Flag on a back pack

I'm really beginning to like the Canada Branch!!

Hehehe, hell, and I thought we were immature and a bunch of bickerers on the Mexico Branch!

The funniest thing is that this is over a simplle display of a flag! Ohhhhh man! Is it really that bad to display one?

I guess the people withe need to point out the posters who do put flags on are insecure, must certainly not display any logos of any kind, since those are usually a sign of insecurity as well.

So, how about it? To those that oppose the flag-bearing on "insecurity grounds", do you make sure that nothing, absolutely nothing remains on your clothing, auto, i.e. any identifying remarks? If so, then why? Do you believe in the value of the product? Or is it to hard to remove? Or?.......

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Or at least you for feeling the need to wear this little identity badge.<hr></blockquote>

I don't need to do anything. I want to do it. The idea that I shouldn't want to is what I am confused about.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>it's not the "backpacking clique" that mocks the Canadian flag wearers. It's the rest of the world in general<hr></blockquote>

No, actually it is not. It is only a small number of arrogant 'backpackers' that operate under the delusion that they are covertly 'living as the natives'.

#21, the reason it digust's me that fellow Canadians plaster Maple Leafs on their luggage (and backpacks are luggage!!) is; when I travel, which is mostly in Europe, I see people from all over the world, yet it seems that it is the Canadians who wear their flag (on their luggage) like some kind of cult symbol! For example, I've run into people in Salzburg Austria that where literally covered in Root's Maple Leaf clothing head to toe, not to mention their "luggage". By far I've seen more Maple Leaf flags on luggage than I have Union Jack's, French flags, Polish flags, Czech flags, et al, et al, etc, etc. Yet the Canadian's only "fly their flag" when travelling! I don't see alot of Maple Leaf's hanging on peoples front stoop's of their home's or in their window's on Canada Day (except for the cheesy one pagers that the newspapers print, but those don't count).

I get the sense that some Canadians believe that by wearing a Maple Leaf on their luggage (yes backpacks are still luggage) when they travel the good people of the world will bow to the altruistic Canadian's that are in their presence! And I think that is an incorrect belief.

I hope this explains why it disgusts me!

I took my son to daycare with an Australian flag temporary tattoo on his cheek last week. I wanted to make sure the teachers knew where he came from, just in case they didnt pick the accent ;-)

It's funny but no one has actually answered the original question. I have not, until November in West Africa, noticed the overwhelming use of the Canadian flag by mostly young Americans. Or, if they are asked, saying they are from Canada. I occasionally asked some of the latter what part of Vancouver or Toronto they were from and mostly I just got funny looks in return. The Canadians I have run into are not wearing the flag, at least in the third world countries, as much. I guess everyone has his own agenda. I'm from Canada for Pajarito, sorry if that wasn't clear. I only wish we had a thorn tree world rather than a "flagged" world. Thanks to those who answered considerately. Cheers

There is/was a perception among protective mothers and other caring individuals that a Canadian flag sewn on a backpack would produce a form of international invisibility for the travel-hungry but worldly-naive set. For Canadians it was sort of the travelling equivalent of an urban myth that wearing the Maple Leaf was like having the keys to the VIP suite - everyone would love you no matter where you went. And for Americans it was thought, rightly or wrongly, that an American should just be quiet about his/her nationality, because the world-view of Americans just wasn't so great. Think about those hi-jacking stories where people were sorted out based on their passports. Not pleasant to contemplate, especially for nervous loved-ones sitting at home while Jonnie and Suzie wander the globe. Canadian flags were thought of as a visual cue to ward off those who would probably set upon anyone displaying the Stars and Stripes with cries of "Ugly American!!!" - especially since in most parts of the world there isn't any easy way to tell a Canadian form an American. I expect a lot of kids from the States were given Canadian flag patches by their grandmothers and told to wear them as a condition of being given enough money to take the trip in the first place. Sort of like getting in to a bar with a fake ID - ends justifies the means, and if the "end" is avoiding unnecessaryy hassle just because you're an American, hey - wave that Maple Leaf. Rather than getting cranked up about it, I think it's sort of a compliment. But the BEST way to travel would be to wear the flag of the European Union. Then you could pretend to be from whatever European country was best alligned with your host country. Genius. Or how about the flag of the UN?

Anyway, the most commonly- seen symbol wherever you go is either a New York Yankees logo or the word "SONY". And ultimately, it's your behaviour, not your backpack decorations, that will matter. Personally, I never wear a flag, but I have given Canada flag pins to kids when I travel. And Newfoundland flag pins, too. That REALLY confuses them.

#38. Good post.
OP, In my recent experience if a native of a country is anti-American they are often anti-Canadian as well (or just anti-'west' in general). Most of the developing world doesn't differentiate between the two anymore (if they ever did). I still have a hard time believing that there are great numbers of Americans posing as Canadians. The Americans I have met when travelling are far too proud for such an exercise.

Kingpin63 knows a good post when he reads it. And I think he's right about Canadians and Americans abroad. A lot of the world, strangely enough, hasn't studied Canada and the USA in depth. No one can explain this tremendous oversight. Just read some of the questions on Thorn Tree. "I'm visiting my cousin in Edmonton. Can I get a cab to the CN Tower? And will I need my passport to go to Quebec?" Thank God all us world-wise North Americans know that there's really no difference between the Scots, the English, the Irish and the Welsh, and that Brittany is a part of England that is attached to France or Spain - one of those blocky-shaped foreign-speaking places - and named after a pop singer. And Spanish, Portugese, French and Italian are all the same language but you lisp when you speak Spanish and Italian requires you to wave your hands around a lot - but not as much as French. And if it isn't one of those then it's Portugese by default, and saying it all in English very slowly with a weird accent will get through to anyone, anyway.

Wherever I've been, local people know the difference between Amercians and Canadians....mostly based on the country's immigration policy. BUt the distinction was made. I was informed all over the Middle East...estpecially Syria...that Canada is good becasue they take in alot of immigrants. That being said there was no hostility towards amerca either.

You are correct about Canadian Flags on bags, it seem like a lot of Canadians travelling for a country of 30 million. Just recently we were asked if we were truly Canadian by another Canadian on a train from Hungary to Slovenia. We first experienced this when the Kuwait/Iraq war started in the middle east.

Since Canadians are seem as peace keepers to the rest of the world, it makes more sense for young travellers to pretend to be Canadian.

We are Canadians and have a lot of American friends, who even says they are Canadians when they book B&B etc. The reason, BB;s say they are full to avoid hassels from their guest etc.

However it is nice to meet up with fellow North Americans when travelling, as we certainly enjoy each others company and are great neighbours.