There is nothing patriotic about booing the Star-Spangled Banner.
In fact, doing so falls right into the trap being set by U.S. President Donald J. Trump.
Americans are smart and they know the president is trying to make his own truth with the nonsensical push that somehow Canada is a not only a bad neighbour but is also taking advantage of the United States.
It’s as ridiculous as the shifting reasons — from fentanyl issues to trade deficits — for enacting the tariffs.
Clips of Canadians booing the American national anthem at hockey games in Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary and Detroit and at the NBA game between the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday in Toronto, give Trump living proof of disrespect toward his nation.
Yes, the booing is in protest to the 47th president’s bullying that sees a 25% tariff being placed on Canadian products starting Tuesday and 10% on energy — moves that could push Canada’s economy into recession.
But booing the men on the floor, with Americans on both teams, is just plain wrong.
And it’s unCanadian.
While he understands the passion, former Opposition and NDP leader Thomas Mulcair, speaking on Moore in the Morning on Newstalk 1010 Monday, told John Moore he is “drawing the line at booing the national anthem” and people should “show a bit more class.”
As futile as it is to say, Trump should show more class, too.
The “Canada should become our cherished 51st State” post that Trump made on his Truth Social platform while pushing the narrative this would offer “much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada — and no tariffs” is as classless as anything ever said to Canada.
This kind of talk would make any country upset. Trump can covet and cherish us but he can’t have us.
As people wait for details and phone calls between leaders and watch the stock market and dollar, there’s no question Canadians are rightfully angered by Trump’s outrageous Art of the Deal-style words.
They know Trump’s bizarre attack on Canada has been growing larger since he said last month that Canada would effectively be annexed by economic “force.”
Infuriating, foolish and unrealistic as it is, it’s not the athletes or team’s fault and booing the anthem is not going to help. As hard as it is, Canadians need to take the high road.
Whether counter-tariffs or pulling American wine and spirits from the liquor store shelves, as premiers including Doug Ford have vowed, or a ‘Shop Canada’ campaign Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has floated will make an impact, time will tell.
Will Ford’s announcement Monday morning that he’s cancelling Elon Musk’s Starlink contract with Ontario help in this fight? That’s another thing that people will have to wait and see.
But all of these responses are understandable in a trade dispute. It’s not rude or disrespectful — like booing an anthem or a country is.
There’s nothing that can be done to take back the booing of the national anthem over the weekend but there is a chance to make it right. The upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off hockey challenge, which is going to see games in both Boston and Montreal — including a game between Canada’s top hockey players and America’s, should be a place where not only do fans not boo but they cheer all anthems.
Perhaps fans on both sides of the border can send their own message to the politicians that they don’t want any part of this trade war.
If fans in Montreal, or in other Canadian venues for other events show respect to the anthem, Americans will see that average Canadians don’t blame the American people for what’s happening at the political level and there will be a counter news clip that can be played after the ones over the weekend are shown.
I know not everybody agrees with this sentiment and it is a freedom of speech issue. However, it has to be said because one thing I have noticed in my 40 years of covering wars and conflicts is there are people always trying to escalate things. People, though, can think for themselves.
But my feeling is you can’t get people to offer respect if you don’t show them respect.
There’s nothing more disrespectful than to mess with another country’s flag or national anthem and Canadians should not do it again.