After watching Team Canada beat Team USA the other night in the 4 Nations competition (hey, deja vu!) I was in town the following morning and was keenly aware of all the Canadian Flags. I’m sure they were all there before, but even in the rain, in conjunction with the last few weeks’ news, I was struck with a nostalgic sort of patriotism. In terms of national emblems, the Maple Leaf is humble but it adorns millions of uniforms and bodies (in tattoo form). A subtle “I’m your friend, and if that changes, it’s on you.” Patriotism without braggadocio.
Then, a couple of years ago, our flag was commandeered by *checks notes* a bunch of mouth-breathing assholes. The Freedom/dumb Convoy as they/we called themselves were a group of dips hits drove their pickups across Canada to the capital to protest the pandemic, or masks, or probably something racist if you gave them a couple minutes of airtime. But, inasmuch as the rest of this country saw these twerps as “not us as a nation”, you (or while in an interracial relationship. at least I) couldn’t help but keep an eye on the guy getting out of the truck with the flag flying from it. (They later pivoted to a “F*ck Trudeau” sticker, but OF COURSE they used the Maple leaf in place of the U.)
Now though. The country has united. I have conservative friends that have said they would fight for Canada against whatever that old orange weirdo can throw across the border. The only Canadian I know that thinks the “51st State” now lives in Mexico. You know, like a coward might.
Canada has always been seen by our neighboUrs to the south as a punchline at best. Simpsons, South Park. Bob and Doug. Hell, SNL overall (huge shoutout to Mike Myers last night though!). I don’t know what the future holds but whatever this syphilis-addled “president” wants, I doubt he’ll be on the front lines himself - what with the bone spurs. And the benefit of living in a resort town is that we get a bunch of Americans here, and they all seem of sound mind (i.e. not looking to sign up to the forces to invade). Doug Ford of all people had a great line: “Canada won’t start a fight with the US, but you better believe we’re ready to win one.”
So come and take it Donny.
(You can keep Drake though)