measi's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- International ettiquette Sometimes I wonder what happened to the days where we were taught to stand up straight, with our hands over our hearts (and gentle correction if we were off), and to stand quietly while our national anthem played, as well as any other nation's anthem that may be played at the same time. Was this just part of my Montana upbringing, and not done anywhere else? Or is it just that I was a rare American imprinted with a deep respect for sacred things of all nations-- one of the largest ones being a national anthem, regardless of what country it is. You stand there, quietly and respectfully, while another country's anthem is being played. If you're not following the basketball or the hockey playoffs, you're probably unaware of the storm brewing every game, and how behavior that has never exactly been called-for because of its complete lack of class is now becoming really ugly. But let's start with the real reason here for so much pain, and then we'll go into the salt that's being rubbed in the wounds: While most Canadians are more than well-aware of the incident, this all started with a tragic casualty of war over in Afghanistan last week. Four Canadian soldiers were killed and eight wounded when a U.S. figher jet mistakenly dropped a 500 pound bomb on them during a Canadian training exercise. It's one of those nasty events that has happened in wartime many times-- friendly fire. Only this time it was not on a battlefield. It was during training. And that rubs it in a bit more. On top of that, ol' Dubya didn't even bother to acknowledge the incident or apologize to Canada through not one, but five public appearances the following day, as if deaths from other countries fighting by our side mean nothing to this country. Maybe to Bush, it doesn't. However, when our vigilante justice president made his announcement that countries were either with us or against us, and Canada came with us, that didn't give Bush, nor the United States, the right to shit on our neighbors to the north. They had casualties of war, and just as we've seen ours on the news with remarks made, their sacrifices-- particularly when its by our own hand-- should be acknowledged as well. These were the first casualties of war Canada has suffered since Korea. Just think about that for a while. We're talking two generations here. It's a hard blow of reality back into what war does. Canada was not involved in Vietnam, other than as a neighboring country to the United States, whose men avoiding the draft escaped to their country. Canada was not part of the Gulf War. Those were both United States wars. I think the United States citizens seem to forget that sometimes. So while Canada is reeling from this nasty dose of reality from war, and the snubbing by the president of the nation whose military is responsible for it, sports events go on as usual-- hockey and basketball. And in both playoffs, there are Canadian-American team face offs. This past Sunday, Detroit played Toronto in the NBA playoffs. And while there was wild cheering for the United States anthem, the crowed booed "O Canada" from beginning to end of the song. This on the day that the bodies of those soldiers were returning to Canada, and a period of national mourning had begun. And boos filled the auditorium. Considering what had just happened to Canada, it was a disgrace. Just like we Americans would have felt anger if our national anthem had been booed after September 11th. It's inappropriate and obnoxious behavior. So last night, at a Bruins-Canadiennes hockey game that turned decidedly ugly anyway with nasty checks and medical emergencies, Canadians booed "the Star Spangled Banner." And it was again, inappropriate. And until fans find some class, this bullshit will keep going. There's no need for it. Keep your booing to the announcement of the players on the other team if you feel the need to boo. Make sure it's directed appropriately to team rivalry, not between nations. This bullshit makes me sick. Seriously. While I've never considered Canada to be akin to a "51st state" like so many Americans seem to do, I grew up seeing both the U.S. and Canadian flags flying in my town. I figured it was because we were neighboring countries, and being supportive of each other was the neighborly thing to do, so flying the flag of our neighboring country was just a symbolic guesture of that friendship. During events at the local arena (the Metra), both national anthems were often played before any event. There was a time where I thought both anthems were part of both countries' required songs to play. On any given night, there were several Canadians in town, usually from Alberta, who came down to do shopping and such. We were taught to stand quietly for both, or sing the lyrics if we knew them, but know that these were national songs of pride, and they should be regarded as such. And we all stood there. And I didn't see the classlessness that I see now with sports games-- men talking through the American anthem, let alone the Canadian one. No class at all. It just irritates me, and I guess it makes me comprehend why people see Americans as such low-life bullies. But there are some pockets of taste and respect still left in the USA for our neighbors. The Canadian flag standing near Copley Square was at half-mast yesterday, out of mourning and respect. As well it should be. 10:42 a.m. - 26 April 2002 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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