Fake Canadians go home

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9-01-2009 @ 2:03PM

JP said...

Sean,

You should be proud that so many Americans adore your country by wearing Canadian flags. Let's be real though, in some areas, Americans are despised more than any nationality in the world. For one, Americans have placed their foothold throughout the world unlike any other nation - politically, economically, socially and militarily - we can debate the intentions and whether it's evil or causing suffering at another time...But to deny that fact that Americans "aren't as hated as they think" is total opinion.

Factually speaking, when is the last time a Canadian, German or British Embassy overseas was attacked by terrorists? Do we forget 9/11 already? I know there have been terrorist attacks in other nations, but the magnitude and targeting of Americans has been greater than any other "Western" nation. Yes there have been the Madrid bombings and the incidents recently in Jakarta. But do we forget the US Embassy bombings, kidnappings and high jacking of a TWA flight in Lebanon in the 1980s? How about USS Cole? What about the US Embassy bombings in the late 1990s in Africa that put al-Qaeda on the map?

It's true suicide bombs and fragmentations have no discrimination on race or nationality. But unfortunately for many Americans, they have been targets of kidnapping, victims of bombings, and other unfortunate events, particularly overseas. It is true other Westerns are constantly targeted as well, but to have the title of being perceived as public enemy #1 would make some Americans double think who they say they are "Americans" to. Plus most Americans can't pull off British or Aussie accents - so we default to Canada. You’re right in the sense that most people throughout the world are more than helpful and cordial to all nationalities. But the truth is, Americans have been, and will continue to be targets of opportunities - that’s just life outside the Western world and sometimes being a “Canadian” can save that. So here’s to you and the rest of the Canadians – thanks for being such a good neighbor! Please don’t take offense.

Just another proud American…

9-01-2009 @ 2:29PM

Sean McLachlan said...

JP,

Thank you for your rational and measured response. You're right that my statement that Americans aren't as hated as they think is pure opinion, but it is an opinion developed over twenty years of travel and being mistaken for American (thanks to the accent thing you mentioned). Of course, saying Americans ARE as hated as they think is opinion too. There's really no way to measure these things other than lots of time on the road in supposedly anti-American cultures.

It's true Americans are the number one enemy in some countries, but lets not forget the attacks on other nationalities. For example, the 2005 bombings in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. One American was killed, but also 11 Brits, 2 Germans, 6 Italians, one Czech, and one Israeli. The bombers were obviously targeting Westerners in general. There are many other examples of this kind.

And I don't think that Americans wearing the Canadian flag are doing it because they adore my country. They're doing it because they want to hide behind my country. It's a bad choice anyway. Canadian troops are constantly in the line of fire in Afghanistan, so we're not as neutral as we used to be.

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