Detroit Boo's Anthem

[Clutz]

At a recent Detroit Pistons basketball game the Piston fans booed the Canadian national anthem. It happened again in NY when the Maple Leafs played last night.

Why this is happening i don't know... but i'm pissed!

Us Canadians jump through hoops to please our American brothers and what's the thanks we get?... nothing! Particularly when you consider the 4 CANADIAN soldiers who died in Afghanistan fighting for America (as global an issue as terrorism is, lets not kid ourselves its America that is most at risk- excluding of course Israel)

Anyway, I know the 20,000 or so fans at 2 sporting events don't speak for all Americans, but an apology from a mayor/other politician would seem to be in order.

P.S. - Salt Lake Double Gold. Go Canada Go.

[elSicomoro]

Clutz,

I like Canadians. One of my best friends lives in Toronto. Please don't hate me.

I'm surprised it didn't happen here. Philadelphia boos damned near everybody. And we ARE currently playing the Sens.

Seriously though, that sucks. Canada rocks.

[Nic Name]

Fukeneh, man!

I like Canada. I'm 1/8 Canadian. I think it's a great country.

Us Canadians jump through hoops to please our American brothers

Are you being serious?

Come on. Quit kidding around here. That's BS and you know it. Every time I've been to Canada (probably 10 times over the last 10 years) I've gotten shit for being a "yank" or "from the States" and I've heard endless bitching about the US. Here are a couple favorites:

"I hate that all the movies here are American." - Well, first, you guys did have "The Cube", which was just <b>spectacular</b>. Cough. And if you don't want American movies, <b>don't pay to watch them</b>. Obviously enough Canadians want to watch 'em, otherwise they wouldn't be there.

"All these goddamn American TV stations." - Don't watch them, you knob gobbler.

"American stores coming up here really piss me off. [Ikea|McDonalds|Starbucks|WalMart|other US company] sucks." - Well don't buy stuff there. They wouldn't be there if there weren't a market.

I've also encountered a <b>lot</b> of uppity-ness in Canada. Wow, I'm from the US so I must be an unenlightened hick.

I don't believe it's a majority that feels that way, but it sure does seem like it at times.

Many Canadians just have a gross inferiority complex and it shows.

This shouldn't devalue the lives that were given, though, and I don't want you to think that I feel Canada is a bad neighbor. I just think it's grossly inaccurate to portray Canada as wholly loving (or jumping through hoops to please) their southern neighbor.

[Nic Name]

It's not Americans booing Canadians, or Canadians booing Americans.

It's just hockey fans booing.

It's not patriotism, or even nationalism.

In hockey arenas on both sides of the border, it's just boors. (No disrepect to the Dutch intended.)

Booing anthems the newest fan pastime

Maybe it's just time to dispense with national anthems at the beginning of sports events. I mean, what's the point, anyway.

More than half the hockey players on American-based hockey teams are actually Canadians. And almost all the baseball players on Canadian-based teams are Americans. So what is the purpose of playing the anthems at the beginning of games anyway.

If it can't be performed with civility and mutual respect, why do it at all.

[Undertoad]

One can't really praise Canada and put down hockey fans at the same time.

[Nic Name]

I'm only putting down the hockey fans that are booing, whatever anthem.

Agreed. Canada is a fine country. So is the US. People that are booing the other (or the other team, or whatever) are pretty useless. The hard work that goes into being a Maple Leaf or a soldier in the Canadian army is certainly nothing that deserves to be booed.

That having been said, an apology from a politician over the booing at some sporting events seems kinda absurd. The politician had nothing to do with it and can't be held accountable for the actions of citizens.

[Clutz]

not to be held "accountable", but as a representititve of a greater population it would be a positive move.

As far as bending over backwards for Americans...

I was recently at a Blue Jays game when at 9:11pm the game was stopped for a moment of silence. I have all the sympathy for the victims of 9/11, but did the terrorists take our time as well?

immediately following 9/11 a public outporing of support was inevitable, but 7/8 months after the fact, i believe we are all coping in different ways, and i did not appreciate having my emotions thrust upon me, when all i bought was a baseball ticket.

Jays lost so it wasn't the worst part of the night

Originally posted by Clutz
i did not appreciate having my emotions thrust upon me, when all i bought was a baseball ticket.

Look at it this way - at least a 747 didn't come through your office window.

[Nic Name]

If we're looking for high-level, sincere expressions of condolences and appreciation, we need look no further than Secretary of State Colin Powell, appearing before a Senate committee on foreign operations, added his voice to those in the Bush administration who have sent condolences to Canadians since last week.

"I too, as do all Americans, mourn the loss of those brave Canadian soldiers last week."

"You just can't have better friends and allies and trading partners than we have with our Canadian brothers and sisters to the north."

I am sure that expresses the sentiments of our American brothers and sisters, who would not boo the Canadian anthem at a playoff hockey game. Heck, I don't think there was any booing of the Canadian anthem at the Winter Olympics, even when the Gold Medal hockey competitions were cast as an international sports competition between us! That's the spirit.

[BrianR]

Perfectly normal men.

Granted, they were fellow sailors in Colombia.
Also granted, they invited us to their ship for a little "refreshment".

They rock. I joined the wrong Navy.

Brian

Best thing to come out of Canada? Moose milk!

[warch]

Sports fans, particularly Hockey fans cut a wide swath...unfortunately it includes jug heads. Disrespect, loud-obnoxious yelling that reveals a lack of understaning for the game, and my particular peeve- throwing crap on the ice.

[Clutz]

Look at it this way - at least a 747 didn't come through your office window.

This argument cannot be used at every juncture in a debate to end all discussion. My feelings and those of others are no less real or sincere, simply because a plane did not shoot through "my office window".

It's like a child saying "i know you are but what am i" etc. etc.

that's all well and good, but it doesn't solve anything, nor does dissmissing the views of others simply because they weren't victims of a horriffic attack.

My point is that you could have been a lot worse off. I'm not dismissing your feelings - I'm simply stating that I think most people will take a few minor inconveniences when they go to a sports game over getting killed by terrorists.