percentage of the population would oppose the idea of becoming the 51st state. Many of us prefer to be referred to as “Satan’s little neighbour” and not America Jr. 🙂 And to Spit: we seem to have invaded Florida without any bloodshed at all… ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/28 "2003-03-23T17:34:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by finn1911 \* > \*\*This is exactly the type of attitude that makes people dislike americans. \*\* The thing is, the average american could give a fuck what Canada thinks. Sad but true. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/29 "2003-03-23T17:44:39Z")
I have to agree: I don’t see why burning a flag is more offensive than “freedom fries.” And, to be fair, the British only burned the “White” House after we torched one of their Parliaments. 1812 was not exactly the greatest war in our history, which is why most history books barely cover it. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/30 "2003-03-23T17:50:46Z")
Let them burn their Canadian made Union Flags/Jack. I don’t care (I cannot speak for Old Glory) ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/31 "2003-03-23T17:52:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spit \* > \*\*The thing is, the average american could give a fuck what Canada thinks. > > Sad but true. \*\* I’d have to say the same for Brits. Not nice. But fact. (or ‘sad but true’ but that had already been said) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/32 "2003-03-23T18:26:20Z")
Hell, people in Canada have been known to enjoy burning CANADIAN flags. At least one Canadian flag was publicly burned in my hometown of Kingston, Ontario during Gulf War 1.0. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/33 "2003-03-23T18:43:29Z")
Just a guess, but I think that Canadians tend not to be as wrapped up in their flag as Americans are in theirs. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/34 "2003-03-23T18:59:56Z")
The thing is, Canada’s Prime Minister, through dismantling our armed forces has ensured that NO ONE gives a shit what Canada thinks. Canada used to have a very large, very professional armed forces. It’s no coincidence that Canada also had a large and powerful position in world geopolitics. Now we send two ships to the Gulf, and they have to share a helicopter between them because one crashed due to crappy maintenance and we didn’t have a replacement for it. And now, surprise surprise, no one cares what we think any more. Thanks, Jean. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/35 "2003-03-23T19:38:46Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Gorsnak_ > The myth that Canadians burned the White House is pretty firmly entrenched in Canadian folklore, though. What!? Dammit, that means we’re going to have to find a whole new pretext for Operation Arctic Moose. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/36 "2003-03-23T19:42:39Z")
It’s Operation Softwood ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/37 "2003-03-23T19:45:24Z")
—Let them burn their Canadian made Union Flags/Jack. I don’t care (I cannot speak for Old Glory)— Their flags and our flags are likely made in the same place: Korea. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/38 "2003-03-23T19:57:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*The thing is, Canada’s Prime Minister, through dismantling our armed forces has ensured that NO ONE gives a shit what Canada thinks. > > Canada used to have a very large, very professional armed forces. It’s no coincidence that Canada also had a large and powerful position in world geopolitics. Now we send two ships to the Gulf, and they have to share a helicopter between them because one crashed due to crappy maintenance and we didn’t have a replacement for it. > > And now, surprise surprise, no one cares what we think any more. > > Thanks, Jean. \*\* But the USA does not care what any nation thinks, regardless of military capability. If Canada had a strong military, I doubt that it would make any positive diifference as to how the USA regards Canada. Moreso, if Canada had a strong military then Canada’s refusal to get involved in Iraq would be even more grating to the USA. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/39 "2003-03-23T20:24:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*The thing is, Canada’s Prime Minister, through dismantling our armed forces has ensured that NO ONE gives a shit what Canada thinks. > > Canada used to have a very large, very professional armed forces. It’s no coincidence that Canada also had a large and powerful position in world geopolitics.\*\* What nonsense. Canada has never had a “large and powerful position in world geopolitics” except in the fantasies of Canadians who think the Avro Arrow could fly to Mars (and for that matter, I don’t know what size you consider “very large,” but Canada’s always been a pipsqueak compared to the U.S.) Even at the end of WWII, when Canada’s military was at its peak of relative strength, Canada’s opinion mattered for approximately jack squat. Who got the fourth chunk of Germany to administer? France, the country that sat out most of the war. As if the difference between a 60K man army and a 90K man army would really register on the U.S. radar screen. Give us a break, Sam. It would make no difference at all; the U.S. doesn’t care, never cared, probably never will. When we do help the U.S., they don’t notice and don’t give a shit anyway (cf. Bush’s post-9/11 snub in fron of Congress.) Deal with it; you can lick their boots all you want, but they won’t love you. ---
**Author:** ![KarmaComa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@KarmaComa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarmaComa)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/40 "2003-03-23T20:34:24Z")
Just forget about Montreal. Those goddamn frenchies are a bunch of racists. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527.md?page=3)