Some American tourists are flagjacking; Canadians are not amused

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

“Flagjacking” is the term used for American tourists who sew a Maple Leaf on their gear and pretend to be Canadians, to avoid the stigma of being an American abroad.

The practice was common in the early 2000s, then declined.

It’s on the rise again, as reported by CNN:

As one Canadian podcaster states:

2

As someone of Hispanic descent from South Texas, I could probably get away with pretending to be Mexican, but I doubt that actual Mexicans would be amused.

3

Meh, Carney has it covered…

4

I thought “flagjacking” had a whole different meaning that I won’t get into here.

5

I’m pretty sure the Americans who sew Canadian flags on their gear don’t think America is the greatest country on earth. Personally, I’m ashamed to be American right now. Although, I’ve just been apologizing, not pretending I’m from somewhere else.

6

Puzzlegal said exactly what I was going to say: the Americans who flag-jack do so because they know America isn’t great. It’s not MAGA folks doing this.

7

Even in the 80s US backpackers in Europe did this.

8

True American patriots wouldn’t leave the Lower 48 to take a vacation.

Wonder the odds of whenever 45/47 sends his legions to invade Canada that they also sew Canadian flag patches onto their knapsacks?

9

We need to a quiz to expose these flagjacking bastards. What are five questions only a true Canadian could answer?

10

Some suggestions …

  1. What is homo milk?
  2. Not including bowling alleys, what is a gutter?
  3. Do you use a napkin or a serviette?
  4. How do you like your coffee?
  5. What did your grandmother call a sofa?

Answers:

  1. What Americans call whole milk.
  2. An eavestrough.
  3. Serviette. At least, when I was a child.
  4. Crisp.
  5. Chesterfield.

Well, it’s a start.

11

Well, I’m pretty sure that actually counts as a war crime, so, pretty good?

12

“Sing at least two verses of any Stompin’ Tom song,”

13

Yep I’d flunk entirely.

14

I like it, but maybe not idea of singing the verses. Rather, ask about the subject matter. For example:

  1. When do the girls go out to bingo and the boys get stinko?
  2. What is Margo’s cargo?
  3. Who rolls down the highway smilin’? (Bonus point: Where does the trip begin?)
  4. Where did Tom expect to find the cigarette trees?
  5. What bridge came tumbling down, causing the chaplain to spread 19 scarlet roses?

Answers:

  1. On a Sudbury Saturday night.
  2. Cow manure.
  3. Bud the Spud. (Bonus: Prince Edward Island.)
  4. Tillsonburg, Ontario. (Ontario’s tobacco country.)
  5. Second Narrows Bridge, in Vancouver (while under construction; 19 workers died.)
15

What’s Geddy’s “real” name (like, um… born with, eh?)

Take off, you Hoser!

16

You know, music might provide an interesting series of questions:

  1. What road did Bruce Cockburn take in at a glance?
  2. Where did Neil Young go, because weather’s good there in the fall?
  3. What did the Rankin Family ascend in the four-wheel drive?
  4. Name the Acadian singer who scored a disco hit in 1976. (Bonus: Name the song.)
  5. Where were the Guess Who runnin’ back to?

Answers:

  1. Toronto’s Yonge Street, “Coldest Night of the Year.”
  2. Alberta, “Four Strong Winds.”
  3. Gillis Mountain, “Gillis Mountain.”
  4. Patsy Gallant. Bonus: “From New York to LA.”
  5. Saskatoon.

Gee, this is fun!

17

I’m going to get shot by my own side…

18

Is it about shame? I was always told it was for practical reasons, claiming American tourists would be mistreated due to stereotypes about them.

And I saw this claim both from Americans and Canadians who wear the maple leaf flag abroad, with neither one wanting to be treated like the “ugly American.”

19

That was, Like a trick question, Eh?

20

I’ve met four American tourists in the past year (that is, met to speak to beyond ‘hello’ - three while we were out hiking in this country and one when we were in France). All of them managed to work in ‘we didn’t vote for Trump’ into the early part of the conversation.