# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![ProjectOmega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b487fb/32.png) [@ProjectOmega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ProjectOmega)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/41 "2003-03-23T20:44:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\*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. \*\* Sad, but true. By the 50’s, Canada had the third largest air force and the forth largest navy (or was it the other way around?) in the world. Canada’s opinion has never meant much because our Prime Ministers have been, as a general rule, spineless. No one cares what Canada’s opinions are because no one KNOWS what Canada’s opinions are. I was still confused as to Canada’s official stance on the war until a few weeks ago, even though the PM apparently made a statement long before that. Canada’s always been in the position of the peacekeepers, the shock troops, always as an additional arm to the “Big Boys”. Do I care, as a Canadian? Eh, sorta kinda. It would be nice to have Canada mentioned in international news stuff. You always hear what Spain, the UK, Germany, China, Russia, Italy, Kuwait and Latvia think about the war, but never Canada. On the other hand, international politics has never been Canada’s focus. We focus more of our energy inwards, on our own people, and as a result, have consistantly the top standard of living in the world. But, on the other hand, if staying out of the international sandbox means we sustain that standard of living, I don’t care. I’d take a small military and a soft voice over big tax cuts for the rich and a crumbling education system ---
**Author:** ![Lilairen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lilairen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lilairen)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/42 "2003-03-23T20:58:30Z")
I have a hard time wrapping my head around the notion that flag-burning is rude, offensive, or something to get wrung up about. It’s a legitimate protest action that I see as being (at least for the States) pretty fundamentally rooted in patriotic behaviour; its characterisation as something fundamentally unpatriotic or the like feels to me like a position of ignorance. So in the interest of dispelling same: The United States has a thing called the “Flag Code”, which is a set of instructions on how to treat the flag with appropriate respect. (Don’t let it touch the ground, don’t let it fly in the rain (except if it’s some new-fangled thing that isn’t subject to having its colours running), don’t fly it at night without a spotlight, appropriate ways of attaching it to a car if one displays it on a vehicle, that sort of thing.) And the way specified in that code for appropriate disposal of a soiled flag is . . . burning it. The origin of “flag-burning” as a protest in the United States is in reference to that code – to suggest that the actions of whoever or whatever the protestor is protesting have dirtied the flag sufficiently that it needs to be given a respectful funeral. (I have no sense of patriotism, but I’m big on the Flag Code. Funny the sort of thing upbringing instills, isn’t it?) Cite: [http://www.bcpl.net/~etowner/flagcode.html](http://www.bcpl.net/~etowner/flagcode.html) – see Section 4(k). ---
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/43 "2003-03-23T21:43:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spit \* > \*\*The thing is, the average american could give a fuck what Canada thinks. > > Sad but true. \*\* How many average Americans did you talk to about this? I had no idea that all my opinions were now coming from the font of all knowledge, the mighty **Spit**. :rolleyes: Anyway, I think Canadians burning our flags says the same thing as Americans burning our flags. It’s a cheap, easy and impressive way to say they disagree with what our country is doing. Waving a sign written in French (or any other language that I don’t speak) isn’t really going to affect me. My two cents ---
**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, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/44 "2003-03-23T22:39:42Z")
Once again proving that Alberta is the best province in Canada ( (-: ), at last night’s Oiler’s game the crowd cheered wildly after the American anthem was played. One fan was asked why he cheered, and he said, “I don’t agree with this war, but only a classless jerk would boo the flag or the anthem of our closest friend in the world.” ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/45 "2003-03-23T22:44:44Z")
> [@](#): > > our closest friend in the world …whether we like it or not. ---
**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, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/46 "2003-03-23T23:27:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lightingtool \* > \*\*How many average Americans did you talk to about this? I had no idea that all my opinions were now coming from the font of all knowledge, the mighty **Spit**. > \*\* I would bet my next paycheck that if we took a random poll of American citizens asking things like “How do you feel about US-Canada relations?”, “Where is Montreal in relation to Vancouver?”, “Should Canadian opinion be used with US policy?”, the majority would say they don’t know, and/or they don’t care. It is a sad fact that Canada does not garner vast amounts of respect from the average American- It’s just that place up there that has a lot of hockey, guys in red jackets on horseback, and that great tasting beer. Don’t ask me why things are like this because I do not know, but from personal conversations, opinions on this board, etc.; Canadians know a lot more about the US than people from the US know about Canada. And thanks for calling me by might rightful name- “Mighty Spit”. It pisses me off dearly when you folks don’t give me the kudos I so richly deserve. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/47 "2003-03-23T23:37:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spit \* > \*\*Nah, it’s penis envy because we have Florida. \*\* Yeah, but they can go to Cuba. ---
**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, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/48 "2003-03-23T23:38:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*Once again proving that Alberta is the best province in Canada ( (-: ), at last night’s Oiler’s game the crowd cheered wildly after the American anthem was played. > > One fan was asked why he cheered, and he said, “I don’t agree with this war, but only a classless jerk would boo the flag or the anthem of our closest friend in the world.” \*\* Last night the American anthem was also cheered in both Toronto and Montreal. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/49 "2003-03-23T23:55:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muffin \* > \*\*Last night the American anthem was also cheered in both Toronto and Montreal. \*\* Be nice to **Sam**. He’s an Albertan. Like Texans, Albertans need to be humoured with regards to their beliefs about the superiority of their home province/state. Informing them of the facts just makes them cranky. 😉 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/50 "2003-03-24T00:04:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ProjectOmega \* > \*\*On the other hand, international politics has never been Canada’s focus. We focus more of our energy inwards, on our own people, and as a result, have consistantly the top standard of living in the world. But, on the other hand, if staying out of the international sandbox means we sustain that standard of living, I don’t care. I’d take a small military and a soft voice over big tax cuts for the rich and a crumbling education system \*\* I hope your standard of living is high! Cuz it’s not like you can go outside for 9 months out of the year! ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/51 "2003-03-24T00:35:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by 2trew \* > \*\ ***ProjectOmega** , it was directed at you. > > The guy that posted after you was obviously either trying to be ironic or was stupid. Given the standards herebouts, I’ll take a chance on the irony. I’ll ream him or her later in another thread. \*\* Posters who know me know I’m definitely not a with-us-or-against-us zealot; so “yes,” it was intended as an ironic reply to flag burnings – the constitutional right of which is defended by the Constitution of the US. Too many Yanks get their panties in a bunch when furriners practice the same rights we so staunchly claim to stand for. Hope I didn’t offend our friends to the north, and I’ll try to work in a 😉 next time. ---
**Author:** ![ProjectOmega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b487fb/32.png) [@ProjectOmega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ProjectOmega)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/52 "2003-03-24T01:35:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LolaCocaCola \* > \*\*I hope your standard of living is high! Cuz it’s not like you can go outside for 9 months out of the year! \*\* Har har. Around here, we got a total of maybe 5-10cm of snow this year, spread over three snowfalls. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/53 "2003-03-24T02:03:00Z")
The flag is just a rag with some stripes on it. Not one person ever died because a flag was burned. Let’s save our outrage for stuff that actually matters in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/54 "2003-03-24T02:36:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gorsnak \* > \*\*Yup. While many Canadian militia units aquited themselves most admirably in many battles in the War of 1812, the expedition that burned Washington was all British regulars. We didn’t burn the White House. We did, however, send many invading armies packing. The myth that Canadians burned the White House is pretty firmly entrenched in Canadian folklore, though. \*\* For historical accuracy, we did the same when y’all invaded New York in that same war. Neither side was very successful at invading the other back then. Now, the stealthy way y’all occupy Maine every summer is another matter… 😉 ---
**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 24, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/55 "2003-03-24T03:31:22Z")
Maine? Here’s historical accuracy for you in that same war. The Americans in Calais (oops, that’s a French name) ran out of gunpowder, so the good Colonists across the St. Croix (oops, another French name) loaned them some. The lot of them had one hell of a fireworks celebration. ---
**Author:** ![Kitfox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@Kitfox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kitfox)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/56 "2003-03-24T04:27:36Z")
You mean…other countries’ flags burn? This is news to me… ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/57 "2003-03-24T05:11:18Z")
I can’t believe nobody’s brought up the quote from Kids in the Hall: “We [Canadians] burn our flag all the time – to keep warm.” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/58 "2003-03-24T06:47:23Z")
My first thought when I read the title of this thread was “I didn’t think Canadians cared enough to go to the trouble of burning American flags.” Americans don’t care what Canadians think; we don’t care much what Americans think, either. We’re separate countries, ya know. We have different rules, customs, wars, etc. For the record, though, I think Chretien made a huge mistake in not supporting Bush’s decision to go to war. All Chretien had to do was say, “Sure, we’re behind you 100%. We’ll send you all the troops we can” and send out a couple hundred grunts in a boat, and all is hunky-dory with our international relations with our closest neighbour. I don’t think Chretien understands the concept of a gesture (his mentor, Trudeau, certainly did, though). ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/59 "2003-03-24T07:26:09Z")
Featherlou… I am looking forward to meeting you guys the next time I find myself in Calgary. gestures… heh heh heh ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527/60 "2003-03-24T14:51:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spit \* > **It is a sad fact that Canada does not garner vast amounts of respect from the average American** I’m trying to think of a country that does. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-canadians-burning-american-and-british-flags/163527.md?page=4)