NationStates Jolt Archive

Sewing the flag of Canada onto your backpack.

Is it a good thing? Is it respectful to the flag? Who can/cannot sew the flag of Canada onto their backpack? Does it serve a purpose? Whats your opinion on this flag-on-backpack thing?

Diskuss! :eek:

Sewing the flag of Canada onto your backpack.

Is it a good thing? Is it respectful to the flag? Who can/cannot sew the flag of Canada onto their backpack? Does it serve a purpose? Whats your opinion on this flag-on-backpack thing?

Diskuss! :eek:

You're Canadian - shouldn't you tell us? :p

And I can certainly see people from the US sewing the Canadian flag on their backpacks these last few years in some areas of the world.

And who cares if it is "respectful to the flag"? Since when do we have to be respectful to a piece of cloth?

Hell with that, I'm going to sew a gigantic American flag being lifted aloft by a pair of eagles on my backpack just to piss people off.

You're Canadian - shouldn't you tell us? :p


I should... but, I want other people's opinions on it. :D

And who cares if it is "respectful to the flag"? Since when do we have to be respectful to a piece of cloth?

Since nationalism, silly

I think if I were visting Europe, though I wouldnt mask my identity, I wouldnt need anything as pronounced as a flag to make the fact that I'm a tourist evident.

Well since you guys have the queen as your major national symbol no one should care

and I would think sewing the Queen on your backpack would be awesome

and I would think sewing the Queen on your backpack would be awesome

Now that would be funny.

I don't think it is a big deal really. If you want to wear your nationality on your backpack I think you should be free to do it.

I did however did run into an young American couple on a train in Morocco last year that bragged about telling people they were Canadian. I asked why they would do that? My wife looked at me because she knew what I was going to do. He said that he wanted to be safe. I told him for starters to be nice to people and not be stupid in what they did. That would insure for the most part there safety. Then I laid into him about being a sellout to his own nation. Did it in a nice way. Anyway after he stopped smiling I think I actually made sense to him. He actually said that he probably shouldn't tell people that. Anyway my wife jumped me later for doing that. Was I an asshole about it? Probably over did it a bit. But I find offense to people that do that. No matter what nation they are from.

Sewing the flag of Canada onto your backpack.

Is it a good thing? Is it respectful to the flag? Who can/cannot sew the flag of Canada onto their backpack? Does it serve a purpose? Whats your opinion on this flag-on-backpack thing?

Diskuss! :eek:

well it serves a purpose outside of north america in that people won't mistake people who do that for US americans. also provides some camouflage for US americans who are ashamed to be from the US. as for respect for the flag - i never got this, it's a piece of cloth, what's the issue? i have a cloth patch which is the peace-V hand signal filled in with the union flag. i don't use it because i have no nationalist sentiment in me, but it never occured to me that this patch might be disrespectful to another piece of cloth o_0

I don't think it is a big deal really. If you want to wear your nationality on your backpack I think you should be free to do it.

I did however did run into an young American couple on a train in Morocco last year that bragged about telling people they were Canadian. I asked why they would do that? My wife looked at me because she knew what I was going to do. He said that he wanted to be safe. I told him for starters to be nice to people and not be stupid in what they did. That would insure for the most part there safety. Then I laid into him about being a sellout to his own nation. Did it in a nice way. Anyway after he stopped smiling I think I actually made sense to him. He actually said that he probably shouldn't tell people that. Anyway my wife jumped me later for doing that. Was I an asshole about it? Probably over did it a bit. But I find offense to people that do that. No matter what nation they are from.


What's wrong with that? Personally I don't think nationality matters in the least, if they don't want people to associate them with their country there is nothing wrong with that.

And who cares if it is "respectful to the flag"? Since when do we have to be respectful to a piece of cloth?

It isn't the piece of cloth you need to respect, but what that piece of cloth stands for.

I don't think it is a big deal really. If you want to wear your nationality on your backpack I think you should be free to do it.

I did however did run into an young American couple on a train in Morocco last year that bragged about telling people they were Canadian. I asked why they would do that? My wife looked at me because she knew what I was going to do. He said that he wanted to be safe. I told him for starters to be nice to people and not be stupid in what they did. That would insure for the most part there safety. Then I laid into him about being a sellout to his own nation. Did it in a nice way. Anyway after he stopped smiling I think I actually made sense to him. He actually said that he probably shouldn't tell people that. Anyway my wife jumped me later for doing that. Was I an asshole about it? Probably over did it a bit. But I find offense to people that do that. No matter what nation they are from.

why should other people share your level of nationalism? i find it irritating when people tell me i should love my country. i love my friends and i love my family, i don't need to love some abstract concept with a history that leaves me feeling queezy.

It isn't the piece of cloth you need to respect, but what that piece of cloth stands for.

Freedom, and you can truely appricate that freedom through the freedom of speech and sowing it onto your backpack.

why should other people share your level of nationalism? i find it irritating when people tell me i should love my country. i love my friends and i love my family, i don't need to love some abstract concept with a history that leaves me feeling queezy.

In that case, they also shouldn't be saying they're Canadian. If nationality truly means nothing to you, you don't need to talk about it and you certainly don't need to brag about it. I don't, because I don't really think it matters; the only time I will is if I'm asked, and even that is pretty rare.

If someone is going to be a jackass just because I'm an American, then the probably don't deserve my attention in the first place. Fuck them, there's 6 billion other people in the world.

In that case, they also shouldn't be saying they're Canadian. If nationality truly means nothing to you, you don't need to talk about it and you certainly don't need to brag about it.

That is true, since the values of both Canada and the U.S. are similar, there are differences.

In that case, they also shouldn't be saying they're Canadian. If nationality truly means nothing to you, you don't need to talk about it and you certainly don't need to brag about it. I don't, because I don't really think it matters; the only time I will is if I'm asked, and even that is pretty rare.

If someone is going to be a jackass just because I'm an American, then the probably don't deserve my attention in the first place. Fuck them, there's 6 billion other people in the world.

If that makes them feel more comfortable then why the hell shouldn't they?

That is true, since the values of both Canada and the U.S. are similar, there are differences.

That's true. Personally, I just don't mention it.

why should other people share your level of nationalism? i find it irritating when people tell me i should love my country. i love my friends and i love my family, i don't need to love some abstract concept with a history that leaves me feeling queezy.

I find it disgraceful if someone does not have a basic level of pride for being from the particular nation they are from. Remember a country is made up of your friends your family and all the rest. I find that someone that is ashamed of their nation is also slighting themselves and their family. Just my personal opinion.

you mean those Canadians backpackers who I killed and ate might not of been Canadian and thus I have not tried "Canadian bacon" :eek:

I suppose I would sow a Canadian flag on my backpack if the place I was visiting had a tendency to hurt Englishmen but if I was an American visiting France I wouldn’t bother (especially since the French hate everyone)

In that case, they also shouldn't be saying they're Canadian. If nationality truly means nothing to you, you don't need to talk about it and you certainly don't need to brag about it.

that's not really the point when people are pretending to be another nationality. the point is dissociation from your own nationality not adoption of another. and i never said i was disinterested in nationalism, i said i wasn't nationalist. i don't like nationalism so i have as much right to tallk about it as someone who does like it, if not more right, seeing as it is the dominant ideology in the West and the minority voice needs to be heard.

Freedom, and you can truely appricate that freedom through the freedom of speech and sowing it onto your backpack.

Yes.

If that makes them feel more comfortable then why the hell shouldn't they?

If they don't mention their nationality, no one will know where they come from. I mean, if they can pass as Canadians they can pass as them regardless of whether or not they make a point of it.

And chances are, saying your Canadian to everyone will probably just make them more suspicious, and nobody likes a liar regardless of where you come from.

why should other people share your level of nationalism? i find it irritating when people tell me i should love my country. i love my friends and i love my family, i don't need to love some abstract concept with a history that leaves me feeling queezy.

Well, if you don't like your country you have two options. One, you can work to change it. Two, you can move to some other place that is more compatable with your philosophy and life style. :eek:

that's not really the point when people are pretending to be another nationality. the point is dissociation from your own nationality not adoption of another. and i never said i was disinterested in nationalism, i said i wasn't nationalist. i don't like nationalism so i have as much right to tallk about it as someone who does like it, if not more right, seeing as it is the dominant ideology in the West and the minority voice needs to be heard.

I'm in total agreement; I think the best idea is to just not say anything.

I find it disgraceful if someone does not have a basic level of pride for being from the particular nation they are from. Remember a country is made up of your friends your family and all the rest. I find that someone that is ashamed of their nation is also slighting themselves and there family. Just my personal opinion.

and i find it moronic that someone would try to associate themselves with some nebulous concept called a 'nation', when freinds and family are real and they can return the love you give them, and when, if you actually trace the history of your 'nation' back 3 or 4 hundred years you'll find it doesn't even exist and your local context is far more relevant to your identity. i'm not ashamed of my country, that would require me to care about it. i'm ashamed of what people try to do in it's name. just my personal opinion.

Could one then say that if a non-Canadian that sews a Canadian flag onto their knapsack and boasts that they are Canadian when they are not, exploiting Canadian-ness?

If they don't mention their nationality, no one will know where they come from. I mean, if they can pass as Canadians they can pass as them regardless of whether or not they make a point of it.

And chances are, saying your Canadian to everyone will probably just make them more suspicious, and nobody likes a liar regardless of where you come from.

Meh, it's their choice, if that makes their vacation better from them then why would I care?

you mean those Canadians backpackers who I killed and ate might not of been Canadian and thus I have not tried "Canadian bacon" :eek:

I suppose I would sow a Canadian flag on my backpack if the place I was visiting had a tendency to hurt Englishmen but if I was an American visiting France I wouldn’t bother (especially since the French hate everyone)

You need to learn how to write proper English. :mad:

Well, if you don't like you country you have two options. One, you can work to change it. Two, you can move to some other place that is more compatable with your philosophy and life style. :eek:

well indeed. i'm active in local politics and i fully intend to go live somewhere nice and hot when i have set myself up with a profession or trade.

well indeed. i'm active in local politics and i fully intend to go live somewhere nice and hot when i have set myself up with a profession or trade.

Good luck.

Hell with that, I'm going to sew a gigantic American flag being lifted aloft by a pair of eagles on my backpack just to piss people off.

I can't understand why people don't like some Americans... lol

Meh, it's their choice, if that makes their vacation better from them then why would I care?

I don't know, I'd see it as a pretty lousy vacation if I was constantly worrying about whether people thought I was an American or not.

But that's just me, and everyone has their own opinions, so I guess it's whatever makes you the most comfortable...

I can't understand why people don't like some Americans... lol

Yeah, short of wearing a Bush/Cheney hat that's about as bad as it gets. :p

and i find it moronic that someone would try to associate themselves with some nebulous concept called a 'nation', when freinds and family are real and they can return the love you give them, and when, if you actually trace the history of your 'nation' back 3 or 4 hundred years you'll find it doesn't even exist and your local context is far more relevant to your identity. i'm not ashamed of my country, that would require me to care about it. i'm ashamed of what people try to do in it's name. just my personal opinion.


This very statement is echoed so much in the UK. I found it out while living there for a bit. Was very suprised to see that so many brits did not associate themselves nationally. As far as not caring for your country that in itself would make me question your character. Although there is nothing wrong with being ashamed of other citizens creating problems in the name of the nation. That is where one should care and step up to either correct the problem or denounce the negative actions.

Hey, as far as I'm concerned, you can wear all the Canadian pins and flags you want. Call yourself Canadian if you want to.

All I ask is that you be polite, friendly, and respectful if you do. If you're obnoxious, break the laws, or are an all-round jackass while in a foreign country, do us a favour and take our flag off.

Deal?

Sewing the flag of Canada onto your backpack.

Is it a good thing? Is it respectful to the flag? Who can/cannot sew the flag of Canada onto their backpack? Does it serve a purpose? Whats your opinion on this flag-on-backpack thing?

Diskuss! :eek:
There is nothing wrong with a Canadian sewing a Canadian flag on their backpacks. It identifies the wearer as A Canadian and most people look at Canada as generally peaceful country. In Europe, it reminds many there of Canada's efforts in two world wars to liberate their countries.

I did however did run into an young American couple on a train in Morocco last year that bragged about telling people they were Canadian. I asked why they would do that? My wife looked at me because she knew what I was going to do. He said that he wanted to be safe. I told him for starters to be nice to people and not be stupid in what they did. That would insure for the most part there safety. Then I laid into him about being a sellout to his own nation. Did it in a nice way. Anyway after he stopped smiling I think I actually made sense to him. He actually said that he probably shouldn't tell people that. Anyway my wife jumped me later for doing that. Was I an asshole about it? Probably over did it a bit. But I find offense to people that do that. No matter what nation they are from.
I wonder what his nation did that made him so willing to sell it out.

When I finally get to go abroad I won't be sewing my flag on my backpack. Not that I'm not proud to be canadian or anything like that, but I really don't want to look like more of a target for thieves than absolutely necessary...

I might put a small pin on my coat or something.

I wonder what his nation did that made him so willing to sell it out.

He did mention his last name as being Kerry. Don't know if that had anything to do with it. ;)

When I lived in Germany I quite a few Canadians with flags on their luggage, but not that many. I'll admit that I pretended to be a Canadian once, but it was to get myself out of trouble. I'd gone into the wrong bar on the wrong night, as it was a bar that Turks frequent in Frankfurt on the night of a Turkey vs. someone football game. I didn't care much for hanging out in the American bars so a buddy of mine and I would go try to find new bars and after we'd sat in that one for a bit a group (about 10) of young Turks came up and asked us if we were American. I did the talking because my Michigan accent is close enough to the Canadian one and they left us alone, although we finished our drinks and moved on down the road.

Anyway, this thread reminds me that I need to get a new backpack. I'm going to France for four months in Feburary and neither of the backpacks I have right now would be such a great idea. One would be a terrible idea, but the other one with the state flag would draw just enough interest to be bad.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a353/tuebor/CIMG0608.jpg

Sewing the flag of Canada onto your backpack.

Is it a good thing? Is it respectful to the flag? Who can/cannot sew the flag of Canada onto their backpack? Does it serve a purpose? Whats your opinion on this flag-on-backpack thing?

Diskuss! :eek:

If you're Canadian, yes, because Europeans hate us less. If you're American no...unless you want to get mugged. I'd rather identify myself as Canadian because the fact that I'm a tourist would be pretty obvious, so why not be a tourist that the host countries hate less?